Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-24
Rnhs Third Place

Robs Third Place
within less than an hour afterward as
q. |. Knowles, proprietor of the Univers-
itv meat market at 1907 Wesley avenue,
was closing his place of business the
Same man with the handkerchief mask
entered his place of business with an
order to Knowles and two belated GUS
toners to throw up their hands.
The men promptly complied with MS
order and the robber walked behind the
counter, backing the men into corner
behind the ice box.
He then opened the cash till and took
a sack containing nearly $50 and TOOK szo
in change from the compartments or the
drawer.
He then. as his usual custom. ordered
the men to stand where they were ana
backed out of the place, running down
i lhirty-ffth street and disappearing IN
the darkness.
THE officers from the University station
were on hand within few minutes after
the news of the robbery had been tele-
phoned to them, but the tall young man
had, of course, vanished.
Another hour passed and tall young
man, this time accompanied by COM
panion, appeared at the Santa Fe road
house at Santa Fe and Joy streets, and
walked into the place just as John G.
Phillips the bartender, was about to close
the place.
He was suddenly confronted with big
gun and backed up against the Ice box,
where one man kept him covered while
the other made search OF the casn
drawers and register.
The sum of cash here totaled more than
$50. and the men showed 1t into two sacks
In about equal proportion and then left
the place after quietly pouring them
selves out drink and toasting the bar
tender as he stood with his hands
elevated.
They, too, disappeared as off the
earth before the peace officers arrived on
the scene.
It is doubted by the police that either
Of the men who committed this robbery
was the same as the one who held up the
dairy, the drug store and the butcher
shop, but as to those three places there
is no question.
The same description was given in
every instance and the method of work
was the same and the undisputed and np-
removable clew to his identity which the
police have was marked in every instance.
First Attempt Successful
The foray of the robber at the Belle
Vernon Farms company at 316 East
Eighth street was a bootless one.
While there was plenty of money in
the safe of the company w. III. Martin,
the cashier, had emptied the cash draw
ers but asdew minutes before and even
under the persuaSian of a loaded re-
vcl fer he could not be forced to admit
he knew how to open the safe, and the
highwayman went his way with moth
ing for his daring attempt at robbery.
The receipts of the dairy taken in
after banking hours yesterday amount
ed to little more than $500. This
cash. up to about o'clock was con-
tanned in the two drawers beneath the
counter of the outer office and in a
cash register, which stood within the
cage usually occupied by the cashier.
Mr.. Martin had finished making UP
the days cash, and taking the silver
and gold, currency and scrip which the
drivers and collectors had brought in,
placed it all in the safe in rear office,
closed the door and whirled the COM
bination knob once or twice and re-
turned to his post.
Just then the telephone bell rang and
he went to that instrument and began
taking an order from a customer when
he heard the office door open.
Martin merely glanced in that direc-
ton and saw coming in tall young
man about twenty years of age, smooth
shaven and dressed in dark clothes and
gray slouch hat. white silk hand
kerchief was knotted loosely around
his neck and the cashier turned again
to the telephone.
Eyes. one gallon of milk and a half
pint OF -" the voice over the tele-
phone was saying.
Robber Enters Office
Throw up your hands," came voice
from behind him, and turning quickly
the cashier saw the tall young man
with the handkerchief pulled up over
his face and q big revolver pointed
directly at him.
UP went the hands of the young
cashier and the masked young man
came behind the counter and ordered
him to back into the corner.
still keeping the gun pointed at Mar
tin the robber walked to the counter
and opened the cash drawers.
where Is your money!" he snarled as
he saw that both drawers were empty.
''In the SAFE" replied Martin.
Where is your safe?" was the next ex-
clamation from the robber.
Martin replied that 1t was In the back
Office, and the robber ordered him into tho
rear room.
HURRY UP and open it," he ordered
Il can't do 1t, TO save my life," pleaded
Martin. 1.-THE auditor put all the money IN
the safe at O'Clock before he went
home and l don't know the combination
Fails to Open Safe
TRY it, anyhow commanded the ban
dit and in obedience Martin tried the
safe, but the door refused to open. Il
can't do it," said Martin; honestly
can't, not even IL you shot me-"
''Well, then. get out of here!" were the
iext words that came from the robber,
and he backed Martin into the outer Office
At that moment r. Hildebrand night
watchman of the establishment, came
into the outer office. The robbers gun
flew toward him and he was ordered to
throw up his hands He prompts
obeyed.
Both men were tnen backed against
the wall of the office and the robber
seemed about to search their pockets
when he caught sight of the register in
the cashiers cage
Quickly he turned toward it and pressed
key which threw open the drawe-.
1t. too was empty of coin and he turned
savagely toward the men and command
cd them to stand where they were for
five minutes. and he then backed out
Of the door.