The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-08-16
bryan THEIR GUEST SOLDIER SHIELD UP
ANOTHER CASE ADDED TO TIE
STRING OF Ro5BERiES. w So

Ollie Van vliet, soldier, member of
Company II, encamped at the Fair
Grounds is the latest victim of the
stick up" gang operating in Oskaloo-
sa. The attempted robbery occurred
some time after midnight in dark
place on North E street near the cul-
vert crossing of the drainage creek
from the M. & st. l.. round house. The
place is along the west side of the old
Penn College Campus and little
north of College avenue.
Young Van Vliet was in buggy, a
rig from the Waters and England liv-
cry barn. He had driven a couple of
girls to their home north of town after
attending local movie show and was
on the way back to town when the
holdup occurred. The young man saw
a fellow leave the side walk along the
west side of the street and hurry out
to the road just as he was passing.
"He said halt and halted all right.
He had gun on me. The instant had
the horse stopped he ordered me to
get out and / did not hesitate. He
started the horse along up the road
and then proceeded to go through my
clothes. told the fellow didn't have
cent or anything else of value on me
but he investigated for himself, went
through me and then turned me loose.
My horse had set off UP the road and
| | did not catch him. He went straight
to the barn all right and without mis-
hap. When reported to the captain at
camp he told me to inform the police"
Young Van Vliet described the fell
low as rather large man with broad
shoulders He wore dark coat and
pants. He could not tell what the fell
low looked like as it was very dark in
the place where the hold-up occurred
and the robber had handkerchief or
some other covering fixed over the
lower part of his face.
Earlier in the evening, informa-
| ton was sent in to the police Of
fee of mysterious fellow hanging
about the old Yearly meeting grounds
street, west of Chautauqua grounds.
! Police officers responded and searched
about the neighborhood but the fellow
had disappeared by the time they ar
rived at the spot.
i 1t would appear that two men were
concerned in the north G street hold
ups Saturday night. Two people were
seen together in the block where the
affair occurred just after the attempt
ed holdup of the soldier lad. These
men were plainly seen at the distance
of half block by officers Blair and
Munsel. They went north. 1t was so
dark that the forms could barely be
distinguished. Officer Munsel walked
, north from the corner where he and
, Blair stopped to watch the fellows, and
seeing one of the men turn in at a
gate he though the man was going to
his home Mr.. Munsell turned about
and had started back to rejoin Mr..
Blair when the little short fellow
! jumped out of the alley and stuck a
) gun in the officers face. The hold-up
t man fired two more shots after he had
raced down the alley to the east to-
ward the M. & St. l.. tracks. Why he
fired these shots does not appear I'M
less he did so to discourage anyone
who might attempt to follow him. OF
: ficers Myers and Wilson were one
block distant when they heard the first
b,,r cd tn IA n1ann w hare
the reports came from, and found
Messrs. Blair and Munsel.
Attracted by the reports of the re-
volver number of people came to
their doors and looked out of windows.
Two figures were seen hurrying north
across the street but about this time
an automobile came around the corner
throwing light full upon the two men.
They lodged back from the light, re-
crossed the street south and disap-
peared in the darkness.
Clews and information I ave come to
the possession of the police to confirm
belief that these men and those con-
cerned in the attempted robbery of
Sunday night are different parties.
Witnesses had been served with
subpoenas and had assembled at the
court of Justice of the Peace j. W..
Laffollette Tuesday after noon for the
preliminary hearing of the charges of
attempted robbery against M. D. Nc
Nealey, one of the men implicated in
one of the holdups of Sunday evening
when the case came to an unlocked
for termination. Defendant has elected
to stand trial on the charge and his
attorney secured continuance until
Monday morning of next week as not
being prepared for trial.