The Daily Ypsilanti
Press published this story on Friday, September 1, 1916.
According to
police theory today Ypsilanti was scheduled Thursday night for a visit by three
men with no good purpose. The first part of their plan, officers believe, was
to secure an automobile, which they did but the fact that the driver had not
been satisfactorily disposed of is believed to have prompted their abandoning
the car in Ypsilanti and returning to Detroit.
George H. Webber
who is employed at a garage at 910 Fort Street, Detroit, was the driver and
according to his story he was engaged by the three men to drive them to Ann
Arbor. He described them as short and young, dressed like students and carrying
a suitcase and small grip. Webber drove a Cadillac eight and stated that he
left Detroit about 5 o’clock. As they came through Ypsilanti the men had him
stop while they got drinks at one of the saloons here. They then continued on
their way to Ann Arbor and stopped at the Allenel Hotel. Webber and one of the
men went out and got a lunch and after they returned the other two went out. He
thinks that the plans for the holdup were concocted in this hotel. While he was
taking lunch with one of the men he was asked a great many questions which
caused him to grow suspicious, whereupon he turned his diamond ring so that the
set was on the inside of his hand.
They started to
return about 8 o’clock. On account of the grading west of Ypsilanti on the
middle road from Ann Arbor they had to make a detour. As they reached the Lake
Shore crossing one of the tires was punctured. Webber
repaired it and was about to start the car when he received a vicious blow back
of his right ear. He threw up his hand to ward off another blow and was struck
on his middle finger, which was crushed. Realizing his helpless position he
jumped from the car and made for a barbed wire fence. One of the men who was
following him fell allowing him to get over into a cornfield where he easily
hid himself. Webber heard the men start the car and drive away. Then he cried
for help and found it in the person of Clarence Holmes who brought him to
Ypsilanti for surgical attention. At the fire department they stopped and asked
that the Detroit police be notified. The local police were notified at the same
time.
Deputy Sheriff
Esslinger took him to Detroit after his wounds had been dressed by Dr. Breakey.
The thugs left
the car on Ellis Street (now Washtenaw) where it was found by Patrolman Bataway
and afterwards taken to Weidman’s garage.
Three men who
answer to the description of the bandits inquired the way to the Michigan
Central depot of Mrs. Charles Schrepper about the time that the men would
arrive in the city and she is now confident that they are the three men wanted.
Others state that they saw them riding about town and that the activity of
Deputy Sheriff John Connor, who had been called, frightened them away.
A bottle of
chloroform and a sponge were found in the car. From this fact some draw the
conclusion that the men were after the life of Webber. Webber states that he
doses not know the men. Some unknown enemy may have hired the men to do the
deed. A man from this same garage was murdered about a year ago, he said.
Another
explanation for the presence of the chloroform is that the use for it was
predicted in work in Ypsilanti, during the night which they had hoped to
accomplish had Webber been disposed of so that no alarm could have been started
to interfere
Detroit officers
are busy today on the case.
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