Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-06
Policeman FOiLs
Nine Mill Robbers

Continued from Page One
men, "and we'll blow your head of. i"
The man who made this threat then
stuffed gag in the watchman's mouth
Telephone Wires Cut
The intruders then cut the wires
connected with several telephones, de-
string to take no chances. But they
made one great mistake which was
fatal to their chances. They neglected
to stop the engine of the truck which
was waiting to haul away the loot.
Above the raging of last nights storm
the chugging of the motor was heard
by Patrolmau Benjamin Winchester, of
the Germantown avenue and Lycoming
street station. On entering the drive
way he saw motortruck standing near
one of the side entrances to the plant.
Winchester became suspicious. He
walked slowly toward the door. but had
gone but few feet when man step
ped from another door and told the
patrolmun that the Waterman wanted
to see him.
Ordered to Surrender
Winchester entered the mill. lie had
barely passed the doorway when five
masked men. each armed with re-
volycr, ordered him to throw up his
hands. Realizing that the odds were
against him, he cor'plied.
Two of the men bound his hands and
feet with wire, while the others watch :
cd from the doorway. While he was
being bound the four other robbers who
had taken care of the Waterman car
ried great bundles of knitted goods to
the truck outside.
The patrOlman was carried into the
Office where he was bound to chair.
Despite the handicap against him, Win
chester, who is an overseas veteran,
showed he possessed fighting spirit
and two men remained to guard him.
For nearly two hours they main
tained the vigil. The task tired the
robber guards so they obtained office
chairs and made themselves comfort
able.
Feigns Slecpincss
Winchester frequently binked his
eyes as though struggling against sleep.
Finally he dropped off into apparent
sleep. Outside in the warehouse OF
the mill he heard the steady tramp
of feet and the clatter of bundles.
1t was on toward midnight when the
robbers had evidently selected all the
goods they wanted for about that time
one OF lnt Iutu Nulll' ~ ''N HSN' N''N
told the others they were going.
Those who had maintained guard
raye Winchester farewell glance and
departed. -
When convinced that they had all
passed out of the building, the patrol
man managed by throwing himself to
the floor, to break the wire when held
him. lie then jumped out the othce
window. He telephoned the police sta
tiop, which is close to the mill and In
few minutes Lieutenant Smell and
District Detectives Lyons and winning,
together with several other patrolmen,
were on the scene.
All OF Robbers Flc9
They made short cut through Il
driveway. A few yards ahead of them
stood the motortruck loaded with stolen
goods. Believing the robbers had paused
20 show fight, the policemen drew
revolyers and surrounded the vehicle.
They were amazed to find that all the
men had 1ed. ,.,.
A rear wheel imbeded in snow drift
and a shovel lying nearby readily gave
the cause of their departure.
On the truck We're the following
goods: eighty five rolls of cloth, val =
ned at $500 II roll one case OF men s
silk sweaters, valued at $1,000; one
case of mems garters and other goods,
making a total value Of $3O, 600
In addition to this was a box OF SILK
sweaters, worth about $500, and bear
Mills. These goods were stolen while
in transit from one of the concerns 's
trucks. On the truck was the name
Richnan Rios III Racc street