The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-12-10
HELD UP IN THEIR HOME.
John Bowers House on Missoula
Avenue in the Possession
Of Footpads
A Family Kept In q Bedroom
Until tho Head Of the
House Returned
He II Met At the Door with Orders "a
"Hold Up" and Robbed u His
Own ParloF.

Helena took place last night. Two men
went TO the home OF John hover, 1101 Mis-
sou!a avenue. drove . woman and three
children into . bedroom at Tho point OF re-
volvsrs. Sansacksd desk. from which they
got nothing. and then took possession Of
tho parlor and waited for the head OF the
family to como home. whom thsy Tobbod
him and left. Mr.. Bower keeps . grocery
year-old son Willie answerod . ring Of the
front door bell about twenty minutes be-
fore eiaht last night. Two men stood on
the step and told the boy they wanted TO
soc Mrs. Bower. That lady responded TO
the call OF her son. and as soon As she ap-
poarsd at the door one Of the men stuck tho
point OF q revolver against her headAnd
ordered her to throw mp her hands, which
she did. Still holding the gun pointed 1t
her the man and his companion
drew mp over their faces hnndkerohiefs
they had tied about their necks and walked
into the house. Mrs. Bower and heE three
children were ordered into ths bed
room which adjoins tho parlor, while tho
men opened a secretary and began rum
maRing about among the papors for valua-
bles. In the draw Of the secretary is q tin
box In v hich M. Bower keeps his private
papers. This the mon forced tbs eldest
bop ~ open. but they found nothing that
would be OF value to them. Thoy took
some loose postage stamps which were in
the desk. Then the family were told TO re-
main in the bedroom. one OF tho men re-
marking that they would wait for Bower.
who. he said. was expected TO have about
$1,000 with him whom hs got home. :,
When Mrs. Bower and the children had
gone into the bedroom. the men sat down
in the parlor and kept their stations stead
lily for two hours, except when one went
and got oil tbs milk there was In The house
and drank it. The milk was intended for
the baby: Meantime ,,.h the p baby cried :,
permission to get 1t. Al she went for the
water one OF the mon followed her with his
revolver at her head.
Finslly, q little after 10 O'Clock. tho ap-
psosoh at : Rapid Transit oar on its way
TO the depot was heard. One Of the men
took his station at tho front door and the
homo on the oar. and a. he touched the
man on guard there turned the
key suddenly. threw the door open poked
his revolver into Mr.. Bowers face with
the OF der to throw up his hands. which was
When he reaohsd the parlor tho other man
| al ths back door left his post and gave his
companion his pistol. Then. while one
man held both pistols to M. Bowers head.
tho other man won't through his pockets
and took sll the cash he had, something
one, leaving the chain behind. Having
completed this job the robbers told Mr..
Bower not to move until they caught the
returning car from the depot; ''if you do. :"
said one of theu, you know what you will
| Rst." The men backed out of the house
and ran to bis bedroom and got his revolt
| yer and started to follow. He saw the car
keep on, but no one got ON It. and It is
! likely that tho men won't of In different
direction. Mr.. Bower then came down town
and notified the police. Sergeant Frey and
Policeman Eohartenbroich went out to the
house with Mr.. Bower. got o description of
ths men and then took tho necessary steps
Curtis was also aroused and decided to
start his deputies after the highwaymen.,
| The robbie. had evidently been shadow
ing Mr.. Bower. learned his place Of busi-
nsss and his home. aud curmisinR that he
would take the entlre receipts home with
him last night. laid for him with the idea
Of making rich haul. Fortunately for
him he had put in bank everything up TO
| the time those institutions close, und only
took homo part of what oamo In later.
Ono Of tho mon was tall and heavy set,
tho other short and slender. Tho tall
man was the one who f,st poked
the gun into Mrs. Bowers face, and tht
one who waited At the front door to treat
Mr.. Rowor the same way. 10 also hold ths
guns Oh Mr.. Bower,while the other mar
searched him. The handk,rchiefs they
wore concealed their faces bslow the eyes
though Mrs. Bower aud the eldest boy think
they would be able 10 recognize the robbers
il cnught. The men had tied their hand
kerchicfs about their nscks before going tc
to tho door all they had to do WAS to sliI
their implovissd masks mp 80 a. 10 hide
tho z featsr part Of their features before 60
ing into the light. The larger man wore .
rcd handkerchief and tho smaller man {
| vhite one