Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-24
Hello UP AND ROBBED
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
Richard Freeman Stopped by High
Waymen Near Main Entrance
Of Exposition.
Lost VALUABLE WATCH AN0 MONEY
Three Robbers Appeared as Young
Man Was Crossing Ravinc Below
Trolley Car Trestle, on His Way to
Pine Beach Pier-Threatened to
Shoot II He Moved.

Held up at the point of revolver
in broad daylight and nj n point with.
in less than Il hundred yards from the
camp of the Third United States Ar
tillery. and almost within stone throw
from the main entrance to the James
town Exposition. Richard II. Freeman.
young man of this city. was robbed
of $3.50 in cash and gold watch,
valued at $4,000. about $50 o'clock
yesterday afternoon by three unknown
white men.
The holdup occurred in the bottom
of the ravine beneath the electric car
trestle just north of the main entrance
to the Ter-centennial and is the bold
est that has occurred on the other side
of the Roads since the Exposition
opened.
Threatened TO Shoot.
After relieving freeman or his cash
and watch, the highwaymen told him
that If he moved or cried out before
they were out of sight, they would
shoot him. The men then hastily walk
ed off toward n thicket on the south
side of the trestle, the man with the
gun covering the victim until they
disappeared in the bushes.
AS soon as the robbers were out OF
sight. Freeman climbed to the top OF
the trestle in an effort to ascertain
In what direction the men went, but
he did not again see tnem. Leaving
the trestle. the young man went to the
military gate of the Exposition and
asked the officer there where he
could find detective.
After hearing the story of the rob.
berry. the officer directed him to the
Headquarters of the county police at
Pine Beach.
Vain Search for Robbers.
Mr.. Freeman went to the headouar
tiers and reported the robbery and a
detective was detailed to accompany
him in search of the men. In com
pany with the officer Mr.. Freeman
visited all the saloons and amusement
places around ne Beach but the
hishwaymen could not be found.
After borrowing some money from n
friend at Pine Beach. Mr.. Freeman
came TO this city about 10 o'clock last
night and reported the case to Chief of
Police Reynolds.
One of the robbers wore kim
trousers of military pattern and regu.
lation army shoes The other two
800 w. ''tH1NN III ldNntI SlluDDl
civilian clothes and the three of them
had the appearance of hoboes.
When seen by a Daily Press re-
porter last night. Mr. Freeman said
that he went to Norfolk yesterday
morning on business and left that city
Mt o'clock, intending to spend about
an hour at the Exposition and come
over here on the 4 o'clock boat.
lie left s,ie car al the main entrance
of the Exposition. hut on looking at
his watch he found that IT was nearly
$50 o'clock and that he would not
have time to catch the O'Clock boat
ii he went in the Exposition.
Started to Walk to Piert
In the meantime the car on which
he made the trip from Norfolk, had
continued to Pine Beach, and as there
was no car for Pine Beach in sight,
he decided to walk to the pier. He
followed the path along the Exposition
fence, and leading in the ravine, this
patch beng frequentcd by scores OF
people during the day and early in the
night. When he started down the ra-
vine. he noticed three men descend
ing into 1t from the opposite side but
paid no attention to them.
When he started to pass them at
the bottom of the gorge, however. one
of the men whipped out n revolver
and pointing it in his face ordered
him to throw UP his hands.
AS soon as his hands were above
his head. two OF the men began going
trough his clothes. taking all of his
money, two railway tickets and some
papers.
Car Frightened Thenu
Just as the men finished rifling his
pockets, car that was nearing the
trestle, blew It's whistle. and one of
the men hastily grabbed Mr.. rreeman's
watch, breaking the chain off at the
stem. and leaving the chain hanging
from the lapel Of his coat
Warning their victim under threa
of death if he moved or cried out the
mon made tneir escape.
During the search with the detective
that followed the robbery, Mr.. Free.
man learned that the men had been
around Pine Beach, Mt the military
gate of the Exposition and near the
camp of the Third artillery.
Mr.. Freeman will return to Pine