The San Francisco call., 1908-11-04
TRIO HOLD UP CAR
AND ROB THE CREW
Mounted Policeman Runs Down
and Captures One of the
Offenders
Eddie Fitzgerald, the Man in
Jail, Refuses to Disclose
Accomplices

Three footpads held up car 1913 of
the Mission and Twenty-fourth street
line at Twenty-fifth avenue and Gle
ment street about o'clock yesterday
morning. They relieved the conductor,
Charles Wood, of his chain punch con-
tanning $3.50, and the motorman, w.
Hicks, of $3.50. There was one passen-
ger on the car, ]. Evans, of All Twen-
ty-sixth avenue, but he was not molest-
ed. One of the trio was arrested by
Mounted Policeman F. M. Black and
he. was recognized as Eddie Fitzgerald.
a youth who has been in trouble with
the police on more than one occasion.
The car left the barns at Thirtythird
avenue on it's first trip eastward shortly
before 6 o'clock. A heavy fog pre-
vailed. 1t was almost impossible for
the motorman to see a yard ahead of
him. Evans boarded the car at Twen-
ty-sixth avenue; and, when the next
block was reached, three more men
raised his hand to pull the bell for the
motorman to proceed. he looked into
the muZzle of revolver held by Fitz-
gerald, who said: Just hold up your
other hand" Wood promptly obeyed
and Fitzgerald told him to go to the
front of the car beside the motorman
and not make a noise.
The conductor walked TO the front
of the car, followed by Fitzgerald with
his revolver and his two companions
The motorman was ordered to hold up
his hands and as he did so Fitzgeralds
two companions searched him and the
conductor. relieving them of their coin.
When an attempt was made to go
through Woods pockets he showed
light. During struggle the three foot
pads jumped off the car and ran. Wood
and the motorman jumped off after
them Fitzgerald wheeled around, and,
with an oath, fired two shots at Wood,
neither of the bullets taking effect, al
though one narrowly missed him. go
ing through the lapel of his coat.
The motorman and Wood jumped on
the car and went full speed in search
of a policeman. They found Mounted
Policeman Black at the polling booth
In Eighteenth avenue and told him of
the holdup. Black had heard the shots
and was preparing to ride in their di-
rection when the car stopped. He rode
rapidly westward and saw Fitzgerald
disappearing near some houses After
a search he found Fitzgerald hiding in
the basement of an unoccupied house.
Fitzgerald was taken to the Golden
Gate park station. When searched a
revolver and the chain punch of the
conductor containing s4.9O were found
in his pockets. He had also $3.50. sup
posed to have been taken from the
motorman. He was charged with rob-
berry and assault to murder. He posi-
lively refused to disclose the names of
his two companions. Detectives Gra-
ham and Fitzgerald are working on the
case.
Fitzgerald was brought from Sacra-
mento on September by Detectives
Driscoll and McQuaide with Thomas
Bell, as they were wanted here for
holding up Thomas O'Connell in his
saloon. Octavia and Page streets. on
the night of March 29. OConnell had
positively identified their photographs.
put at the preliminary hearing before
Police Judge Shortall he declared he
could not positively swear they were
the footpads and the case was dis
missed. He was similarly fortunate in
Police Judge Weller's court on Septem
Der 80, when charge of assault with
deadly weapon against him for shoot
ing at Policeman McGee was dismissed.