Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-06
WORKERS DEFEAT
PAYROLL HOLDUP
IN FACTORY HERE
Nan Stages Daring Robbery Attempt
in Shops Rock Island Manufac.
turing Company.
Is OvERPOwERED BY EMPLOYEES
Seized and Turned Over to Police After
He Pulls Gun On One in
Charge OF the Money.

What police claim would have been |
one Of the boldest holdups in the his |
tory OF the city was frustrated late
Yesterday afternoon when T. w. Beach, |
workman. was seized and overpow-
cred by other employees when he is !
said 20 have showed revolver in the
lace Of g. H Castetter, who was in
charge Of the paywagon, carrying the
payroll of the Rock Island Msnufac-
turing company. as announced by the
police
According TO the police Mr.. Castetter
had just halted in the shop Of the man
uiarfuriug plant to pay the shopmen
Many of them had congregated about
ihe cash cart to receive their pay
when it is alleged Beach showed hts
way through When he reached Cas-
tetor. he is said to have drawn re-
vovet and pointed it at him, without
uttcring q word,
/, seems that the man had no sooner
covered Mr. Castetter with the weapon
than several Of the workmen seized
and overpowered him. taking the gun,
which was ofN32 calibre, fully loaded
and ready for action, from him. He
fought desperately with the men but to
no avail
The police we're called and Beach
was turned over 10 the authorities. He
was taken to the station and locked
un and This morning he was bound
over 10 the grand jury under bonds Of
$1,000 ON the charge Of assault with
deadly weapon.
story Is Denied.
Denial OF any attempt 10 rob a pay
lar of the Rock Island Manufacturing
company was made today by C. H.
Ceslstter He admitted that the man
6v the name Of Beach had pulled a
gun ON him and that he had later
been arrested but he denied the re-
Wai1dcr OF the story as told by the
police Mr. Castetter gives the fol-
lowing version OF the affair:
Beach asked for more money,
larger wages several days ago This
refused to give him. yesterday he
came TO my Office and pulled gun on
mo without making any kind of a
threat He appeared to he drunk, al
though / had never before seen him
iu that condition during the time he
had warked here When he flourish
ed the revolver ! seized him and took
10 away from him. II was not hard
task because Beach is an elderly mau
and small and rather weak physic-
ally When ! grabbed him and took
the weapon he evidently lost his bal
auce and fell II was then that other
employees took q hand in the affair
They held Beach until the police ar
rived. can give no explanation for
his conduct other than that he was
mad because | had not given him the
raise in wages that he sought and SC
when he got drunk he took his griev-
ance more seriously and got his re
volver and came after me- That's all
there is TO it,"
Beach has steadiastly refused t.
discuss his action in any way. an(
since Tie time Of his arrest has no
attempted TO give the police any reason
Tor bis sensational act at the manu-
laeturing plant When questioned b!
iHe police as 10 what a workman wa
carrying a fully loaded revolver fo
de replied with the question, "Wh,
should a workman carry an empt.
reyolyer?' The only ohter time h
had broken his sphinx-like silence wa
during the trial today when he men
toned that he might have been drink
ing a little"
Was He After Money!
hc case is a decidedly peculia
ono aa IL now stands, inasmuch as tn
authorities aside from appearances
nave no proof that Beach intended f
attempt a robbery and get away wit
the payroll. He pointed the gun a
DR. Iasteiter. who was in charge g
Che pay wagon but he did not orde
him 10 hold up his hands, il is said, o
say anything else before he was over
powered by his fellow workers
Little Is known of the man with til
exception that he has been employee
10 the shops Of the Rock Island Manu-
featuring company for some time, an
mat he has been rooming at IT, Sec
und avenue However. the police ar
of the opinion that the man NEAR
business. and pointed to the fact tia
The revolver had every chamber file
and the weapon had the appearance {
having only recently been cleaned an
oiled.
Police In Smashup.
When responding to the call to Il
Rock Island Manufacturing compan
where Beach was being held pendir
the arrival Of the authorities, the p'
lice patrol and the auto truck of Racl
man Bros collided at the corner
Fourteenth street and Sixth avenu
The patrol was speeding west and Il
other upinU north EOu
teenth street when they approach'
The intersection. An attempt was ma.
10 stop. but because of the icy cond
lion OF the pavement, such effor
proved futile and the machines cras
ed The patrol fender and headlig
were broken but the vehicle was n
put 0ut OF commission sufficiently
prevent its continuing on the call.