The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-13
EYE-WITNESSES
TELL Of ROBBERY
Daring Holdup of the Wilson
Bar Causes Many
Thrills.
BANDIT STILL AT LARGE
FRED HERMAN HAS NARROW
ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
BANDIT STILL AT LARGE

A revolver failing to work at the
crucial moment enabled the Wilson no.
tel robber to make an easy escape aft
er holding up the hotel bar early yes
terday morning This is the explana-
ton given by Patrolman Mccormick
And it was the failure of a second re-
volver, held in the robbers hand, that
probably saved the life of Fred Her
man, bartender at the Wilson
Herman, who slipped from the bar
room while the thief was emptying the
cash register, declares that the bandit
snapped a revolver at him, but that the
weapon missed fire.
A few minutes later the other re-
vOlver missed fire. This time it was
held by Policeman Mccormick. On
leaving the Wilson hotel, the robber
ran across the street, crouching low, as
though fearing a fusillaae from the
rear. Policeman Mccormick who was
close at hand, was attracted by the
shouts that followed the departure of
the banda. He followed the thief into
Plum alley. Seeing the figure of the
fugitive close ahead of him, the po-
liceman fired a shot.
Robber Returns Fire.
The robber at once turned and re-
turned the fire, emptying two cham
bers of his revolver at Mccormick.
The policeman said that his revolver
repeatedly missed fire as he snapped
it at his audacious opponent, who
seemed to invite a continuance of the
duel The bullets whistling about the
pOliceman's- head compelled him to
seek cover around the corner of one Of
the buildings bordering the alley.
Left alone. the robber ran through
the gate in the fence back of Del Will
sons bar. Next he vaulted two high
fences and crawled through an open
ing I'm third. By the time reinforce
ments had reached Policeman McCoF-
mick the bandit had disappeared.
His escape is believed to have been
due to careful preparations on his part.
The police are convinced that the man.
before essaying TO hold up the Wilson
hotel bar, made a careful examination
of the neighborhood, so as to provide
himself with safe and quick means
! of retreat at the completion of the
l'daring crime.
Was Familiar With Locality
He crossed to Plum alley without a
moments hesitation. 1t seemed clear
that he knew where he was going. The
gate in the fence, through which he
passed, was unlocked. This was I'M
usual. as it was ordinarily kept Sc
curely fastened. The robber is be-
lieved to have opened it before going
over to the Wilson.
His knowledge of the opening in the
third fence was also an indication OF
his familiarity with his surroundings. .
This hole was not in his direct path,
but to one side. Had he not known
of the opening he would doubtless have
vaulted the fence as he had the other
two.
The robbery was the talk of the
town yesterday. The Wilson, in the
heart of the city. and facing a thor
oughfare which is crowded day and
night, seemed the last place in Salt
Lake that a bandit would visit.
Four Suspects Are Caught.
The police, stirred by the audacity OF
the crime, made vigorous efforts to run
down the thief during the day. Four
suspects were taken in the drag net,
which extended over the entire city.
Two of the suspects were quickly re-
leased. The third was detained until
last night, when he, too, was set at
liberty. This man said that he was
James Courtney and that he was from
Juneau, Alaska. He is stopping with Art
Clark. a fireman on the Denver & Rio
Grande railroad. Fred Herman. the
bartender, on seeing the man, SalO JndL
in size and complexion he resembled
the robber, but was unable to make a
positive idntification.
James B. Miller a Salt Lake news
paper man, who was in the Wilson bar
when the hOld-up occurred, was next
sent for. He was positive that Court
ney was not the robber, and the young
man was allowed to go.
The fourth man is still being held in
the city Jail. He gave the name of Guy
Hawley, a laborer. The police do not
think that he was the bandit. but have
an idea that he may know something
about the crime. He was seen stand
ing on the sidewalk on Second South
street, opposite the Wilson hotel, when
the robber entered the hotel bar. AS
the thief emerged Hawley, instead OF
taking an interest in the pursuit.
assembled to a room in a lodging house
near where he was standing and went
to bed. He was taken from his bed
by the police.
Police Firearms Are Inspected.
At police headquarters Chief Rode
rick Mckenzie and Captain Burbidge
made a rigid investigation during the
day into the cause of the failure of Po-
liceman Mccormick to keep up the pur-
suit of the escaping robber. When it
was shown that the policemans re-
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