New Year’s Eve 1904 saw some fireworks along West Chester Pike around Edgmont, as described in the next day’s Philadelphia Inquirer: 
“A holdup with a dash of wild Western color to it occurred last night on the Philadelphia and West Chester trolley line, halfway between Newtown Square and West Chester, when a man, armed with two big revolvers, took Conductor Robert E. Patterson off his car, relieved him of all the silvers and coppers he had, then forced him to get back and ring the bell to go ahead.”
The trolley had been heading east a short distance from the Street Road stop. The crew of a westbound trolley warned Patterson about a suspicious man ahead. The trolley stopped, and a man jumped on the back, revolver in hand. Patterson did not see the gun and reached up to ring the bell to announce that the trolley was going to start, but in doing so he accidentally knocked the gun out of the man’s hand. He started to apologize, then quickly realized the situation, but by then the man had pulled a second gun on him. Don’t ring that bell, but get off the car.”
“When I hesitated for a moment,” said Patterson, in telling the story. “The man brought his gun closer to my breast and I naturally decided the best thing to do was to obey him.” 
Patterson emptied his pockets of the fare proceeds, $8.15, and then the robber instructed him to get on the trolley, ring the bell and get going. And just like D.B. Cooper, the robber then jumped out of the trolley and disappeared into the night. Three passengers on the car did not realize what had occurred.
The next day, the Inquirer reported that Ralph Crole was arrested when found in Joshua Garrett’s woods near Malvern. He admitted to the crime and said that he had recently been released from prison for a year, convicted of shooting at a farmer. “He declared he could get no work and turned to robbery that he might buy food. It is said that the man’s mind is affected.” A search of census records shows no Ralph Crole in the area, but an age-appropriate Ralph Crowl from Chester County was married with a child in the 1920 and 1930 censuses. Hopefully, that was our Ralph, who straightened up and flew right, after his brush with the law.
For more history on Edgmont Township, Delaware County, and membership information, please visit our Facebook group, “Edgmont Historical Society”.