The San Francisco call., 1905-03-27
Four Armed and Masked
Men Enter Establishment
of John Hartman, Tap Till
and Shoot at Proprietor
LIKE BOLD CRIMES
ABOUND In THE CITY
E. f. Ruffies Is Held Up for
Watch on Howard Street.
While Peter Johnson's Rob
ber Is First introduced

ber Is First introduced
Footpads had another outing last
night and got away.
John Hartman's saloon at SIG Sec
ond street was robbed by four high
waymen, who got $45.
E. f. Ruffles, furniture dealer at
915 Mission street, was relieved OF a
$50 watch and chain as he was walk
ing along Howard street.
Peter johnson was held up for a
$65 watch by a man to whom he had
just been introduced.
Four armed and masked robbers
entered the saloon and grocery of John
Hartman at Sic Second street last night
and, at the points of revolvers. COM
PEELED the proprietor to surrender $40
which was in the cash register. At
first Hartman refused, and shot was
fired at him. It is believed the cart
ridge was a blank, as no trace of a
bullet can be found. Two patrons OF
the place were obliged to raise their
hands, but were not further molested.
Hartman fired four shots at the thieves
after they had left the place.
Hartman, John Brown of 516 Second
street and j. j. McGovern of 52S Sec
ond street were in the saloon portion
of the establishment when four men
came along. One of the criminals took
up his position just outside the front
door and the other three, whose faces
were concealed by handkerchiefs. en-
tered with drawn revolvers. Each one
of the trio picked out man and or
dered him to throw up his hands. Brown
and McGovern quickly complied when
the muzzles of the weapons were show
ed under their noses, but Hartman re-
fused TO comply with the demand.
FIRES AT VICTIM.
With an oath the robber who had him
in charge retreated step and fired
point blank at the saloonmans body.
Hartman then changed his mind and
his hands went high above his head.
The next command the robbers made
was for the three men to march to a
room in the rear of the place.
When they did so two of the thieves re-
mained guard over them, while a third
walked behind the bar and attempted
to open the cash register. The cash
box, however, was locked and the
masked man made preparations to
break 1t open. Hartman begged him
not to do so and offered to open the ma
chine rather than have it broken.
Still with his hands above his head
Hartman was marched behind the bar
and turned over $45 in cash. He was
asked If that was all the money in the
place and he replied that it was. With
out further parley the three men turn
ed and stepped out of a side door that
leads into an alley. They were quickly
Joined by the man who had acted as
guard and the four rushed away to-
gether in the direction of South Park
Hartman got his revolver and fired
after the fleeing figures. He did no
damage.
Detectives Dinan and Wren were de-
tailed on the case and came to the con-
clusion that the robbers were we'll ac-
quainted with the place and the neigh
borhood They were all apparently
young, and it is possible that arrests
will be made very soon.
FURNITURE MAN ROBBED.
A daring robbery was committed
last night shortly after o'clock when
five men held up E. +. Ruff1es, a fur
niture dealer at 915 Mission street.
Ruff1es had no money, but one of the
thugs got his watch and chain, valued
at $50. .
Ruffles was walking along Howard
street, and when he reached the COR
ner of Russ street five men sprang out
Of a doorway They jumped him so
quickly that he did not even have a
chance to make an outcry. After get
ting his watch and chain, the thugs
quickly dispersed, first warning RufHes
not to make a noise, under pain or
death.
Ruffles reported the hold-up to the
police at the Southern Station. He was
SO badly frightened that he was un-
able to give the police a description OF
any of his assailants.
AN INGENIOUS HOLD-UP.
Peter Johnson, So Langdon street.
was the victim of a bold stick up"
man last night at Sixth and Natoma
streets. He walked out Of saloon
there with a stranger and as soon as
they got around the corner, Johnson's
supposed friend held him uD and re-
lieved him of S6 in cash and gold
watch and chain valued at S65.
Johnson was in the saloon kept by
Mrs. Sullivan on Natoma street be-
tween Third and Fourth. There he
met Jerry Sullivan. husband Of the
proprietress. The two men went up
to the saloon at Sixth and Natoma
streets, where Sullivan introduced
Johnson to the man who robbed him.
Sullivan took his departure as soon
as the formality of the introduction
had been gone through. A moment
later the hold UP man invited johnson
to take walk with him. They had
gone but a short distance from the
place when Johnson's supposed friend
ordered his man to throw up his
hands, after which he quickly ram
sacked the latter's pockets and got
away. Johnson told the officials at
the Southern police station his
troubles.