Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-11-21
.HoLD-UP MEN AT LEWISTON
Former Grangeville Boy Illustrates
Their Efforts.

The first holdup that has occurred
in many years, took place at Lewiston
last Monday night when two young
men showed guns under the nose of
Clark Elvcrs, citizen of that town
and but for the timely appearance OF
Chip Davis, former Grangeville
boy, the highwaymen would have been
successful.
In speaking of the affair the Lewis
ton paper has the following to say:
Twenty minutes after they had held
up Clark Elvers, last night, Earl Bark
well, of Kendrick, and Albert Hocum
of Spokane, were in the custody of
Chief of Police Masters; ten minutes
later they had confessed the crime to
the officer. They now face a term Of
one to fourteen years in the peniten-
tiary, for that is the penalty provided
by the Idaho statute for assault with
intent to commit robbery.
1t was quick work all around. Bark
well, who is twenty-five years old, and
Hocum, who is nineteen, reached the
city last night shortly before nine
o clock on the freight train from Kend-
rick. They carried with them grip,
which contained two revolvers; dark
lantern; two slung-shot "billies;" two
pieces of cloth adaptable for masks,
and half hundred cartridges. They
had come to Lewiston to engage in the
holdup game. They left the train at
the depot and ten-minute walk
brought them into the business district.
They located the Fifth street grade as
the entrance to the Normal hill district
and Immediately started to work. At
9:15 O'Clock they cached the satchel
in lane back Of the McGrane resi-
dence and then sauntered out to the
diagonal street leading to the st. Jo-
seph hospital. 1t was now about ten
minutes after nine o'clock. just at
this time Clark Elvers, who is the well
known steward Of the steamer Spokane
appeared at the south end OF the dag.
onal street, at the William w. Dwyer
residence. He had been visiting his old
Portland friend, William George, and
was returning to town. He had ira
versed about half the distance of the
diagonal road when Barkwell and Ho
cum approached him. An instant later
Elvers heard the command Glands
up" and observed two revolvers point
ed at his body, while masked men con
fronted him. Elvers did not know whe
ther the holdup was genuine or a fake
for the street beamed with light from
the arcs in the vicinity. "To hell with
you," he replied; "I've got no mon
ey.' At the same time he started te
walk around the men. At this instan,
Barkwell struck Elvers, knocking hin
to the ground, and Elvers made an out
cry. This attracted the attention OF
William Davis, night clerk at the Boil
linger, who was walking along Fifth
street only short distance away, and
he started toward Elvers. With this
development, Barkwell and Hocum flee
toward the hospital. Davis telephoned
word to the police station and Chief OF
Police Masters and Officer Monroe
hurried to the scene. After reaching 9
point near the vicinity of the hospital
the holdup men had turned and, return
ing to the alley at the rear of the Nc
Crane property, secured the satchel
and walked over toward Prospect Ave
nue.. As Chief of Police Masters reached
the hill in an automobile he passed the
men, and upon learning from Davis and
Elvers that they met the description OF
the holdups, who had but few min
utes before fled toward the hospital
he left the automobile and followed
them to point in front of the Curtiss
Thatcher residence on Prospect Ave
nue., where he took them in custody
They said they had come from Spokane
to work for the fruit packing house OF
White Brothers & Crum in Charleston
and were endeavoring to find their way
to the bridge. Masters told them hs
knew what they had just done, ani
before the station was reached Bark
well admitted the offense.
When the satchel was opened at tn.
police station and inquiry was mad.
as to what use the section of rope wa.
to be devoted to, the prisoners ex
planned it was for the purpose of tyins
their victims.
1t was thought at first that Barkwel
had used chilly in striking Elvers
but the young fellow exposed his righ1
hand to the officers, showing bruis,
with one knuckle apparently disjointed
The prisoners had money to the extern
of only thirty cents.
Barkwell spoke freely to the CHIEF
of police. He said his father reside,