The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1921-01-13
HoLDUPs IN BUTLER
Several Citizens Held Up on Stresss
Last Week. Evidently the +
Work of Amateurs,

The streets OF this city are as =:
rule about as safe place as onet
could find, but during the latter past
OF last week several hold-ups took
place and the town seemed to be try
ing to get into the Kansas City class,
Thursday night as VIM. Stuff.Mgs
was returning to his home in West
Rutler from lodge meeting, he was
the first victim of the hold-ups. As he
passed the Standard Oil filling sta
ton, on Ohio street, he noticed two
men following him and when in front
!. the Culver home on Ohio and
Water street, he started to turn
around to see what they were doing,
when one of the men struck him o.
the head with piece of rubber tub
ing, which was afterwards found ness
by. He was knocked to his knees ana
on arising started after his assailants
who soon had enouh of the game
and ran south on Water street. A.
the street lights were not burning
Mr.. Stuffings was unable to see the
men painly and was unable to give
much of description of them.
Saturday night about II:o0 o'clock,
as MIR. and Mrs. ]. A. Trimble were
going to their home in the northwest
part of town they met two men az
the corner of Dakota and Pine streets.
They spoke to Mr.. Trimble and as he
and his wife turned west on Pine
street turned in behind them. At the
corner of the High school lot Mr..
Trimble dropped behind his wife 20
give them an opportunity to pass.
One of them struck him with some
object which for moment dazed him.
The other grabbed Mrs. TrimbIe and
placed one hand over her mouth and
cautioned her not to scream. lie
placed one foot behind her and
seemed to be trying to throw her
down. She bit at his hand and
screamed and he soon saw that he
had met his match and he and his
companion ran east on Pine estreet.t
Mr.. Trimble went to telephone and
called Harley Smith at the Inn, who
hunted Marshal Braden and the
alarm was given, but no clew which
would lead to the ideatity of the gull
ty parties was discovered. :
On the same evening Chas. Smith
was aecosted by two men, but on
his making bluff to draw a weapou
they fled. .,s.. -.
Sunday night two men attempted TO
hold up Fred Lafcver and Aubrey
Hartell at the corner OF Fulton and Fl.
Scott streets. Lafever took 4 shot at
them and the two thugs ran south on
fulton street with Hartell and Lafever
IL pursuit, but the hold-ups were the
BEST sprinters and soon distanced
heir pursuers.
The work seemed to be the work of
'ery cowardly amateurs as in every
:ase when the would-be victims put
lp fight they took to their heels.
n no case was anyone badly injured
'or did the ROBBERS secure any loot.
Sunday afternoon a meeting of the
ity council and citizens was held at
he city hall to devise means of cur y :
ng the wave of crime that had 50 sud.
enly developed. After considerable
discussion it was finally decided to
ppoint vigilance committee whose
uty 1t was to be to assist the Off
ers in the enforcement of the avs.
Zach councilman was to furnish the
layor a list of residents of his ward
Tho woud be called on to help.
Monday morning a meeting of the
lmerican Legion was held and it
'as unanimously agreed to offer their
ervices in patroling the city. Need
IS to say Mayor Hull promptly took
dvantage of the offer and Comman-
er Guy Silvers was empowered to
eputize members of the Legion IS
olice officers. The town was di-
ded off into districts and men de-
lied to patrol the various districts
iring the night. Patrols in automo-
les with spot lights which they
rned into each alley and dark cor
r and the wave Of crime" came to
/ abrupt end.