The gold leaf., 1910-09-01

some kind. In all the story told by Aiken
| is a thriller, narratives of Diamond Dick,
| and Old King Brady not being in his
| class. Police detectives have been de-
| tailed on the case and are now investi-
eating
| Here is the story: Last Sunday night
| Aiken drove young woman to her home
| in Dabney, n c., and while en- route back
| to Oxford where he lives two men stopped
| him in the road and demanded his valua-
| bles, or rather what money the farmer
had upon his person. Aiken says that
| he handed over $40 this being only a
part OF bis ready cash.
| The robbery occurred about IL O'Clock
| at night. After the two strangers had
taken the money they told Aiken to drive
on. This he proceeded to do. but he was
| stopped the second time. The robbers
! told him on second consideration they
had decided to kill him and that it
would be up to him to prepare to meet
| his Maker. Aiken objected, so he said to
summary punishment being dealt out to
| him without cause, and he commenced
| to argue with the two men. Finally
| they decided,that it would be best to let
him live. He invited the two hold-ups
to get in the buggy with him, so he says.
| They did so.
Inquisitive Mr. Aiken asked the two
men if they had any other occupation
than that OF highway robbers. They re-
| piled in the affirmative saying that they
| were in the theatrical business-that it
was the vaudeville for theirs. The eyoung
| farmer became interested he said, and
| told his new acquaintance he would
like to follow that business.
Ahnut hat timo Stro Dra hntflo y,ya @
| produced, and Aiken was invited to sip
| it's contents. He did so, and according
| to the story told the Norfolk detectives
that is the last thing he remembered un-
| til yesterday morning.
Aiken thinks the two men carried him
to Henderson. n. c., and that he board
ed the train there for Norfolk His senses
commenced to return to him as he was
crossing the ferry yesterday morning
1he two men both rather shabbily
dressed. were then with him. Reaching
| the Norfolk side he fully realized his pre-
dlcament. He said that one of the men
said something about giving him the
slip, and they proceeded up Commercial
place. The North Carolina man said
| that he tried to ask assistance in catch
ing the two men, but that his voice failed
him and the theatrical men made
their getaway. Aiken finally made his
way to a physicians office, so he says
and was examined. The doctor told him
that he had been given a big dose OF
chloroform. Aiken then made his way
to Central police station. He called
there again in the afternoon, saying that
he had seen no trace OF the two men who
had brought him to Norfolk
Aiken said that he had some money
left, which the two men did not
locate.-He telegraphed to his relatives.
telling of his unusual experience. Last
night he returned home. Aiken told the
police that he had no idea where his
horse and buggy were.
The police say that he went over to
Portsmouth yesterday and consulted
the conductor and other members of the
Seaboard Air Line train crew that
brought in yesterday mornings train
from the South, but they did not remem-
ber ever having seen him, or the other
two men he described. Yesterday after
noon Aiken seemed to be still suffering
from the effects of the drug.