The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-23
Pistol Fight Between Robbers
and Passengers Results
in One Death.
THREE OTHERS WOUNDED
BY THE FLYING BULLETS
Desperadoes Make Good Their Escape.
n. A. Griswold Fell on His
Mothers Lap and Expired.
No Booty Secured.

Los Angeles, Cal, March 22.-Three
masked robbers attempted to hold up a
car on the Los Angeles and Pacific Elee-
trio railroad, between Los Angeles and
Santa Monica. last night and after
PISTOL fight between c. w. Henderson,
passenger, and one of the robbers, the
other two highwaymen began shooting
through the crowded car II. A. Girls
void of Manson, Ia, was killed and three
persons were wounded. It is believed that
one of the robbers was wounded, but the
three desperadoes escaped.
]. C. Cunningham of Los Angeles.
trunk manufacturer, was shot through
the left thigh. ellis Pearson of sawtelle
was shot through the left leg. and DR..
C. II. Bowles of Los Angeles was shot
through the left hand. Griswold was
wealthy citizen of Manson, Ia. He came
here several months ago with his
mother.
The hold-up occurred at the head OF
a deep cut. The robbers had placed
steel rail-, large bench and cement
barrel on the track.
Charles currey, the motorman, saw the
obstruction when the car was several
hundred yards from it. and at once
turned off the current.
When the car struck the obstruction
three masked men sprang from the
weeds along side the track
"Throw Up Your Hands,"
One boarded the front end Of the car
and the other two. the rear. The first
man commanded the passengers occupy
ing the open seats to throw up their
hands One of them did not comply and
the robber fired. Henderson then opened
fire on the robber, shooting as fast as
he could pull the trigger. The robber
turned his revolver on Henderson, but
as he did so he was seen to bend over
and cry, then Strengthening up again he
began shooting at the passengers in the
front seats One of his bullets struck
Ellis Pearson in the left leg Henderson
continued firing and the robber was seen
to fall In the meantime the two robbers
who had entered the rear door command
ed the passengers to hold up their hands,
and most of them did so.
Before any attempt could be made by
the robbers to search the passengers for
their booty, the shooting began. The two
robbers who entered the rear door began
shooting to right and left In the closed
section.
Griswold was seated about the middle
of the car with his back turned towards
the robbers. At the command hands
up he tried to secret his watch under
his legs, and one of the robbers. think
ing he was about to draw a revolver,
fired at him. The bullet struck Griswold
in the back of the neck. He fell over on
the lap of his mother.
Or. c. II. Bowes was near the front
door, and while he had his hands up one
Of the bullets struck his left hand ana
shattered the bones. After emptying their
revolvers the robbers backed out of the
door and sprang off the car and disap-
peared.
The car proceeded with all possible
speed to Sawtelle.
Covered With Sons Blood.
Griswold died 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.
At Sawtelle, Pearson was taken to his
home. The other wounded passengers
were taken to Santa Monica and given
surgical attention
AS soon the shooting was over Hen
derson, who had fired at the robbers,
sprang from the car and started to run.
He ran into wire fence and was knocked
down. While lying on the ground he saw
two of the robbers run to a road nearby,
climb into buggy and drive towards Los
Angeles.
Every available officer was sent to the
scene as soon as the news of the robbery
reached the city. but no trace Of the rob-
bers was found
The highwaymen secured nothing from
the passengers.
HARLAN TO RESIGN