“William Lucas, the saloon keeper, lies in the Ishpeming hospital suffering from a serious wound as the result of a bold attempt to rob his place of business last night. His assailant escaped, but the officers have a clue to his identity and are hard at work on the case.” (Mining Journal, July 26, 1901)

The attempted robbery happened during a time when Ishpeming was fast gaining a reputation that no city wants, that of a hold-up city.

“Shortly before closing time, at 11 o’clock, while Lucas was alone in the saloon, engaged in sweeping, a young man entered by the back door. The proprietor, supposing the fellow a customer, stepped behind the bar to wait on him. Just as he did so, the stranger pulled a revolver and command Lucas to ‘Throw up your hands.’ The saloon keeper, however, grabbed a pop bottle and prepared to defend himself, at the same time calling for help.

“The would-be robber apparently dismayed by these indications of resistance, turned to flee; but as he did so, he fired, the bullet striking the saloon keeper in the pit of the left arm, just above the heart, and passing through his body. Lucas, although badly hurt, continued to call for help, his assailant in the meantime having taken to flight as he had entered — through the rear door.

“Deputy Marshall Prin, Officer Hector Taupin and several others, attracted by the calls of the wounded man, were soon on the scene. Lucas was taken to the hospital, where the doctors pronounced his wound serious, but not necessarily fatal, while the officers at once went to work on the case.

“Lucas did not lose consciousness and was able to give a partial description of the man although blind in one eye. The would-be thief was a young man, about 5 foot, 7 inches tall, had no mustache, and wore a soft brown hat. Lucas had seen the fellow before in his place of business, but had never learned his identity.

“The wounded saloon keeper has not only lost one eye, but an arm as well, the result of a mine accident. Before that time he had quite a reputation as a wrestler and had won considerable renown on the mat. His place of business is in the heart of the city — in the McEncroe block on Main Street — and the man who attempted the hold-up showed great nerve in selecting it as an object of robbery. The affair caused much excitement.” (Mining Journal, July 26, 1901)

“Everybody on the streets yesterday was talking about the bold hold up and shooting that occurred here late Thursday night. No two persons have the same theory regarding the identity of the man who did the shooting. Some claim that it was the work of an amateur, while others are firm in the belief that it was done by a practiced criminal.” (Mining Journal, July 27, 1901)

“The police are of the opinion that the robber is a man who has been making his home in Ishpeming for the past three or four months. Lucas is positive that he has seen him in the city for at least a month or more and thinks that he has been into his saloon several times during that interval.” (Mining Journal, July 27, 1901)

“A stranger was arrested Sunday night about 12 o’clock, charged with being the man who attempted to rob William Lucas last Thursday evening, shooting him when he refused to hand over his cash. Lucas is positive that the authorities have arrested the right man and identifies him as the person who entered his saloon and demanded money.

“The man held answers closely the description given by Lucas shortly after the attempted hold-up. He is attired in a gray suit, wears the brown fedora and is about 5 feet, 6 inches in height. He was arrested on First Street by Officer Trevarrow shortly after being ejected from a restaurant, because he had no money to pay for his lunch.

“The man claims to be a cigar maker by trade and has credentials from a union. He says he had just arrived from Chicago, where he went to secure employment. Before going to that city he lived in one of the Upper Peninsula towns and is well known in the place where he resided. The man claims to have been in Milwaukee Thursday night, and has furnished the prosecuting attorney with the names of several people to whom he spoke while attending the carnival there.

“Mr. Bell has placed himself in communication with these and in this way intends to ascertain how much truth there is in the statements made by the suspect.” (Mining Journal, July 30, 1901)

“Sufficient evidence has been secured to show that Albert J. Ziegler, who was arrested Sunday night, charged with shooting William Lucas, is not the man who committed the deed. Ziegler was released from custody yesterday afternoon and left last night for his home in Houghton.

“Ziegler was in Milwaukee Thursday night at the time the shooting affray took place. He stoutly denied that he was implicated in the affair and gave Prosecuting Attorney Bell the names of several people whom he met while in the Cream City. All those lived in Houghton or Hancock and Mr. Bell made a trip to the Copper Country to ascertain whether or not the man was telling a straight story.

“Those to whom he referred the prosecutor corroborated his statements, and when Mr. Bell arrived in the city yesterday he ordered Ziegler released. Answers to inquiries made in Milwaukee were received, which stated that a man by the name of Ziegler was in the city Thursday, looking for employment, and that he borrowed money from the general secretary of the Cigarmakers’ union.

“The alibi was so strong that there was nothing on which to hold the man. Lucas, who was positive that the right man was captured, was not so sure that Ziegler committed the crime when he was confronted with the testimony in the accused man’s favor. He said that possibly he might have been mistaken.” (Mining Journal, July 31, 1901)

It is not known whether the Ishpeming police ever found the man who shot Mr. Lucas.