Stories from the past

50 years ago

CALEXICO — Two gunmen slugged unconscious a lone customer and a bartender late Wednesday in a hold-up at the Seven Seas Bar, 144 Second St., and escaped with more than $200.

The hold-up men, who spoke Spanish, walked into the tavern about midnight, blocked the doorway, whipped out pistols and demanded that the bartender, Joe Salgado, 45, given them the keys to the door.

When he refused, one gunman hit customer Oscar Moreno, 68, Calexico Hotel, over the head, knocking him unconscious. The other gunman raced behind the bar, picked up a bottle of Scotch and crashed it on the head of the bartender.

While the two men were unconscious, the bandits took $80 from Salgado’s pocket and $125 from the cash register. No money was taken from Moreno, Lt. John Hignight reported.

When the victims awoke, the gunmen were gone. Police were telephoned and the stick-up information was relayed to Mexicali police, FBI agents, the California Highway Patrol, port of entry officers and sheriff’s deputies.

Police took the bartender to Calexico Hospital for treatment of a head injury.

“It was one of the most cold-blooded hold-ups here in a long time,” Lt. Hignight said. “I believe they would have killed the customer and bartender to make their getaway.”