Ripley County democrat., 1914-10-30
Highway Holdup.


Jehn Evans, who is he'baker for IA,
City Bakery, was held up on the~ pub,
lie highway about o'clock last Thur
day afternoon and robbed Of ell The
cash he had on his person, the amouai
being $500. Some years age Mr.
Evans came here from Corning, Ark
ansas, and be was arranging to move
back there and had gone there, leaving
the first days Of the week with a wagon
and team. On his way home he took
the short cut through the territory To-
cally known as "Turkev Pen Hollow" /"
The road leading through that country
Is mile or two shorter to Purmsn aAd
all other points in that neighborhood,
and is very generally travelled by those
living in lower Harris and between here
and Corning, and for most Of the year
is a good road, though not a\public
highway in the sense that 1t is a county
road, as it runs diagonally through the
Levi Knowlton land, about 170e acres
in extent. The Hollow begins about
miles east OF town and is about three
miles long and two miles wide at the
widest portion, though where the east
branch of the Hollow from Kitchens
cabin hollow joins the main Hollow 1t
is much wider, Evans was driving
along brislzly and at an intersection Of
4 a road met two men, one riding gray
horse and the other a dark horse One
or them carried a shot gun on his
shoulder. He paid no especial atten-
tion 10 them but on meeting they stop
ped him and without moments hesi-
tation asked him where he had been.
He replied to Corning and then they
wanted TO know where he was going
and he said home to Doniphan. One Of
the mea appeared to be about % or %
years old and the other about as old as
Evans himself. The older man did
most Of the talking. He then asked
Evans il he had any money, and on
Evans saying he had little but none
to spare, supposing the men were hard
up and going to ask him for quarter,
or so. At this the older man, who
carried the shot gun swung it off his
shoulder and told him they wanted
what money be had. Evans said he
had supposed all the time that it was
some psrsoas who knew him, but he
could not remember. and they were
having some fun at his expense, but on
the older man telling the younger one
to get in the wagon and go through
his clothes Evans knew they meant
business and he looked back into the
wagon bed tor piece of board that
was there and started to reach for it,
the gun man pushed his gun up to his
body and told him il he made a move he
would shoot. The young man got into
the wagon over the front wheel and
pulling pistol out of his pocket
put it against Evans and then proceed
ed to go through him. He first took
his watch, but as Evans name was en-
graved on the case the young fellow
said he didn't want that, as it was no
good and gave It back Then ne went
through his pockets and got his pocket
book and took the money out of it and
handed the book back to Evans, who
told him he had no use for an empty
pocket book and he thought it mighty
hard for them 10 take every dollar q
man had and then offer an empty pock-
ct book back. The fellow replied that
it did look "sorter tough" and gave
him back 80 cents, and then got out Of
the wagon and the older man raising
his gun told him to Shit the hike"
which Evans Immediately proceeded to
do, and the men watched him to turn
in the road. Evans came to town as
soon as he could drive in arriving about
4 o'clock, and told OF the occurrance,
and the next morning Sheriff Williams
and Deputy Taylor, accompanied Evans
to the scene Of the hold-up, but could
find no trail except VIII ere htrses had
tramped around on the ground. Officers
have been notified at different pOints,
and descriptions Of the men sent out by
telephone, but SO far no clew has been
picked up.
Who they we're snd where they we're
going is a matter OF conjecture.