Page:Newspaper writing and editing.djvu/139

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

arrived in time to see only clouds of dust cast up by the flying automobiles, but he succeeded in getting from some of the eyewitnesses several license numbers.

Mounted Patrolman Hartwig of Traffic Squad C reached the spot with Sullivan, and while the latter was gathering information from the spectators, the former telephoned the Charles Street Police Station and notified Police Headquarters. The reserves under Lieut. Green were rushed to Erie and Greenwich Streets, but arriving there too late to make any arrests, withdrew, leaving the apprehension of the highwaymen to Acting Captain Charles Du Frain.

Capt. Du Frain, after working on the case all day, said last night that he could report but little progress. He declared that the descriptions he had obtained from eyewitnesses were incomplete and confused, and that the numbers of the automobiles were likewise conflicting.

Julius H. Schnitzler, shipping clerk for the Scholz & Gamm pickle firm at 665 Wilson Street, an eyewitness of the affair, said yesterday afternoon that he had seen the hold-up and robbery from his desk, which faces almost the exact spot where the two messengers were first attacked. Before the attack Schnitzler declared that he had observed two men standing across Erie Street. It was most probably they, be said, who gave the signal of the approach of Johnson and Wiley.

Schnitzler said that these men were dressed, one in a black suit with a black derby, and the other in a blue suit under a dark overcoat. The man in the black suit pulled a yellow blackjack, with which he attacked Wiley, while the second man attacked Johnson. Schnitzler further said he had noticed one of the autos when he went to his office shortly before 8 o'clock. His story was corroborated in practically every detail by Arthur Hansen, a clerk in the office with him.

Another complete account of the affair was obtained from Mary Harrigan, a maid in the home of Judge John R. Winch, 961 Greenwich Street, across the street from where the first automobile was kept waiting.

Johnson was able to continue his work at his desk. He corrected some of the details in his first version of the attack, and declared that he had not been struck with a blackjack. He as well as Wiley, however, received a number of bruises in the struggle.


6. Combine the later bulletin (1) with the first news story (2) in rewriting the following material.


(1)


Norfolk, Va., Jan. 4.—A wireless message received tonight from the revenue cutter Apache says the British steamer Indra-