The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Bold Daylight Robbery of Con-
tractors Pay Roll.
Escaped in Motor Car Leaving
City by North Roads.
OFFICERS IN MOTORS PURSUE
Two Robbers Last Seen by 5.
E. Cobb in POtWin.
Police Believe Job Was Done
by Local Talent.

Two unknown men, both
young, held up Clarence Ritchie
of the contracting firm of
Ritchie & Ramsey at 1880
o'clock this afternoon and took
from him the payroll for the
force of men employed on the
city paving, amounting to
$4,000.
One of the men entered the
temporary office of the firm at
Eighth and College avenues,
pointed a revolver at Ritchie and
forced him to turn over the
money. The other man stayed
in a Dodge car, a block away.
The bandit who entered the
office backed out, and ran to the
car, which Immediately started
north at a high rate of speed.
Bandit About is.
Ritchie and L. r. Lane. an employe
% the company. were in the office to-
&c her at the time of the robbery.
Part of the force had already been
pail and the remainder of the money
h hcen tied up in a bag. when a
young man, unmasked. in overalls, and
appearing to be about eighteen years
q 7Ge. walled into the office
Tie young man asked Ritchie for a
s. VII ch Ritchie said he thought he
cold offer him. They stood talking
TO- few moments. and Lane asked
a.. ra
HT~hie said he was, as soon as he
T"i n drink. and started into an ad-
Jo' room to get the drink.
where nre you going2" the stran-
Ce- asked. and Ritchie turning to an
sTvcr him. found himself looking into
the muzzle OF a revolver.
where is the money!" the bandit
asrod.
4 haven't any money here" Ritchie
re0.'cd. but the bandit ordered him to
step TO one side.
Iitch:e stepped aside-toward a
table in the drawer of which he kept
a revolver. The bandit seemed to
realize his intention. for he sharply
ordered him to leave the table and
stand alongside Lane.
Seized Bag and Ran.
The bandit then seized the bag and
ra1 from the door. Ritchie's Buick six
vas standing in front of the office.
and he and Lane. as soon as the bandit
had left the office. rushed to the car.
The engine in the bandits car was
running when the bandit leaped into 1t
and his companion started the car.
Ritchie's car was facing the oppo-
site direction from that of the ban
dit. and some time was lost after he
and Lane got into it. They chased
tho bandits. however. TIL they saw
them turn north on Woodlawn ave-
nuc. where they lost the trail.
Officers in Pursuit
Ritchie notified the police and the
sheriff. and an automobile loaded
with deputy sheriffs started for the
brickyard bridge to head the men off.
but failed to find them.
At the same time a motor car load
ed with policemen and all available
motorcycle patrolmen started in pur-
suit. but failed to locate the bandits.
Officers believe that the Job was
pulled by local men.
S. z. Cobb Saw Them.
S. z. Cobb. president of the Bank
OF Topeka, saw two young men going
by his home, AL Woodlawn, Potwin,
at a reckless rate of speed at about
las o'clock this afternoon.
I thought at first they were drunk
OF mad" he said. The street inter-
sections in Potwin are blocked with
rounded parks and at their rate of
speed 1 was sure they would wreck
their car They were dFiving a Dodge
motor car.
"A few minutes later Clarence
Richie drove up and asked me II l
had seen two bandits go by in an
automobile. He then yelled that he
had been held up and was after the
men
The bandits were going north past
my house and disappeared after they
reached the edge of Potwin two blocks
away"
Home With Money at Noon.
Mr.. Ritchie left his home shortly
atter l O'Clock, Mrs. Ritchie said this
afternoon
He had the money with him at the
time" she explained. Il have feared
for some time that someone might
hold him up and take the payroll.
Saturday afternoonF
Money Was Insured.
It is understood that the Ritchie &
Ramsey firm has its payroll insured
against robbery.
Richie and Ramsey were the suc-
cesstul bidders on practically all the
1872 paving in the city of Topeka.