Evening star., 1914-12-09
HELD UP ON STREETS
BY DARING FOOTPADS
Two Men Robbed of Watches and
Cash, Third Escapes by
0utcry.
Mrs. Nellie Ragsdale, Visitor in City,
Knocked Down and Robbed
by Colored Boy.

knocked Down and Robbed
by colored Boy.
Three persons were held up on the
streets last night by two unidentified
white highwaymen, who with drawn
revolvers enforced their demands for
cash. Harry I. Burns, S04 LIST street
northwest, was robbed of watch and
65 cents In cash. while Frank Heise.
81 F street northeast. surrendered his
watch and stick pin. James E. Sex
ton. 153 A street northeast, the third
man threatened by the highwaymen.
made an outcry and saved his property.
The three hold-ups occurred between
II and 11:45 O'Clock. Burns. who was
the first victim, was in front of No. 1s
I street northwest, opposite Gonzaga
College. when suddenly the highway
men halted him. pointed a pistol at
him and demanded his valuables, NO
masks were worn by the robbers. Burns
said, and he was able to get a eood
look at them.
No Time for Farley.
When Burns saw the glistening bar
rel of the pistol pointed at him he felt
that there was no time for parleying
No other pedestrians were near enough
to him to respond to any call he might
make, he said, and he deemed d1scre-
tion the better part of valor- He pre-,
ferred to give up his timepiece ana
small amount OF cash ratner eha'
chance getting shot
The incident was over in few sec
onds, and Burns sought the ponce oI
the sixth precinct to tell them OF the
robbery. He was able to give eooa
o$
he felt sure he could identify them.
II was about twenty minutes after
Burns was robbed when Frank Heise, on
his way home, was held up at point
only a short distance from Union sta
tion. The sight of pistol had the
effect of enforcing his silence. All the
robbers wanted was jewelry and cash;
If they could not get both they were
satisfied with one or the other
Heise was deprived of his watch, worth
$50, and a cheap stick pin. but no cash.
The highwaymen, 1t Is believed, became
alarmed at the approach OF other per @
ished the task of going through his
pockets. Heise told the police of the
ninth precinct of the occurrence.
Street Brightly Lighted.
Sexton was at I'd and streets north
east about 11:45 o'clock when the two
highwaymen stopped him. pointed a
weapon at him and made a demand for
his valuables. The street opposite Con-
gressional Library. where Sexton was
halted. was brightly lighted. and East
Capitol street and Pennsylvania avenue.
the principal thorough. ares in that Sec
tion, were not far away.
Quickly realizing that an outcry
probably would attract assistance from
shouted Justify. This had the desired
effect, he said. for the robbers left him
and fed in the direction Of the Capitol
grounds. Sexton told the story of his
exciting encounter to the police of the
Detective Pratt, acting night chief of
detectives. received the complaints from
the stations. and promptly sent detec-
tives out to make investigations. De-
scriptions Of the two men were OBJ
tained. and the police of other cities
we're asked to assist in the search for
them
Because Of the number Of hold-ups and
cases Of pocketbook snatching reported
during the past month, 1t Is stated. Maj.
sylvester may increase the number of
men on duty at night. and probably will
have members Of the detective corps
perform special night duty.
Woman Knocked Down and Robbed.
Mrs. Nellie Ragsdale, Des Moines,
Iowa, visiting friends in Woodley Park.
was knocked down last night by a COL
ored boy and robbed of $50 in cash and
five travellers checks for $40 each. Mrs
Ragsdale had been in the city during
the afternoon, and about s o'clock she
alighted from a car to 60 to the home
of friends at 2S06 Cathedral avenue.
where she was visiting. When at
Woodley road and 9th street Mrs.
RaEsdale was met by the colored boy
footpad.
The robbery was committed in front
of the residence of c. H st. John. 2701
woodley road, and the outcries of Mrs.
Ragsdaie attracted the attention of
Mrs St John. The latter hurried to
the front door. She saw the colored
boy Just before he disappeared in the
woods.
Trick of Swindlers.
: Not to be opened until Christmas"
was written on three packages that
were delivered to as many residences
yesterday by swindlers.
About 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon a
young man appeared at the residence
of Mrs. Annie ODay, 326 I'd street
northeast. and delivered one of these
so-called Christmas packages.
Forty cents. please" he said. ex-
planning that there was charge of
that amount for delivery.
Mrs. O'Day handed him dollar bill to
get changed. He left to get the change.
but failed to return. Mrs. ODay opened
the package and found it contained
nothing but the top of an earthen jar.
One hour later a man appeared al
the house of Mrs. Rose Arendes, 602 B
street southeast, with a similar pack
age and collected 40 cents. The pack
age contained fruit jar and old shoes
Mrs. Alberta Wheeler. 416 Sd street
southeast, was the third victim. She
paid 40 cents for old shoes and rags.
Thefts Reported.
Mrs. R. H. Lewis. 3o3 street north
west, reported to the police the theft
of IS in cash. She stated that she was
robbed while riding In an elevator in
a department store yesterday after
noon.
Mrs. w. D. Morgan, North Capitol and
N streets, told of the robbery of her
mail box yesterday. A letter addressed
to F. b. Morgan, she said, was alb