Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 129, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1903 — An Attempt Hold-up. [ARTICLE]

An Attempt Hold-up.

Dr I. M Washburn Pursued By a 1 Probable Highwayman ' 1 What looked very tnuoh liki an intended highway robbery took plaOe in town late last evening, with' Dr. I. M, Washburn as the intended victim. As he was going to his home and passing the rains of the old barned laundry, near the lower river bridge, he heard a noise in the old building like some one was moving in it, atid then a man oame out andasaid: “Wait a minute, I want to speak to yon ” The doctor did not think it a very auspicious time and place to have an interview with a stranger, so' be told him to go where it was warmer and walked on The fellow repeated his request for the doctor

id stop, and started to follow in a tr t. The die to# kept on until the fellow wa^ right close behind him, then kwung around, suddenly and gave the fellow a hard blow with his fist, square in the teeth. The doctor being -wholly without weapons,, and not knowing bat what the other man might be well armed, he did not wait to see the effects of his blow-but took to his heels and made quiok time across the bridge and to his house a short distance beyond. A tangible evidence of his adventure remained m three deep dents in his knuckles where they lauded on the fellow’s teeth It occured before the moon had risen aod was therefore too dark, for him to see anything what the man was like. This old deserted laundry building, in the lonely pirt of tiwn that it is furnishing a too good .lurking place for evil-minded people and it should be torn down, forthwith.