, 1922-07-27

desperate hold-up men ever captured
in this section was taken by the
police early last Friday morning
when q man giving the name OF
Harry John Lesson, and claiming
waco, Tex, as his home, was lodged
in the county Jail after having robbed
A. 8. Tibbets, a travelling salesman
of Denver the night before at the
point of a gun and compelled the un-
willing victim to haul him about IN
his car for over three. hours under
repeated threats Of instant death. II
he made the slightest suspicious
move.
When the story Of the highway
robbery was reported to the sheriffs
office shortly after IL o'clock thurs
day night q posse was at once FORMED
and a dragnet thrown around the
city in every direction and every ave-
nue. of escape cut off effectively.
several deputies were sworn in and
the man hunt was Joined by the Raw
Inns police and quite a body Of armed
citizens who were not officially des-
fknated as deputies, but who voiun-
teered 10 assist in the chase for the
murderous yeggman.
At. y preliminary hearing wnlcn
was held before Justice OF the Peace
Beeler Saturday morning. at which
Tibbets was present and positively
identified the man as the one who
had stuck him up, Lesson was
bound over to the district court on a
charge Of felonious assault and rob-
berry with a weapon. He was later
nhotoxraphed and finger printed At
the penitentiary and his description
sent broadcast, as it Is believed that
he ia wanted for other crimes: 1t is
not haltayeAg that he gave his cor
rect name nor residence.
Story Of the Crime
Tibbets, the man who played the
Good Samaritan and picked up
potential murderer as passenger
and gave him q Gift" was driving
from Laramie westward. He 10 .
paint salesman and cover his Wyom-
ing territory in his car during the
summer months. When about six
miles out of Laramie. Lesson. stopped
him and asked for q ride and his re-
nuest was granted. The two pro-
ceeded westward on the Lincoln
eH1ghway untff Fort Steele was
reached. Here they stopped until
the storm Of Thursday evening had
passed. When nearing Rawlins, and
about three miles out Of town Lesson
suddenly stuck the muzzie Of a gun
against Tibbets' ribs and sternly
ordered him to stop the car. b
bewildered driver could not under
stand the action of the man he had
befriended and asked in amaxement:
why man, what do you mean?" The
query was greeted by q volley OF
oaths and vile names and Tbbets was
ordered to stand up in the = while
the yegx made . partial search OF
his person and the side pockets of
the car, evidently looking for .
weapon.
Ordered to Back Track
After relieving Tibbets of his wal
let containing about $60 in cash ana
two checks which were later returned
as of NO value to the robber, the
order was given, accompanied BY
abuse and profanity. to turn aroun9
and drive eastward. Tibbets, with
the gun still pointing at his vdtais,
cbsy0d. This was continued until
near Waicott, when another flank
order WAS issued and the hapless
fibSSts- was again compelled to -
about and head towards Rawlins.
ceach Of his victin's vffSets but was
frightened into desisting By the
Approach OF two aatomobiles ffon
me rear, 90 he orAef04 Ttb6ee1 TO
..drfvo on and after again passing
,fhrouGh Fort Steele, directed the
Gar Of the main road to the rtgAt,
where another stop was made IN .
eeolNded SPOT. Here the despefedo
fearshed Tibbsts, his . and his
suit case thoroughly. being reward
cd by q revolver, o miscellaneous as