The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-06
BOLD RAID OF ROBBERS ON A
SALOON.
CARRY SAFE OFF BODILY
Bind and Gag Bartender, Empty Cash
Register-Take Strong Box
With Them.

"Hold up your hands, and De quick
about it,"
the ears OF Charley Ballard about 2
O'Clock Saturday morning, as he was
droWsily perusing a newspaper, seat
ed in chair near the stove of the
Mint saloon, in Montana avenue, be-
| tween Twenty-sixth and 'rwenty-sev-
enth streets.
At first the full import OF the or
der was not realized and Mr.. Ballard
raised his eyes and looked up at the
| speaker. A large and impressive ap-
pearing revolver held in such close
ness to his forehead that he almost
felt the cold Impress of the muzzle
quickly brought him to realization
OF the necessity of speedy compli-
ance and his hands shot up in the
air with suddenness that threatened
their dislocation, and he awaited the
next order of the man behind the
gum" 1t was not long coming. In a
manner that left no doubt as to the
earnestness of the fellow lacing him.
he was directed to get up and face
the wall and there he stood tor what
seemed half hour to him, while sew
eral men were attempting to unlock
the safe standing at the end OF the
counter and only a few feet away from
the chair in which he mad been seated
when his ease was so unceremoniously
interrupted.
Finding that they could not open the
safe, the men took bar towel with
which they gagged Mr.. Ballard and
then with short pieces OF cotton
clothes line they tied his hands be-
hind his back and then, after tying
his feet, picked him up and carried
him into closet near the rear OF the
barroom, where they laid him down
and then rolled the safe out OF the
back door, having brought in truck
for that purpose.
Until o'clock the imprisoned and
bound bartender laid in the stuffy
little room, when he managed to re.
lease one of his hands, after which
he removed the gag and united his
legs and then gave the alarm. The
police and sheriff's Office were noti-
fled and search for the safe and rob.
bers began.
They Worked Deliberately.
To The Gazette Mr.. Ballard said
that after the fellow who forced him
to stand up against the wall had him
in position three other men entered
the saloon, coming in by way of the
rear door. the same as the first. One
turned out the lights in the front part /
of the room, leaving onely one, near
the center of the room, burning.
While one man guarded him the 9TH I
ers busted themselves with the safe
and cash register. From the register
they took about S1O0. Satisfied at
last that they could not open the safe,
the fellows loaded it onto small |
truck that they found in rear of a
store a few doors to the west and
pushed it out of the back door. In
the alley they had buggy waiting
onto which the safe was placed and
carted off. The buggy was an old
one that had been standing in
vacant lot nearby and this the robbers
pressed into service, using saddle
horse, it is believed, to draw it away,
after it had the safe on board
Although he saw only four men, Mr..
Ballard says more were concerned in
the robbery, as he could near others
talking in the back part OF the sa-
loon during the time attempts were
made to open the safe.
Safe Is Recovered.
After Mr.. Ballard had given the
alarm the police on duty and Sheriff
Hubbard and Under Sheriff Sayles be-
gan to work. Mr.. Hubbard and Mr..
Sayles soon found the trail of the
buggy, which they followed. At first,
because of the darkness, this was
somewhat difficult, but as it grew
lighter they had little trouble and
followed it to the east, to Twenty
fifth street Here thew fOund tho