The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-12-09
Geo. Alexander Seriously Wounded
by Highwayman at North
Yakima, Wash.
Shot in Face, Bullet Lodging Near
Base of Brain---Recovery
Is Predicted.

Word was received here last Sat
urday, through a letter from Geo.
Crooks Youngest son, at North va
kima, to A. D. Stewards son Wal
lace, stating that George Alexander,
recently of this city, had been held
up by highwaymen and shot through
the head, and that the young man,
though badly wounded. was still
alive. Later a letter from Adam
Alexander, father of the wounded
man, was received by members OF
the David Alexander family, giving
a more detailed statement and a
hopeful report of Georges condl-
ton.
The Yakima Daily Republic OF
Dec. 29th made a first page head
liner of the hold up, which we re-
print, as follows:
Armed highwaymen, operating
in the heart of the west side resi-
dence district, held up and shot Geo.
Alexander, an employee in the Val
ley Hardware Co., at the corner of
Eighth and Yakima avenues Satur-
day night about IL o'clock. Refus-
ing to comply with their demand to
hold up his hands higher, one of the
highwaymen. with an oath, shot Al
exander through the left cheek, IN
f1icting a serious but not necessarily
fatal wound, and made their escape
n the darkness. The wounded imam
ran and crawled to his home at IL
Tenth avenue south. The highway
man received nothing, although ne
had S25 in wallet which was in his
his hip pocket.
Alexander was not only an en-
ploye of the Valley Hardware Co.,
but also holds stock in that concern.
He had been working at the store
Saturday evening upon the COM
pany's books, and left for his home
about 1920. When at the corner of
Eighth and Yakima avenues the two
highwaymen leaped from the dark
corner and commanded Alexander to
hold up his hands. Alexander slow
ly raised his hands to the level of
his shoulders. Cup higher" you
-," said the highwaymen.
mot raising his hands as fast as
the robber desired, the leader, an
pered. and with murder in his heart.
said, "You you've got to
have it." and fired, the ball tearing
a ragged hole in Alexander's cheek,
splitting his tongue and lodging at
the base of his brain.
with the firing of the shot the
highwaymen fled, Alexander Crap
ping with the one that fired the
shot and calling loudly for help. A
momentary struggle followed in
which the highwayman freed him.
self from Alexander's grasp and.
with his partner, fled to the city.
Alexander is unable to give good
description of the men. He said
they were both tall and wore black
masks over the lower part of their
faces. He thinks they wore. dark
clothes and hats.
1.-THE scene of the attempted hold
up and shooting is an ideal place for
a crime. The nearest house is LOG
feet away, and a cut in the street
and clump Of bushes furnishes hid
ing place. An arc light which lights
the corner had been turned off a
few minutes before the shooting.
presumably by the highwaymen,
who knew the location of the switch.
Frank James, hack driver. passed
the spot few minutes before the
shooting and noticed the light burn
ing. While returning from cab
call he noticed the light go out and
heard the report of shot and the
sound of hurried footsteps on the
sidewalk.