Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-17
POLICE NET SET
FOR 3 NEGRO
BANDITS
Blacks Who Stabbed and Robbed
Mail Clerk Believed Same Who
Assaulted Franklin.

The police dragnet was thrown out
Tuesday morning to capture the three
negro highwaymen who stabbed Rail-
way Mail Clerk w. $. Ware. of 50
West Baker Street, Monday night
about 10 o'clock.
The police think the negroes are the
trio who have terrorized pedestrians
in various parts of the city for the
past several weeks. They have con-
nected Wares assailants with the At
tempted robbery of Joseph Franklin,
a groC eTyman, on Crumley Street
between Washington and Pulliam,
Sunday night, the description of one
of the negroes given by Ware fitting
that given by Franklin OF one of the
men who held him up.
Tuesday morning Ware was in a
serious condition at Grady Hospital,
where he was taken after he stag
gered into fire headquarters, but If
no complications develop it is thought
he will recover. He was stabbed twice.
The knives inflicted a wound seven
inches long across the back of his
reck and another almost two inches
deep in his right shoulder. Ware lost
much blood during the encounter and
Tuesday morning was so weak he
could not talk.
Robbers Got Valuable Letters.
So far detectives have learned that
six registered letters Ware was car
rying from his train to the postOttice
was all the booty the robbers got.
Wares watch and some money were
in his pockets when he was taken to
the hospital. Federal authorities
probably will take hand in the case
Tuesday. They hope to trace the ne
groes by the stolen letters.
The attack on Ware was made
within two blocks of Whitehall Street,
almost in the heart Of the downtown
district The police declare the rob-
berry was extraordinarily bold. Ware
has the mail run between Atlanta and
Chattanooga on the Southern Rail
way, and it Is his custom, each night
when his train gets in, to carry all
registered mail to the postoffice in
person instead of sending it by mes
senger. Monday night he is said to
have noticed three negroes hanging
around the mail car when he left the
train. but paid no attention to them.
He placed the letters in his inside
coat pocket and started to the Federal
Building, going no faster than usual.
Leaped From Doorway.
Nothing occurred until he turned
the corner and started up AlaDama
Street. As he passed a dark door
way just below fire headquarters,
three men sprang upon him from a
doorway. He was knocked down, and
before he could rise or shout one Of
the negroes grabbed him by the
throat. The negro jerked Ware to his
feet, still gripping his throat, and
another of the negroes stood in front
Of the mail clerk brandishing a knife.
The third negro plunged his hand
into Wares coat pocket and took
the letters.
After the negro got the letters the
one gripping Wares throat momen-
tarily released his hold and Ware
screamed for help. The negro with
the knife leaped upon him. He
stabbed Ware in the neck, and, as
he plunged again with his knfi,
Ware jerked his head to one side
and the blade was buried in his
shoulder.
The mail clerk fell to the ground,
screaming, and the negro with the
knife started to leap upon the pros
trate body His companions re-
strained him, however, and they fled
into the railroad yards
Ware. with blood streaming from
his wounds and barely able to stand,
tottered into fire headquarters, a few
feet away and collapsed on the floor.
The fremen notified the police and
called the ambulance.