Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-28
CHAUFFEUR ROBBED,
BOUND AND GAGGED
Roscoe v. Strout Says Two
Soldiers Took His Cash, Watch
and Other Property.
LEFT HIM IN THE WOODS

Of $40 80 In cash, n watch and Gig
arettes and left In the woods IN VIZ
einia by two soldiers, was the eN-
perience which Roscoe V. Strout- a
chauffeur, says he had last might
shortly after o'clock. Strout. VINO
resides at 325 18th street southwest
telephoned Detective Charles A. Evans
night chief of detectives, from a poln'
across the river and later appeared
at police headquarters and related the
story.
Strout was on the hack stand at Penn
sylvauia avenue and 10th street pc
tween 8 and o'clock. he stated, WheE
a soldier approached him and inquired
what it would cost to take ms .rieno
and himself to the camp at 81; Asaph
The chauffeur says he told MN tne
price would be s.. which was satis
factory. and the two soldiers he al
leges, got into his car.
Ordered to Leave the Car.
His passengers we're pleasant ano
sort of fellows. Strou'
stated. and all went well until they
reached a point some distance oelo"
the overhead bridge of the Bluemoh'
railway line when suddenly one OF the
soldiers told him to leave the autofno'
bile.
II can't stop it" said Strout,- as the
car skidded, but the display OF CUR
pointed at him was sufficient warning
that he should stop.
One of the passengers, he said. kept
pistol pointed at him, and he was
forced to climb a fence and march some
istance into the woods. When they
reached a point far enough from the
road to prevent passing motorists from
seeing them, Strout said. the soldiers
began the work of depriving MIN OF
his belongings. taking care to warn
him that an outcry would be met with
bullets.
Strout said he stood with hands up
lifted until it was feared by his cap
tors the light from passing automo-
biles would he the means OF causing
discovery and he was commanded TO
drop his hands to his sides. He quick
ly obeyed the order, he said. and the
search of his pockets was renewed.
Grabs for the Gun.
when l thought 1 had an opportunity
to disarrn the soldier who carried the gun
in his hand" strout told q Star reporter
Il grabbed for it, but did not succeed IN
getting it. Then the soldier tried to shoot
me but the pistol missed fire
When the men reached the woods Strout
was asked the time, and. pulling his watch
from his pocket, he stated, he told me
soldiers it was a few minutes after 9. He
said he asked them to return his pocket
book, that contained cards that we're OF
no value to them. and he also asked tor
the return of a gold locket: saying a pic
ture of his dead baby was in it.
I'VE have heart, Jack he said one
of the men answered, handing him the
locket-
Having deprived him of his valuables,
Strout explained to Detective Evans,
the soldiers tore his raincoat and used
strips of it to bind and gag him, a
brown glove being used as a gag. A
cord from one of their service hats also
was used as part of the gag. His feet
were bound with a piece of wire and
pieces of the torn coat, he said. and
when the soldiers deserted him in the
woods he remained until they reached
the roadway. He said the soldiers rode
off in the car in the direction of Alex
anGria