Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-04
A PLUCKY WOMAN
RuBs Three Active burglars Out of Her
House, and wounds One of Them
Very Hadly.

New YORK, March 3-The Herald re.
ports that on Wednesday morning Mrs.
Ellen WEIGH routed three burgla ara, and se-
vereIy wounded one of them. The story is
as follows:
In the building on the southeast corner OF
Broadway and Twenty-third street, occupied
in part by the Blossom Club, resides Mra.
Ellen WEIGH, wealthy widow. She lives
in a fat on the fourth floor and keeps no ger
wants. recently contracted cold had
broken her rest, and during the night she
was more than usually restless. She was
aroused about 4 o'clock Wednesday morn
ing By a severe Fl of coughing, and when it
had ceased she found it impossible TO 60 10
sleep again. While lying awake strange
noises in the hall attracted her attention.
Sitting up in bed she listened breath
lessly for few moments and soon
became convinced that the sounds
had been made by sealtby footsteps on
the stairs Just Outside her door. The scratch
ing of KEY az it almost noiselessly entered
the lock then broke The stiffness OF the night
and proved TO the unprotected widow that
her fear Of burglars was not unfounded.
While key after key was being unsuccess-
fully tried, she had time TO calm her agita-
| ton and decide as 10 what was best 10 be
done. The peculiar sound of the bolt as it
was being slowly moved back told her that
| the robbers had at last succeeded in picking
| The lock and were about to enter. Mrs.
| WEIGH slipped quietly from the bed, taking
with her a pistol from under her pillow
| On iiptoe she glided along the entry, catch
ing up wrapper on her way which she has
| tily donned. The robbers had cessed opera
| tions for the moment. Mrs. WEIGH knelt
| down to peer under the door in order that she
| might obtain some idea as to how many thieves
| she would have TO cope with. The feet Of
| three men could just be distinguished. Her
| movements perhaps alarmed the msrsuders,
| for she waited in vain for indications OF their
| entry. Thinking that possibly they had
| taken flight she gently opened the door, COW
| ering the entrance with her weapon, single
barrsled pistol OF forty-four calibsr. The
crouching figure Of man at the head of the
staire, about fifteen feet distant, met her
| view, and at the came memeh she became
| aware that two others were standing close tC
| her, one on each side of the doorway. The
| man at her left WAS looking at her, aud as be
| approached she deliberately took aim at HI.
| face and pulled the trigger. The man stsg-
| gered and was about to fall when his com
panions sprang TO his side, lifted him in theil
arms and bore him quickly down the stairs
Not one word was spoken aud there was nc
excitement, as the report OF the Immense
pistol, strange TO cay, was not heard by any
OF the other cccupsuts Of tue building. Th'
danger over, Mrs. WEIGH raised an outcry
from the Broadway window OF her room
which brought to her assistance Palrolmar
Parkerson, of the Yves. Thirteenth stree
police. He found no race of the burglar
nor Of the widows courageous act excepting
that the woodwork near the door OF thu
fiat where the stairs turned bore stain
OF fresh blood. Taking up the trail from
that point the progress of the pair with thei
wounded "pap could be followed by simi a
stsins upon the walt and stairs, along Iht
lower halls and upon the stone steps lesdin:
| 10 the street. On the sidewalk there wer
sPots leading to telegraph pole IN front 0
the Twehty.third street entrance, where ID
wounded thief had undoubtedly rested. Her
all trace was lost. Returning to The fl
Policeman Parkerson discovered in a darI
corner an embroidered handkerchief ainet
, with blood, aud mora close examination
disclosed the fact that the cracksmen had
: while apparently waiting outside Mr.:
, Welch's room, forced open closet contain
ing wearing apparel worth $500. They ha
selected some OF the most costly articles, an
probably intended carrying them of afte
I they had raasacked the suit of rooms. A
examination showed that the fats had bee
entered with false keys. Subsequently Nv
burglars, named Dunovan and Harris, WeF
arrested, but Mrs. WEIGH could not identii
| them