The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-15
MANY ROBBERIES
ARE REPORTED
Hold Ups Numerous Saturday
and Sunday
ONE HOUSE Is ENTERED
Same People Apparently Conn.,
NIT All the Crimes

Thieves entered the residence of Gus
Mathis. 1251 St Francis. last night,
about 9 o'clock, and ransacked it through
and through, but only succeeded in get
ting Sc in cash. Mr.. Mathis and family
were out visiting at neighbours, and
when they returned they found every
thing in a mixed-up mess. Articles of
clothing and other things were strewn
about the floor and all the closets and
drawers in the bureaus were in jumbled
up condition, showing that the robbers
were evidently after money and jewelry.
MIR. Mathis is an employe of the Standard
Oil company
Last Sunday night, about o'clock, Roy
Sykes was held up by two highwaymen
on the corner of Main and Waterman,
and had fine $25 gold watch taken. The
story as tol4 by Mr.. Sykes is very inter
esting, and is as follows:
About $50 o'clock, in company with
two of my friends l left Douglas avenue
aud went south on Main As we APP
PREACHED the City building horse,
going north in dead run. without
driver, and one of my friends ran out
and stopped it. We at once went TO the
police station TO report about the mat
ter. After talking d few minutes !
started home AS 1 drew near to the
corner Of Waterman street l saw two
men standing in the dark. l was about
to pass them when they commanded me
TO throw up ny hands, which | did not
do, quite contrary to their wishes. Well
when they noticed that l was going TO
resist them they placed their revolvers at
my head and told me to stand still or they
would fix me l still showed resistance
and when they began to so through my
pockets l tore the mask off of one of the
men and then the other struck me a ter
rible jolt on the head. After struggling
with them for few minutes they sue
ceeded in getting my watch. but the
chain | held to Ike grim DEATH Fortu-
nately they did not md my money and
so the strangers did not make such a big
haul, after all. l then started home and
they told me to go north as fast as I
could go and as / started they took
shot at me. l reported at the police sta
ton, but no trace was heard of the rob-
bers."
About five minutes before Sykes was
robbed John Toomey was held up at the
same corner and relieved of between two
and three dollars in cash. He also was on
his way home, and heard the shot fired
at Sykes shortly after continuing on his
way. He did not return. however, to see
what the robbers were doing
On Saturday night Frank Lane was
held up and robbed of $50. 1t was
about 10 o'clock and he had just left
Douglas avenue and started south on
Pattie The highwaymen came upon him
suddenly and ordered him to throw up
his hands am. not to make a resistance.
He obeyed them and after they had done
their work they commanded Lane to move
on. The robbers got into buggy and
drove rapidly away.
\ little later. on the same night.
William NIyler a telegraph operator from
Manhattan. was hailed by two strangers
and relieved of the small amount Of cash
he had which was only ST. The highway
men carried revolvers and wore masks.
Each Of the victims relate a similar
tale and describe the highwaymen as
being young men. Two parties who were
taken as suspects, were put under arrest
Sunday, but after A close examination
they were proven innocent. The police
have no clue as yet. and it seems that
the baggers have succeeded in deceiving
even the most willy. There is undoubtedly
a gang Of these road agents holding here
and the perpetrators of one of the rob
berries are certainly the ones who are
doing all the mischief Every effort is
being made to make an end to this kind
of work, and the police force is keeping
a vigilant eye for the highwaymen.