The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-08-16
HIGHWAY ROBBER
IS BUSY IN TOWN
HAS BEEN WORKING z THREE
NIGHTS IN SUCCESSION
ONE OF THE GANG is IN JAIL
Police Officer and Soldier Members
Of Company n Are Among the
VIctims-SeVeral Shots Fired
at MunseiI.

with highway robbery and officers are
on the track of an other man who was
implicated in a hold-up or series OF
hold-ups that occurred Friday and
Saturday and Sunday nights.
William Hawkins, son of John
Hawkins was stuck up" at the point
of gun close to his home on High
avenue east, near the Christian Sci
ence church Friday night. Young
Hawkins passed fellow on the side.
walk, just an ordinary occurrence and
he was therefore little surprised
when he felt something passed against
his back and received an order to
throw up his hands.
Whats this" asked the young man.
a joker"
you'll think it's joke" came the
curt reply, IF this goes off. Put up
your hands, no fooling."
Young Hawkins complied and the
fellow rifled his pockets with one hand
while keeping him covered.
Now beat it. Run for home" ord
cred the robber.
81 don't have to run home" replied
Hawkins, Il live near here"
"Oh you do, well I'll see about that"
stated the gun man. He suited action
to the words, taking Hawkins to the
steps, and as the victim started up the
walk, he said Move, let's see you run
little" but the young man took his
time getting into the house. He lost
only a little loose change
Messersmith a Victim.
Officers were appraised Of the
presence of hold.up gang in town
and were nosing about all day Satu :
day. The next call came from a man
named LATE Messersmith who was
stopped on North d street Saturday
night, near the old Blattner house a
little south of c avenue. The fellow
got gold watch, a stick pin, and u
little under two dollars in cash.
Officers then began investigating
the territory in the neighborhood OF
the M. & st. L. yards. Two soldier
lads were the next victims and then
came a hold-up of officer Henry Num-
sell on North G street in the six hun
dred block.
Red" Dorman, Company H member
was held up at the end of a gun but
had no change and was pointedly n
formed. 1--WE a notion to shoot you
up anyhow for not having anything
on YOU" Dorman lost no time in lcaVr
ing the spot
Munsell had his experience only
few moments later. Dorman said he
could see the police standing on the
corner only a block distant, but he
did not dare to raise an alarm fearing
the fellow would use his gun. He ran
west a couple of blocks when he heard
a shot and turned to see the flash OF
a couple of shots. He then ran to the
fair ground camp of Company II.
These shots were fired at officer Mum
sell.
MIR. Munsell was walking along the
street near where the soldier lad was
held-up when a fellow popped out OF
an alley and ordered him to elevate.
Munsell was on extra for the evening.
He was unarmed excepting his club.
He had 1t tucked up his coat sleeve:
He turned about as he dropped his
club to his hand and faced revolver.
He did not obey the command OF the
robber but lodged and struck at the
robber who fred point blank at his
head. The hold-up man avoided the
blow and fired three shots at Police
man Munsel at close range all OF
which went wild and the officer es
capped unframed. Policeman Blair
standing one-half block away saw the
flash of the revolver and Policemen
Myers and Wilson were not far behinl
in reaching the spot but the gunman
had made his get away" down the
alley.
Another HoId-up Sunday Night.
Two more hold-ups occurred Sun
day night with the capture of one of
the gunner. M. c. LallY a guest at
the Brooke Hotel had roll of bills
containing about one hundred dollars
He fell in with couple of companions
who were with him several hours up
on one or another pretext and in the
course of this time found out that he
had some money on his clothes. On
a pretext of going after some liquor
to house they said they knew about
the trio went off up the M. & st. l..
tracks north of High avenue. When
in a dark place, both men fell upon
Lally threw him down and choked
him. He managed however to let out
one good, lusty yell and couple of
soldier boys suddenly appeared upon
the scene and came to the rescue.
One of the highway men took his his
heels but the soldiers held the other
fellow who was identified as Medically.
Call for the police brought the am.
bulance and the culprit was landed
in jail.
John Barlow was one OF the soldier
boys making the capture.
When Lally started up the right-of-
way with the men he became sus.
picious that all might not be well 50
he quietly slipped his rolf into an
outside pocket, other wise he might
not have had his money to-day. I.allY
will appear against the man McNealy.