Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-17
Highwaymen Rob
Safe While Owner
Looks On
Bandits Force Two Men
to Stand and
Deliver
Are Believed to Be the Long and
Short Men Who Have Terror
lied the City in Same
District

Diamonds valued at $4,000, four
watches valued at about 5000 and a
number of valuable rings set with diff
ferent jewels were stolen at $3.50 last
night from the jewelry store of Will
liam M. Kinney, COZ South Spring
street, in the Hayward hotel building,
by two highwaymen, both armed and
one masked, during a holdup which
surpasses in daring any ever COM
mitted in Los Angeles.
The robbery was committed while
the street in front of the store was
crowded with pedestrians and when
there was likelihood at any moment or
customers entering the store. Two
persons, Mr.. Kinney, the proprietor,
and G. r. Hamilton of 14OO Bond
street. clerk, were in the place at the
time.
Mr.. Kinney and the clerk were
forced to stand with their backs to the
wall while the men rifled the show
cases of the watches and rings, and
then Mr.. Kinney was forced by the
taller of the two men, the one VINO
wore the mask and appeared to be the
leader, to open the huge safe at the
further end of the store and hand out
unset diamonds and diamond rings val
ued at $4,000.
The robbers then slowly backed
through the door, leaving the fright
ened proprietor and clerk to regain
their wits.
Long and Short
The robbery was evidently carefully
planned. The men entered the store at
lust the hour when Kinney and Ham1l-
ton were engaged in depositing the
gems in the safe for the night.
Throw up your hands" were the
first words which startled the men,
and turning from their work they round
themselves confronted by two heavy
revolvers in the hands of well dressed
but notwithstanding men.
The order was at once oDeyed and
Kinney and his clerk were instructed
to back away to the wall and remain
quiet. The shorter of the two robbers
hastily ran around the side of the show
case and opened it. Watches and jew
els were taken from their trays ana
crammed into his pockets, and he then
ran to the window from which he aD-
stracted valuable articles from the VIM
dow display. He then rushed to where
Kinney was standing and instructed
him in no gentle voice to go to the safe
and open it. Kinney obeyed, the robber
standing by his shoulder. When the
massive door had at last swung back
on it's hinges Kinney was ordered to
take his place by the side of Hamilton
while the robber stuffed the precious
When the man had taken all he
wished he turned with a nod to his
companion, and the robbers hastily ran
through the door and to the street. In
a moment they were lost in the crowd,
and by the time Mr.. Kinney and Ham
ilton had regained their nerve all trace
of the highwaymen was lost.
Robbery Carefully Planned
Mr.. Kinney telephoned the police
station and Detectives Hosick and Zieg-
Ter were detailed on the case.
According to the description furnished
the department the men are fair sam
pies of the long and short men who
operated in Los Angeles last fall. Both
are said to be we'll dressed and young.
The taller of the two and the one who
appears to be in comand is described
as being about feet inches in height,
light hair and blue eyes. He wore a
dark suit and black hat. This man
carried a handkerchief across the lower
part of his face to serve as a mask.
The shorter of the two men is said to
be of slight build and about feet 5
inches tall He also wore dark suit
and black hat. This man wore no
mask.
Both men were heavily armed and
appeared to be prepared for any kind
of trouble.
The detective department is mystified
by the boldness of the robbery and ev-
cry available officer on the force was
detailed on the case last night. Word
was sent to the patrolmen of the city
to watch for men answering the de-
scription of the robbers and to send
every person who acted suspiciously to
the station.