Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-24

A. w. Folkes and Eugene F. Davis,
of this city. being the victims: An
account of the incident appeared in
the afternoon papers yesterday.
A flood OF light Is thought 20 have
been shed on the case today, how
ever. by the inti0ation that the
two prisoners at Henrio have on
previous occasions masQueraded as
county police officers. near Lakesid e
approaching innocent pleasure seek
ers recreating fin the park with the
threat OF placing them under arrest.
This. it is said. was done with the
sole object Of eXtorting a bride from
the escort in order 10 shield and
prevent the name of the lady in the
case from being exposed 20 possible
scandal Such action on the part Of
the accused initiated no less against
the regulations OF their victims than
agains; that OF the Henrico county
.constabulary. the latter OF whom are
very indignant over the alleged pro-
ceedinEs OF Vaughan and Epps
Mr. Eugene r. Davis. who accom-
panied one Of the young ladies at
the time of the unpleasantness at
Lakeside Park last Tuesday even
ing said TO a representative of The
Richmond Journal today that the
two men, Vaughan and Epps. repre-
scented themselves as police officers
when they effected their holdup game
az the park
AT FIRST" said Mr. Davis. I'VE
could not understand their object.
We had been guilty OF no indiscre-
ton of boisterous conduct. and could
not guess the meaning of their threat
one of the men turned back his coat
and displayed "A badge OF some char
acter. saying that he was a county
constable and invested with the au-
thority of the law He then said
that be would place the entire party
under arrest for improper behavior
unless We were prepared 20 come
across with the cash
AR. Davis explained that the con
duct OF the two mea. Vaughan and
Epps was excessively Objectionable.
and that they each fourished heavy
sticks, with which they were armed.
lie said that both he and AIr. Folkes
were unarmed and taken completely
unawares. and that their lady com
panions were greatly frightened at
the compartment and general man
ner Of Che fake police officers.
Mr.. Davis was afraid that the
newspaper reports OF yesterday
might be misinterpreted by the read
ing public 20 the possible prejudice
OF the characters OF the young la
dies IN question. each OF which is a
stranger In Richmond. He explain
ed that this was not only the desireI
OF the two Henrico county prisoners.
but the threat under which the men
hoped 20 obtain hush money" HeI
was OF the opinion that men who
would rob women under a threat oil
blackmail could hardly be accepted
as competent witnesses when their
own liberty and freedom were all
stake.
IL is rumOred today that testimony
will DE introduced when the case
against Vaughan and Epps reaches
the upper court TO the effect that
they have each made a practice oil
holding up innocent victims in The
county parks. IL Is said that II will
be proven that last Tuesdays esca-
pade is not the only one in which
the two prisoners have figured one
OF the men held for trial is married
The following has been received
by TIE Richmond Evening Journal
from Baltimore:
Miss May Hudgins was an opera.
tor IN the 81. Paul exchange until
several weeks ago. when She was
sent 20 Richmond 90 help institute
q double board service. She has
oeen employed by the company
ABOUT TWO years. she lives at Ir-
vington
Miss Helen Ratowski was an,
ployed at the Mount Vernon ev-
change and IS very popular. she
ives at $50 Hanover Street Win
her parents. Richmond Evening
Journal. July 10, 1903.