New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-25
MASKED MAN HOLDS Up
AUTO; SHOOTS OWNER
c. |. Dumas. of SomerViIIe, N. j.,
Robbed Near Home While
Driving with Wife.
OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD
Stops for Danger Signal and Is
Confronted by Highwayman
Fights and Escapes
After Being Wounded.

A regular Wild West holdup, with the
accompanying masked highwaymen
and "gun play" of the plains. was en-
acted in a road outside of SOmerville,
y. J., last night Charles L. Dumas. Of
that town. was held UP in a motor car
with his wife, by A lone robber who shot
him in the arm and then went through
his pockets.
Mr.. Dumas. who is a candy manufact-
urer, and his wife had been at a Harvest
Home at Neshanic. small town eight
miles out Of Somerville. and were pass
ing the park of James 3. Duke, on the
South Somerville Road, about a mile
away from town. The acetylene lights
flashed on an obstruction in the road,
and when Mr. Dumas got closer. he saw
that il was a plank stretched between
two barrels.
This is New Jersey device used as a
warning that there is n bad hole in the
road or some other difficulty ahead
Motorists are used 20 it. In this case
Mr. Dumas thought that a familiar
bridge, a hundred yards ahead. was
damaged. and he got out Of his car to
remove the plank. and run slowly up to
the bridge.
Just as he stepped from the automo-
bile a masked man confronted him. and
poking a revolver in his face demanded
his money. Instead Of complying. Mr..
Dumas snatcned the crank Of his car
and frantically tried u start it. for the
engine had gone dead. AS ne was at the
crank the robber fired three shots.
The highwayman had evidently made
all his plans, for the first bullet went
into Mr.. Dumass right arm and it fell
limp 70 his side just as the engine
started 70 roar away. The other two
smashed out the dazzling headlights.
I'm sorry, but I had to do it, said
the robber. as he came close 10 Mr..
Dumas and went through his pockets
with one hand. With the other he held
fast 10 Mr.. Dumas's uninjured wrist. IN
spite Of this, Mr.. Dumas struggled with
the robber, who finally got his gold
watch out Of his vest pocket. Mr.. Du-
mas wrenched himself free and jumping
into the car put on power and dashed
away. The robber fred a parting shot
at the two occupants.
AS the machine flashed by him he
sang out:
Charley. you're an obstinate cuss!"
Mr.. Dumas and his wife ran into
Somerville as fast as possible and noti-
fed the authorities. County Detective
George B. Totten started out in a motor
car TO look for the robber. commander
ing other cars and filling them with
armed men. Mr.. Dumas then went 10
the office Of Or. Charles Halstead. who
found that the bullet had gone clean
through his right arm.
Somerville was much excited over the
hold-up, which happened about $50
o'clock. The South Somerv-le road is
the main thoroughfare between Trenton
and Somerville. and automobiles are
passing every few minutes. A few min
utes after he left the robber Mr. Dumas
met a party in a car and warned them
TO turn back if they We're not armed.
AS il was he considers himself lucky
to have got out with the loss Of his
watch. for his wife had several valuable
diamond rings on her fingers.
There is no clew 10 the identity Of the
man. who was short and thickset. but
Mr.. Dumas was struck by the fact tha5
the highwayman called him Charley"