Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-03-26

Los Angeles, Cal, March 23.-Three
masked robbers attempted to hold up
a car on the Los Angeles-Pacifc cleo
trio line running between Los Angeles
and Santa Monica about q mile west
of the city limits, and after a pistol
duel between C. w. Henderson, one of
the passengers, and one of the rob-
bers, the other two highwaymen be-
gan shooting right and left through
the crowded car. One passenger was
killed and three wounded.
The dead:
H. A. Griswold, of Manson, Ia.
Wounded:
J. C. Cunningham, of Los Angeles, a
prominent trunk manufacturer, shot
through the left thigh, thigh bone
broken, serious.
Ellis Pearson, of Sawtelle, OF the
soldiers home, on the electric line.
shot through the left leg.
DR.. C. H. Bowles, of Los Angeles,
shot through left hand.
1t is believed that n of the rob-
bers was badly wounded.
Mr.. Griswold was a wealthy citizen
of Iowa. He came here several
months ago for the benefit of his
mothers health.
The hold-up occurred at the head
of a deep cut. The robbers had
placed a steel rail, a large bench and
a cement barrel on the track. Charles
Curry, the motorman, saw the OBJ
struction when the a was several
hundred yards from it and at once
turned off the current and ran slowly
to the place.
Robbers Sprang from Hiding Places.
The moment the car struck three
men, wearing masks over their faces,
sprang from the weeds alongside the
track. One boarded the front end of
the car and the other two the ear
end. The first man commanded the
passengers occupying open seats to
put up their hands, and when one of
them did not comply he fred a
shot. Henderson then opened fire on
the robber, shooting as fast as he
could pull the trigger. The robber
turned his gun upon Henderson, but
and cry out as if in pain. Then
Strengthening up he began shooting
at the passengers huddled in the front
seats. One of his bullets struck Ellis
Pearson in the left leg. Henderson
continued firing, and the robber vas
seen to fall.
Tragic Scene in the Car.
While this was going on on the
outside of the car a tragedy was be-
ing enacted in the 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 be-
gan 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 com
mand, Hands up" he tried to secrete
his watch under his legs and n OF
the robbers, thinking he was about
to draw a gun, fired point blank al
him. The bullet struck him in the
back of the neck, and he fell over into
tho Ion Of bic ooal nathan rrhn tUns
seated at his side.
DIR. C. H. Bowles was near the
front door, and at the command OF
the robbers he raised his hands. Wher
he had them in the air, one of the
bullets from a robbers revolver
struck his left hand.
Mother Covered with Blood.
After emptying their revolvers thu
robbers backed out of the door ant
sprang from the car and disap
peared. The car proceeded with al
possible speed to Sawtelle, the near
est point where medical aid could b.
secured. Griswold expired before tn
car had gone a mile. He never spok'
after he was shot, and when his bod,
was lifted from the a at Sant'
Monica his watch was found unde
him ON the seat. His mother wa
covered with his blood and was al
most insane from fright and grief
The bullet which killed him grace
the cheek of Miss Anna Funk, VIII
was travelling with him. At Sawtell
Pearson was taken off the car an
conveyed to his home. Other wound
ed persons were taken to SAINT
Monica and given surgical attention.
AS soon as the shooting was owe
Henderson, who had fred at the rot
bers, sprang from the car and starte
TO run. He ran acros a vineyard an
struck n wire fence, being knocke
down. While in that position he say