Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-25
COLLECTOR SHOT;
ROBBED Of SI55
Insurance Solicitor Held Up in
Business District While Get
ting His Auto
is WOUNDED THREE TIMES
Many Motor Cars Within Block
and Pedestrians so Yards
Away at the Time

Held up by two men who confronted
him in the dark alley in the rear of
921 South Main street at $40 o'clock
last night, Philip A. Armenia, an in
surance solicitor, living at 500 West
Broadway, Whittier, was shot three
times and then robbed of $155 and sew
eral important documents. At the
time of the holdup more than a score
of automobiles were lined up in front
of the Majestic theater, less than a
block away, and persons were passing
along the streets scarcely fifty yards
distant.
With the blood streaming from two
wounds in his left hand and a jagged
cash in his left ear, through which a
bullet passed, Armenia staggered to
the Ninth street entrance to the alley
and almost fell into the arms Cf e. l..
Masterson, an employe of Pantages'
theater, who had just stepped out of
a lunch room at 120 West Ninth street.
H. p. Vallikett, proprietor of the lunch
room, Joined Masterson, and the two
hailed DR.. r. II. Russell, who was
passing in his auto, and the injured
man was taken to a drug store at
Ninth and Main streets. Later Ar
menta was taken to the Pacific hos
pital.
lections yesterday and at $3.50 o'clock
left the downtown district and started
toward the private garage in the rear
of 921 South Main street, where he
kept his auto. He entered the alley
and reached the garage at 9:40 o'clock.
He was fumbling in the darkness for
the lock to the door when ne was
startled by a command to hold up
his hands. .H=#
Armenia turned quickly and saw
two men standing in front of him. One
of the pair-a tall man about six feet
one inch in height-held a revolver,
while the other-a short, stockily built
man about five feet eight inches in
height-stood near him. The insur-
ance man took in the situation at a
glance. Without hesitation he sprang
at the tall man. seized him by the
throat and, being a powerful man,
was about to throw the bandit, when
the other man yelled:
LET him have it, quick"
The tall robber swung his revolver
toward the body of Armenia and fired
three shots in rapid succession. The
first two bullets struck the victim in
the left hand and the third shot tore
a hole through the lobe of his left ear.
VICTIM DAzED BY SHOTS
The detonation of the shots, fired at
bullet wounds dazed Armenia, and he
staggered back to the wall of the gar
age and leaned against it in q helpless
condition.
The men hurriedly searched his
pockets, first rifiing the pocket in
which the wallet containing the money
was carried. then ran south in the
alley to Tenth street. Armenia re-
mained leaning against the building
for several seconds, then staggered
north to Ninth street, where he gave
the alarm.
At the time Of the holdup the after
noon watch had gone off duty and the
members of the night watch were on
their way to their respective beats,
none of the men having reached his
district.
Sergts. Tyler and Hartmeyer, who
were hurrying to the scene of the
holdup, stopped the chiefs auto at
Seventh street and Broadway and hur-
riedly informed the police executive,
who. with Mayor Alexander and the
members of the police commission,
were on their way to their homes.
Chief Galloway, who was driving the
auto, directed his course to the place
where the crime was committed.
The detectives were unable to find
any clew as to the identity of the
bandits They are positive, however,
that the men are familiar with the
habits of Armenia and evidently fol-
lowed him to the garage and held him
up in the inky darkness of the narrow
thoroughfare.
Mrs. A. L. Hoffman, proprietress of a
rooming house at 9301a South Broad
way, heard the shots and rushed to the
rear of her place. She told the police
that she heard the men running to-
ward Tenth street but was unable to
see them.
The physicians attending Armenia
say he is not seriously wounded.