Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-08
TOOK HER DIAMONDS.
HIGHwAYMEN ROB MRS. JOSEPH
WORKMAN.
A Most Daring Crime-valuabIe Goods
Stolen-A Plncky Little Girls
Presence of Mind and
Its Result.

About 9:15 o'clock last evening one Of
the most daring highway robberies ever
committed in this city was perpetrated
in front OF the residence of Mr.. Joseph
Workman. The victim of the robbery
was Mrs. Joseph Workman. She and
her daughter, aged about 10 years, had
been down town, and left the corner of
Main and First streets about
9 O'Clock on their return home.
A German laborer, employed on the
premises, met Mrs. Workman and
daughter at First street and Boyle
Heights for the purpose of guarding
them home in safety.
They had reached the premises, ard
as they approached point about 60
feet from the entrance gate to the walk
leading to the front door OF their resi-
dence, two masked men sprang ou from
behind two large pepper trees, one de-
manding in a half suppressed, coarse,
yet determined voice, "Hands upl"
The men wore black masks, and each
presented pistol, ordering Mrs. Work
man, her daughter and the laborer to
stand still and deliver over their val
uables.
The lady and the little girl were very
much frightened. and the man was
panic stricken. Mrs. Workman took
her earrings out of her ears and handed
them to the first villain, who acted
as spokesman; then she was compelled
to hand over her diamond breastpin and
a bracelet set with emeralds. When the
little girl threw up her hands in obe-
dience to the summons, the upward
movement of one hand unloosed the
watch from her mothers watch pocket.
The little girl at once grasped the situa-
ton and the watch. and slipped the
watch into her pocket, unobserved by
the highwaymen.
When the little girl was ordered to
hand over her valuables, she took from
her pocket pocket book, saying: "You
can have it, there is only 10 cents in
it," and taking off her hat. extended it
to the men, adding, "You can have my
hat, too, if you want it," They did not
take the purse, nor the profered hat.
The purse, however, contained about
5000 in gold. Mrs. Workman had given
it to her daughter to carry, as she had
no pocket in her dress. The laborer
was also made to hand over his valua.
bles, which consisted of 50.
Mrs. Workman's diamond earrings
were valued at $3.50, the diamond breast.
pin at about 5000 and the bracelet al
about $3.50. -
As soon as their valuables had been
taken the ladies were permitted to enter
the house, which they lost no time in
doing, and at once telephoned to the
central police station, Mr.. Joseph Work
man being away from home at the
time,
The men are described as of slender
build and about five feet six inches in
height, and judging from their voices
Mrs. Workman believes that they were
young fellows.
Officer Leverich and Detective Bosqui
at once went to the scene of the rob-
berry. Just opposite the "double gate"
and about 60 feet from the entrance
to the premises is a deeply shaded
spot, made darker still by several
pepper trees, whose rich foliage shuts
out the smallest ray of moon or electric
light. In this darkness, behind two
trees, stood the highwaymen here were
found their tracks, and shreds of their
black masks. 1t seems that in making
their masks, they discovered on arriving
at this spot that the masks did not fit
well, and that the eye holes were not
large enough, so shreds were cut cut
and the masks otherwise mended. They
evidently had watched the premises and
seeing Mrs. Workman and daughter go
down town, laid their plans for their
robbery on their return.
The ladies, on being roughly accosted
to throw up their hands," were greatly
frightened, but afterwards thought that
some young men were playing a prac-
tical joke, but when the weapons were
presented and the manner of the men
indicated frmuess the ladies realized
that it was no jest.