The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-02-01
HELD UP
AND ROBBED
WILL PORTER RELIEVED OF SIS
ON NORTH GARDEN STREET
SUNDAY NIGHT.
Two Unknwon Men Knock Mr.. Porter
Down and Escape With the
Money.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
was held up SUNDAY evening by two
unknown men and relieved Of a shot
sack containing s4S. The robbery oc.
Cured early in the evening near the
old Greenwood cemetery, and Mr.
Porter was so baby shaken up by the
blow and the fall he received that he
was not able to come to work Monday
morning.
Just at supper time Mr.. Porter left
home to go out on the extension OF
North Garden street to pay claim
Of s45. due on am industrial insurance
policy carried by Jennie Whitaker
colored, who died some weeks since
AS he was leaving the house and was
ON the front porch his mother called
to him that supper was ready and
that he had best wait and eat. He
called back that he was going TO pay
that claim and would be back in a
few minutes. He had the shot sack
containing the $45 and three dollars OF
his own in his overcoat pocket.
Mr.. Porter says when he had al
most reached the cemetery he heard
two men walking rapidly behind him
and talking. That as the men got
close to him, they stopped talking aud
one Of them grabbed him by the coat
lapel and jerked him around, at the
same time exclaiming: IF you have
anything give it up and be quick about
it." That the same man, negro,
struck him in the face, and while he
does not think the blow was sufficient
to knock him down, as he saw 1t COM
ing and lodged, his foot slipped and
he fell, striking his head. That the
negro Immediately jumped on him
while the other man, who was either
white man or a light colored mulat-
to, held pistol over him. The negro
went through his pockets and as soon
as they discovered the shot bag and
heard the rattle of silver, the two
men ran down towards the lower side
of the cemetery near the river.
Mr.. Porter says his mind was bad
ly confused by the fall and he did
not get enough view OF the two men
to identity them well. but simply
knows that neither Of them had on an
overcoat and had their undercoats
buttoned closely about their necks.
That both men were about HIS own
size. and when he last saw them they
were running. He returned immed-
lately home, and was met at the door
by his sister. Mrs. Champion. who saw
by his looks that something was the
matter. AS soon as he had told OF the
robbery, his father, Mr. s. S. Porter,
called up police headquarters and Of
ficers Ed Morgan and Bailey Peyton
were sent to the house They were
given all the information possible and
went over the route and made gem
eral search of the town, but SO far
have found no trace Of the two high
waymen.
There are several circumstances
that indicate that two negroes had
learned Of the proposed payment and
were on the watch to commit the rob-
berry. The negro Whitaker says two
strange negroes had been hanging
about his home for a day or two, and
were standing near the front fence
Saturday night. His daughter came
suddenly to the front door and the two
negroes took to their heels.
Sunday morning an unknown negro
came to Mr.. Porter's house and said
he had come to sec about the Whit
taker claim, that Whitaker had sent
him. Mr.. Porter was In bed at the
time, but sent word to the negro to
tell Whitaker he would be out there
Sunday night or Monday morning to
settle with him. After the robbery
Whitaker was questioned about the
matter and said he had never sent
anyone to see about his claim, and did
not know the negro. who gave his
name as Johnson, when he came to
Mr.. Porter's house. n