1914-02-28

A Friday night robbery in a Hamilton bar provoked the following coverage in the Hamilton Spectator of February 28, 1914 under the headline “Daring Hold-Up Attempted in Crowded Hotel : Masked Man Walked In and Flourished Revolver : Threatened to Shoo as 75 Men Stood Helpless : Proprietor Kept His Nerve and Called Police.”

          “Detective are scoring the city for a daring thug who entered the side door of the Wellington hotel, Cannon and Wellington streets last night, and, flourishing a revolver, shouted ‘Throw your hands up, you --- or I’ll bore you full of lead.’

          “It was just 9 o’clock when the bandit walked into the bar, and seventy-five men were clustered around the mahogany. The masked man pointed the revolver at the head of the bartender, Thomas Donohue, but with presence of mind Mr. Donohue reached down behind the bar and grabbed a heavy bottle. Then he ran into a side room and telephoned for the police.

          “Not one of the men in the bar made an attempt to interfere with the uninvited visitor, and when Mr. Donohue returned to the bar, the masked man had gone.

          “Detective Goodman responded to the call in the auto patrol, but though the vicinity was thoroughly scoured, not a trace of the thug could be found. From those who were in the hotel, Detective Goodman learned that the man was about five feet, ten inches in height and clothed in a dark overcoat. He also spoke with an English accent. Mr. Donohue is of the opinion that the gunman expected to find the bar almost deserted, and when he saw the small army clustered about the bar, he became afflicted with cold feet.