The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-06
MAN IS SHOT AS He
SPEEDS FROM
FOOTPADs
HELD UP BY TRIO ON ELloT-ST.,
J.E. coFFEEN oAsHEs FOR LIB
ERTY AND GETS BULLETIN LEG
BUT SAVES vALUABLEs.

because he was not AFRAID 10 TAKE
a chance, J. +. Coffeen, a shoe sales
man living at No. 626 Brush-st., frus
trated the plans of three highwaymen
who waylaid him on Eliot-st.. neal
Brush. late Friday night, but he IL
now confined To his bed AS a result
He saved a SOS roll and $3.50 gold
watch but In doing SO he received
bullet hole In his left leg that will lay
him up for few days. At that. he
figures he is money anead. and the
satisfaction % knowing that he out
witted the highwaymen is worth
whole lot. he says. The police are
looking for the bandits.
| Il attended a theater in the even
ing and afterwards walked up Wood
ward-ave. with a friend who lives up
that way" Coffeen related, Saturday
morning Instead OF taking car
back downtown and transferring to
the Brush line to go home, figured
that | could save time by cutting
through Eliot-st. When | reached
John r. | saw three men coming west
on Eliot One of them looked like
a fellow who comes to the house fire.
quently TO see my cousin, and
thought II was he at first.
Il had just reached vacant spot
on the south side OF the street where
they are excavationg for new house
when the trio stopped in front OF me.
The ringleader was a fellow about six
feet tall. The fellow next TO him was
about head shorter and the third
was real short
Halt! Put up your hands, said
the big fellow as he stepped up and
pushed a revolver in my face | still
thought 1t was my cousins friend and
that he was playing a joke on me
For that reason | was little slow In
putting up my hands. and he repeat
ed. in voice as deep as fog horn ::
Come on. put 'em up.
Then | realized that | was up
against the real thing and l obeyed.
BY this time the second fellow had
gun in my face. and the shorty
started to go around back of me, for
the purpose. ! concluded. OF going
through my pockets.
Il did some pretty tall thinking dur.
ing the next few seconds. AS | stood
there with my hands in the air. !
went over the situation with as much
delberation as possible under the cir
cumstances. Now. If | let 'em go
through me and get my coin and my
valuables they'll give me beating In
the bargain and throw me into that
hole so | can't give an alarm until
they're safely out Of the way | said
TO myself. mentally. IT run I'll prob
ably get shot; but I'll take a chance
Il knew the robbers were not look
ing for anything like that. and as
can sprint few | figured that
could get a nice little lead before
they recovered from their surprise
SO, my mind made up. | gave the big
fellow sudden push, saying as
did so; To h with you Then
bolted for home just half block
ahead of me. taking a zigzag course
to confuse their aim.
Il had not gone 10 feet when they
opened fire. Four shots rang out, one
right after the other. The first caught
me In the leg. but | never stopped
running. When | reached the house
looked around and saw the fellows
making towards Woodward-ave. as
fast as they could"
Mr.. Coffeen hasn't even the bullet
as souvenir OF the occasion for II
passed through the muscles on the
left side of the leg. just above the
knee. leaving clean would, which IL
not regarded as serious unless blood
poisoning should develop
Coffeen was too busy thinking to
take much note OF the trio's appear
ance. and does not think he could
identify them. AS nearly as he can
recall, however. the tall man wore a
light brown coat. trousers OF darker
shade and soft black hat The sec.
ond fellow was dressed in dark clothes
and had dark complexion. He can
give no description OF the third ex.
cept that he was short. None OF the
gang wore an overcoat All were
young men in their early twenties.
Detectives Seymour and Brooks. Of
the central bureau. and Holland and
Graus, of Garfield station, are work
ng on the case.
The holdup occurred shortly before
midnight.
Mr.. Coffeen is 20 years old and is
employed in the woman's department
" the Walk-Over shoe house. He re-
ides with his cousin, Charles Pierce.
at the Brush>st. address