The morning journal-courier., 1908-07-17
Edward H. Backus, of Walling- ford, Robbed of $170 and Left Lying on Steps of
 Arnold Building.
.FIREMEM TO THE RESCUE
Police on Trail of Companions Who Dragged Man Along by No. 12's Fire House and, Leaving Him
 Injured, Ran Away.

One of the most daring holdups which has occurred In New Haven in recent years took place on Crown street, near No. l2's engine house, about 10 o'clock, Wednesday. The po- lice are working on the case, and while they will not report what progress has been made 1t is understood that they know the two young men who were with the victim ten minutes previous to his being left on the doorsteps Of the Arnold building, and that they will be asked to explain their connections with the case.
 The victim of the hold-up was Ed ward II. Backus of Walllngford, ac- cording to his statement to tho police yesterday morning. and he was robbed of sl70. He could not remember when the money was taken, nor who he was with at the time He admitted that he had been drinking but said that he had taken no more than on any day, so that there must have been some thing powerful put In the glasses. 1 It was about 10 o'clock when the fey people there were on Crown street at | the time noticed two men dragging u { third. apparently unconscious along the i street As It Is not an unusual sight ' those who saw the men. especially those in No. 19's fire house, thought that two friends were escorting homo someone who was under the weather.
 A few minutes later a boy came run ming up to the fire house, and said that there was a man lying unconscious and hurt on the steps of the Arnold build- 1 ing. Some of the fremen ran over to the house and brought him across the street while the police wagon was sent for. He was unconscious and any ef- forts made by the Bremen or police failed to revive him. One side of his face looked as If 1t had been struck an awful blow, and the eye was closed.
 When he came to his senses yester- day morning he could nos remember distinctly whether he had been hit or whether he had injured himself when he fell down. His clothes looked as if he had been in q tussle, but otherwise than on the face he was uninjured. His eye was the blackest ever seen at po- lice headquarters and the rest of his face was badly bruised.
 Backus said that he had come to the city and that he had taken one or two drinks He said that he was never heavy drinker and did not depart iron. his regular custom the evening before. When he came to the city he had the roll of bills, but they had been taken from him. He gave the description of various men he had seen near him in the evening, but could not remember going along Crown street.
 From the flremen and from others who saw Backus dragged or assisted along the street the police have procur- ed good description of the men. When they dumped BaclSus on the steps of the Arnold building they walked rapid ly up State street and disappeared. The police are looking for them.
 Backus went back to Wallin2ford yesterday, but it will be sometime be- fore he recovers his natural looks. He also suffered bad shock from his fall on the steps, but permanent injuries are not anticipated.