Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-14
BOLD HOLD-UP
AND ROBBERY
Gateman at Silver Springs,
Md. Beaten by Thugs.
POLICE AFTER SUSPECTS
thorough Investigation Fails to Dis
cover a Clue.
THIEVES GET BUT EIGHTY CENTS
Fcrty Dollars in Gateman's Pocket Is
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Choke Him,
Preventing Alarm.
Thorough Investigation Fails to Dis
cover Clue.
'EIEvES GET BUT EIGHTY CENTS

One Of the boldest hold ups that have
been reported to the local police for inves-
tgItion in d long time occurred Thursday
night at Silver Spring. Nd. on the Bright
wood pike. when William Thompson tenn
p"rary gateman at the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad crossing at Silver Spring. was at
tackled by two desperate thugs. was choked
so he could not call assistance. thrown into
ditch. robbed and left alongside of the
railroad tracks. News of the assault was
made public today.
After recovering from the struggle
Thompson managed to get to the railroad
sittIon at Silver Spring, where he received
assistance from Operator Thompson.
Detectives from police headquarters here,
policemen ali over the city and railroad
men along the line of the Baltimore and
ONO railroad near the District line are
keeping d sharp lookout for the two men,
II general description of whom has been
sent broadcast over the District. The thugs
however have not left clue to their
Whereabouts, SO far as can be learned by
the authorities.
As a favor TO the regular gateman at the
Silver Spring crossing. Thompson relieved
lim Thursday night about II o'clock and
COX his station near the gataman's shed,
few feet from the road. The spot was
Il lonely one. No inhabited houses are
within several hundred yards, the stores of
Silver Spring were all closed at that time
of night, and the nearest person was the
operator IN the tightly closed station 100
yards distant The operator. of course,
was busy with his myriad of tickers.
Asks for Change.
As Thompson leaned against the shed he
saw two men coming down the track from
the direction of the station. In the dark
ness he could distinguish little of their
features, They walked close to the shed
and one of them stepped up to him.
can you change S5?' the track walker
asked
No. haven't d cent" replied the gate
keeper.
You're a liar" snapped back the
stranger. and with a vicious lunge he
pOuncrd upOn the smaller man. There was
"A brief struggle then the companion of
the assailant took a hand. lie quickly
seized Thompson and buried his thumbs
and fingers into his throat and neck.
Thompson Struggled to free the wise
like grip at his throat. but with the other
man holding his hands he was able to
do little. The struggle was fierce. 1t was
waged on small embankment that rises
Up from the track at that point. The two
men gained the upper hold and threw their
victim over the embankment and into the
ditch alongside of the tracks. All three
tumb!cd down the embankment together
into the ditch and the victim was held
while one of the men rifed his pockets.
They found only 50 cents, and that they
I.t4itu litllSStNtS To, HulltIlnS something
regarding the small amount. The gateman
had $40 on his person, which his assalants
overlooked. When he realized the loneli-
ness of his station by the roadway and
knew that his so was exposed to robbers.
II is stated. lie cautiously slipped the roll
from his pocket into his stocking. In that
way. lie says, he saved the money which
The assaiauts were after.
Finding only the 81 cents, however, the
Two huld-up men quickly released their vic
tim and started on run down the rail-
road track toward Takoma Park.
Operator Gives Alarm.
As soon as Thompson recovered from the
struggle he started toward the railroad
station. He burst into the operators office
and related the above story Of the at
tack. Hoping to catch the men as they
continued their way down the track, the
station operator quickly sent 4 message
over the wire 10 Takoma Park asking
parties there to be on the lookout 70, two
men. giving as good a description as he
could. The news Of the hold-up was also
sent I" the telegraph operator at the BaIt-
more ana ONO railroad terminal in this
city, with request that II be cornmuni-
Gated 10 police headquarters. That was
done Immediately, and a description of the
two suspects was added. This Information
was sent To all the precinct stations in
III" city and men answering the description
Will be- hunted by the police.
one Of the footpads called at the Silver
Spring station. il is believed about two
minutes before the attack was made upon
Thompson. lie pcered in at the front sta
tion window, watched the operator a min
ute and thcn asked to be directed 10 a
hotel The stranger was told that the near
est hotel was in this city.
The station was well locked up at that
time. ana II is believed the men hoped to
lufc the operator out by the request TO be
shown To Il hotel and then attack him and
secure the station funds. But the operator
remained at the tiCkers and the man
started on toward the road where the as
sault upon the temporary gateman oc-
CURED. IL Is confidently believed this was
one of the men engaged in the hold-up.
The operator states that the man
appeared to be in hard luck but did not
look like the ordinary hobo or track
walker. that does little else but utilize his
Tie pass. lie had quick nervous manner
about him and his eyes were shifty.