Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-12
.HOLD-UP GANGS
DISPLAY MOI FEAR
Presence of Plain Clothes
Men No Deterrent to
Highwaymen
AUTO BANDITS ROB TWO
Masked Robbers Attack Phil.
adelphians Near Reading.
Thefts Continue Here

Despite the presence of plain-clothes
men and detectives in every section of
the city, robberies and hold-ups continue.
The outlawry has extended to nearby
points, two Philadelphians having been
held up in spectacular style by masked
bandits near Temple, Pa. while two
hold-ups, within a few squares of each
other. occurred here early today.
Held up in true western style by Ave
masked highwaymen, +. II. Morningstar,
1 OF 5515 Spruce street, and a. Q. Veit,
! tifty-ninth street and Cedar avenue,
travelling statesmen of this city, were
relieved Of all their valuables early to-
day when their automobile was stopped
near Temple, Pa.
! When Morningstar tried to pull re-
I volver from the seat Of the car one OF
| the bandits shot at him, the bullet
crashing through the windshield and
sending shower of glass over the two
occupants.
Ninety dollars, besides two rings,
gold watch and chain, gold knife and
other valuables were turned over to the
hold-up men, who. after ordering their
victims to turn around and proceed TO
Reading, dashed away in an automo-
bile.
J Mornlngstar and veit left the Berk-
shire Hotel, Reading, about IL o'clock
last night for Allentown. When about
two miles from Temple, they saw what
appeared to be the form of a man lying
in the middle of the road Morningstar
was at the wheel and stopped the car.
Before the occupants could alight five
men. all masked and carrying revolvers
jumped in front of the car with a de-
Il l.. IL FVl
five crowded around the machine, while
the supposed leader. who appeared to be
older than the others, stood with the re-
volver pointing at Morningstar and
veit.
Mr.. Morningstar had revolver under
his seat and was attempting to reach
for It when the leader fired a shot. See
ing the hold-up men were desperate, the
valuables were surrendered. The high
waymen then made a thorough search
of the car. After they were convinced
they had taken all the valuables the
leader made his victims turn their car
In the direction Of Reading. with
warning to beat it to Reading and
don't attempt to stop or we will shoot
The masked men then jumped into
their car and dashed off in the direction
Of Kutztown.
Highwaymen Suspects Committed
Two hold-ups within few squares
OF each other were reported to the po-
lice today. as result of which negro
and q white man were committed to
jail without bail by Magistrate Imber
August Kirk. of 100 cambridge street
was held up by three negroes at Second
and Chestnut streets. One Of the high
waymen seized his arms. while the
others went through his pockets and OBJ
tained $50 in cash and 500 check
Kirk struggled with his assailants and
his cries attracted District Detectives
McGoldrlck and Miller, Of the Third and
De Lancey streets station. A chase fol-
lowed, which resulted in the capture of
James Epps, a negro, thirty-flve years
old, Of Cambridge street near Seven
teenth, who was held without bail for
court by Magistrate Imber in the Sec
ond and Christian streets police station.
A man who gave his name as James
Duff, thirty-fve, of Ardmore. Pa, ap-
preached Samuel Merden, of 759 South
Third street. at Third and South streets
and ordered him to throw up his hands.
} Merden refused and the man attempted
to strike him. A struggle followed, and
Merden held his assailant unit. the ar
rival of Detectives McGoldrick and MIL
ler. He was held without bail for court,
accused of attempted highway robbery,
by Magistrate Imber. The hold-up oc-
Cured shortly before Kirk was held UP
at Second and Walnut streets.
Held for $4,000 Cloth Theft
Two alleged cloth thieves, accused OF
stealing olive-drab cloth valued at $4,000
and consigned to the Quartermaster't
Department, United States marine corps
Broad street and Washington avenue
| wara held under $1,000 bail each by
Magistrate Mecleary, in Central Station
today.
The men held gave their names a.
: William Kalback, Master street neal
Twenty second, and Edward Lieberman
; Wallace street above Tenth. They were
arrested yesterday at Ninth and Arch
streets by Detectives Hodge and Clark
They told the police that they wer,
teamsters and that a man had stopped
them at Fourth and South streets ant
: asked them to deliver a case containing
eleven rolls of cloth to Twenty-Five
street and Ridge avenue, but gave M
' specific address,,
a According to the detectives, the freigh
v car from which the goods were talxeI
. had been broken open less than foul
, hours after it reached the Washington
{ avenue yards.
. Within the last month cloth valued a
$4,000 has been reported stolen from
. different establishments in the city.
5 Jewels valued at $500 were stolel
A from the apartment OF Mrs. Caroline L
Young. 1911 Chestnut street. The thievel
} entered private entrance to the apart
/. ment. which was unlocked at the time.
. Among the Jewels stolen was a golt
; opera chain which had been in the fam