Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-03-26
STREET CAR HELD UP
ROBBERS SHOOT RIGHT AND
LEFT AMONG PASSENGERS.

iS"a Waii FdiiS Lying IN t'iOt1ST S
Lap-Nervy Traveller Opens Fire
on Bandits, Thus Precipitating a
General FusilIade.
Los Angeles, CAL, March %
Three masked robbers attempted to
hold up car on the Los Angeles-Pa-
cific electric line running between
Los Angeles and Santa Monica, about
mile west Of the city limits, and
after a pistol duel between c. w. Hen
derson, onerof the passengers, and one
OF the robbers, the other two high
waymen began shooting right and left
through the crowded car. One pas
senger was killed and three wounded.
The dead: H. A. Griswold, Man
son, Ia.
The wounded: ]. C. Cunningham of
Los Angeles shot through the left
thigh, serious; Ellis Pearson, shot
through the left leg; DR.. c. H.
Bowles, shot through the left hand
1t is believed that one of the rob-
bers was badly wounded Mr.. Girls
void was a wealthy citizen of Man
son, Ia. He came here several months
ago for the benefit of his mothers
health.
The hold-up occurred at the head of
deep cut. The robbers had placed
steel rail, a large bench and a &C.
ment barrel on the track The motor
man saw the obstruction when the
car was several hundred yards from it
and at once turned off the current
and ran slowly to the place. The mo-
ment the car struck three men, wear
Ing masks over their faces, sprang
from the weeds alongside the track.
One boarded the front end of the car
and the other two the rear end. The
first man commanded the passengers
occupying the open seats to put up
their hands, and when one of them did
not comply, he fired a shot Henderson
then opened fire on the robber, shoot.
ing as fast as he could pull the trigger.
Inc robber turned his gun upon Hen
derson. but as he did so he was seen
to bend over and cry out as if in pain.
Then Strengthening up, he began shoot
ing at the passengers huddled in the
front seats. One of his bullets struck
Ellis Pearson in the left leg. Hender.
son continued firing and the robber
was seen to fall
While this was going on on the out.
side OF the car a tragedy was being
enacted inside. The two robbers who
had entered the rear door commanded
the passengers to raise their hands
and most of them did so. Before any
attempt could be made by the robbers
to search the passengers for their
valuables. the shooting began on the
outside of the car. Then the other
two robbers began shooting right and
left into the crowd of passengers.
Griswold was seated about the mid.
die of the car, with his back turned
toward the robbers. At the command,
hands up he tried to secrete his
watch under his legs, and one of the
robbers, thinking he was about to
draw gun, fired point blank at him.
The bullet struck him in the back of
the neck and he fell over into the Ian
of his aged mother, who was seated
at his side.
~. y. II. DOWleS Was near the front
door and at the command of the rob
bers he raised his hands. When he
had them in the air one of the bullets
from robbers revolver struck his
left hand and shattered the bones.
After emptying their revolvers the
robbers backed out of the door and
sprang off the car and disappeared.
That many more were not killed or
wounded is little short of miraculous.
Inside the car was thirty or more pas
sengers and there were more than ten
shots fired. Bullets were found i'm.
bedded in the woodwork in many
places when the car reached this CITY.
Griswod expired before the car had
gone mile. He never spoke after he
was shot and when his body was lifted
from the car at Santa Monica his
watch was found under him on the
seat. His mother was covered with
his blood and was almost insane
from fright and grief The bullet
which killed him grazed the cheek of
Miss Anna Funk. who was travelling
with him. The highwaymen secured