The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-06
A SILK STOCKING SANDBAG.
OLD MR.. RoBERT ATTACKED IN MS
WINE CELLAR IN HoBOKEM

ne Is Famous for Being Able to Change
nie Bii-, and HIS Errnnd Bor Hal Heen
Lured Awny-His Defeat of the Robsor.
Gustave Robert. an old Frenchman. who has
kent wine cellar at W Washington street.
Hoboken. for thirty years. was snndbaEged by
a daring robber yesterday In his Office. The
robber bruised tho wine dealer painfully. but
failed to accomplish the robbery he had care
fully planned.
Mr.. Robert Is ono OF tho best known OF Ho-
bokens citizeus. Ue conducts his business In
an ld-fashioned manner and let's his Gus
toners see him draw tho liquor they call for
from tho original cask. The wine cellar Is de-
void OF ornament except n few gaudy litho-
graphs illustrating the French processes oil
making coGnac and champagne. Tho store is
divided by high cross partition. behind which
most OF the old Frenchman's business is trans
acted. The cellar Is lined with rows Of casks.
while the centre Is taken up with other bar
rels.
Mr.. Robert Ia we'll to do. and is known all
over Hoboken not only for his vino cellar but
also for his ability at almost any hour to mako
change for big bills. He is ono Of those sunny
tempered Frenchmen who are general favor
ties. His customers can take possession OF
his establishment while they are there In
business hours. Mr.. Robert never checks any
thing. within limits OF course. with one excep-
ton He draws the line at being addressed as
Robert" or Mr.. Robert"
"'Robairc.' II you please. SIR" he corrects
those who mispronounce his French name.
But he does 1t so nicely that no one was ever
known to take offence.
The wine dealers assailant made his first
WAS we'll dressed and about s. Years old. and
wore heavy blond moustache. He asked Tor
III Ill ,rtth In tuti nm m pran al
and Robert treated his visitor in turn
About IL, o'clock yesterday morning tho man
more and then requested, Robert T., get him
BON hs nm to iii he's
1t is probable that the boys presence in the
store prevented the robber from attacking
1'he fellow was clever enough n0,wsveri !, to
MSs cess sGS steda Ss to i
Henrs at i.o5s Si fioo aq street moSSken
There is only vacant lot at the address given.
but while the boy was discovering this fact his
:, The man with the blond moustacho entered
tho wine cellar soon after the errand boy had
gone, He ehatted pleasantly with Mr.; 10
ton and drew a glassful OF whiskey from a
box Within easy ronch he Of the eustomer Ro
bert turned to walk toward the water faucet In
the rear OF the store.
He had barely turned his back when the fell
low struck him heavy blow on the side Of the
head. Robert was half dazed. and. thinking
he had boon hit by piece of plaster. asked:
Is the ceiling falling down.
lie was Just quick enough to Itch sight OF
lodged the second blow. md tho fellows
weapon IN erely bruised his shoulder.
BY this time the old French mans Ire was
aroused and he promptly grarpled the robher.
The latter proved to be both tough and wiry.
Again and again he struck Robert in the face
with his fist as they swayed too and fro In
the narrow passageway between the rows OF
barrels. The old Frenchman made vigorous
ilght in return and kept shouting for hel D.
His outcries finally alarmed the robher. who
ran out Of tho store after giving Robert q
vicious shove and kicking him on the shin.
MIR. Robert was nearly exhausted by the
struggle. and it was a couple Of minutes or
that time the robber had made good his
escape
When Mr.. Robert returned to his store he
found the fellows weapon lying on the floor.
1t was q sandbag made by filling a black silk
stocking with sand Both stocking and sand
had been soaked in water to make the weapon
more effective. 1t Is believed that the low
ceiling OF the store intertered with the sand
Dagger. as n single wel-deliyered stroke Of the
weapon would have knocked Robert sensele
As It was tho old man was merely bruised. al
though the shock and excitement also Affected
him greatly.
He felt better nfter drinking tho whiskey he
had drawn for tho robber.