Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-24
CAR OFFICE
IS ROBBED
BOLD THIEF MAKES A RICH
HAUL
SECOND STREET STATION SCENE
OF HoLDuP
Night Cashier Victim of Bandit Who
Forces Him at Point of Gun
to Give Up the
Cash

r. B. DaVisson, the night cashier OF
the Los Angeles -Redondo Railway COM
pany. was held up and robbed in the
office of the company at 217 West Sec
end street at $3.50 o'clock last night OF
$500.
The robbery was one of the boldest
and most daring that has occurred In
Los Angeles.
Shortly before the leaving time of the
Redondo car at 9 o'clock conductor
entered the office and deposited with
the cashier an envelope containing $lo
the receipts of his trip.
Young Davisson took the envelope
and laid it on the counter of the CASH
ier's desk and after checking the con-
ductor out turned and went to the rear
of the building.
At the time he left the office there
was not another person in 1t. The con-
ductor who had made the deposit had
gone to his car and there were no pas
sengers in sight.
on the sidewalk, however. there was
a squat, red faced individual who had
watched the establishment all the even
ing.
II was not his first appearance on the
scene A week ago Sunday this small
heavyset, fiorid complexioned man had
appeared in the office and had staid
there for several hours watching the
process of selling tickets and the cheek
ing in and out Of conductors.
Dodges Into Building
When young Davisson went to the
rear of the building last night this red
faced individual lodged into the office
of the railroad company and walking
behind the screen hid himself in the
parcel room, a small enclosed booth ad-
Joining the big steel cash vault.
Ten minutes later Davisson returned
to the front office. Lying on his desk
was the $40 envelope given him by the
conductor. He took it and walked to
the safe and unlocked the big steel
doors and then the money drawer where
the petty cash is usually kept.
At the moment he did SO he felt
cold hard cylinder placed in the back OF
his neck and heard the command:
Throw up your hands,
Until that moment Davisson did not
Imagine there was another person in
the office beside himself.
The young cashier promptly elevated
his hands. AS he did so he cast glance
over his shoulder and got glimpse OF
IA caliber revolver which caused
more cold shivers to run down his back.
Davisson then gently lowered ms
hands at the direction of the robber
and ladled out of the drawer in hand
fuls a lot of silver dollars and halves
with which it was crowded.
When the robber had pocketful OF
these coins he called halt and de-
manded that he be given more sub
stantial and less bulky evidence OF
wealth and then Davisson opened ur
another drawer in which was SSO0 III
gold and 500 in currency.
Robber Helps Himself
To this liberal store of wealth the
robber helped himself in generous
l,O 1nff laf ~
paper in his hurry and in another
drawer but two inches removed there
was $1,000 in gold and paper which ne
overlooked and failed to get.
AS soon as the robbery was accom-
plished the highwayman backed young
Davisson up into the corner of the
safe and still keeping the revolver
pointed at him backed out of the cage
and through the hallway to the rear
of the office.
The robber escaped, it is believed
through the alleyway in the rear OF
the building, which leads into the
Waldorf saloon.
few minutes after the robbery a
man answering the description of the
robber walked into the rear of the
saloon and stopping at the bar coolly
ordered a drink of whisky.
He was served and paid for II with
Il silver uOlldI.
After receiving his change he walked
ut of the front door and disappeared
Immediately after the robbery young
Davisson called up the police depart
ment and reported his loss
A number of detectives and patrol
men were sent to the scene There
was absolutely no clue beyond the
description of the robber obtainable.
The man is described as about
feet or inches in height, 160 to 17l
pounds in weight, broad shouldered
florid complexion, smooth shaven'
brown hair. dark eyes and wearing q
brown soft hat, tan coiored coat and
striped trousers.
The man was observed as he walked
from the Waldorf saloon but his man.
ner and conduct were such that nc
suspicion attached to him at the time
The police believe him to be an old
time and experienced thief and one OF
the gang which came here to clean
up the town during feet week.