Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-11-18
POSTOFF|Ct WAS LOOTED
Robbers Made Haul at Sir Johns
Run Friday Night
MEN WERE SEEN IN THIS CITY
Bat They Succeeded In Making
Their Escape After Leading
the Officers Merry Chase.

the officers Merry Chase.
Three unknown men FRIDAY night
into the store containing the postofliee
broke'at Sir Johns Run. and looted the
place of all the stamps, aud cash that
they could get their hands on, and
also carried away quantity Of goods
frem the store.
The robbery was discovered at an
early hour Saturday morning, and q
telegram giving the details was sent T.
Deputy United States Marshal Lveth,
Of this city, and that officer, assisted
by the members of the local police
force, were hot ON the scent of the
rsbbers
The telegram from Sir Johns Run
stated that one OF the men wore q
medium. length oyercoat of light color,
dark clothes, derby hat and patent
leather shoes. TIE others were short
er, and were dressed in dark clothes.
The local police were notified, and the
description of the men tailed closely
with that of three men who have been
ioafng around Martinsburg for sew
eral DAYS, aud who were in one of the
Qseen sire saloons Friday evening.
About o'clock Saturday morning u
telephone message was received at the
police station. saying that a stranger
had offered to sell sheet of about
100 2-cent stamps to resident of High
street, and Officer Monegan hurriedly
went TO that section of theAcity and
nsde thorough search for the fellow.
The description of the fellow answered
that of one of the supposed robbers,
and it was also stated that he had
good sized suitcase full of the plumber
taken from the postoffice and store.
The fellow evidently became alarmed
at the hot chase, and succeeded in
hiding in one of the stables or out
honses on the hill, battling the efforts
of the officers to capture him.
Another clue to his whereabouts
was secured by Marshal Lyeth Satur.
day afternoon, he and Officer Blake
are following this closely. 1t Is be-
licved the men are members of an
organized gang that had planned
raids ON several places in this vicinity
and made Martinsburg their head
quarters until they could work up the
"details of the robberies.
ROBBERS HAVE ESCAPED.
The three men who robbed the
ssstofice at Sir Johns Run on Friday
night seem to have disappeared com
pletely. leaving not the faintest clue
to their present whereabouts and baf-
hing the officers thoroughly. Deputy
Marshal Lyeth and members of the
local police force secured the city and
adjacent country all day Saturday
without finding anyone who answered
the description of the men, and finally
gave up the chase as bad job. The
man reported to have offered sheet
Of stamps for sale on High street on
Saturday morning. was last seen under
the Baltimore & Ohio bridge at Burk
street, where all trace of him was
lest II is supposed he boarded an
eastbound freight and thus escaped
Later details Of the robbery at the
postoiiiee state that every cent of
rnouey about the place, Announcing 70
more than 500, was taken, and that
about $50 worth Of stamps and Sl5
worth OF cheap jewelry also disap-
peared with the robbery. The safe
was blown open in manner similar
to the one robbed at Shenandoah
function week ago. and Marshal
Lyeth believes the same gang robbed
both safes The fuse used In lighting
tse dynamite was the same in both
eases, and the manner of going about
the jobs was very much alike. Secret
service men will be put to work on
the case, and some developments are
expected in few day.
Three men. captured in a box car
on the Baltimore & Ohio on Saturday
sight were lodged in jail here OH a
shsrge of train-riding, and are being
seld as suspects. 1t is not believed
sv the officers, however. that they are
ia any way connected with the
robbery.