On This Date in Minnesota History: April 19

April 19, 1920 – Knocked down and robbed by two bandits this evening at the Interior Elevator, St. Louis Park, Elmer Chapel, 56 years old, night watchman, summoned aid by crawling to the boiler room and pulling a cord that blew a fire whistle on the building.

Several St. Louis Park residents responded. When they arrived they found Chapel lying on the boiler room floor, exhausted. He was taken to his home and a physician called. Examination showed Chapel received a bad scalp wound when struck with a blunt instrument.

Chapel, according to the story he told a. C. Kach, A. D. Erkel and F. Bretz, deputy sheriffs, was alone at the elevator when two men approached him. When he refused to let them in, one of the men struck him over the head. Fifteen minutes later, when he regained consciousness, his wallet containing $3 in cash was gone. The men got away before Chapel turned in the alarm.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Victim of Bandit Crawls to Bell Cord. St. Louis Park Elevator Watchman Blows Fire Whistle After Robbery.”; April 20, 1920; p. 1.

http://slphistory.org/interiorelevator/

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