The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-03-23
BOLD ATTEMPT At ROBBER
Thomas Wegner Audacieusly TT
to Loot the Jewelry Store Of
Sam HerskOvitz.
He Manages to Secure Seventy-Fi,
Cents, When He Is Captured
by Policeman Hamilton.
And He Now Languishes in Jail as
Bold. Bad Man from Texas to
Await Montana Law,

About three weeks ago a man req
tered at the Milwaukee house in this al
as Thomas Wegner of Ell Paso, Tex. |
appeared to be a peaceable man and
was understood that he was in the hoI
business. The last ten days he has hid
a horse from j. A.. Barnard of tie Pal
stables four times to go out to dlfferd
places, and has been at the Park hoI
several times seeking employment
stockmen. However, this action did J
tally with his telling others he was !
pecting a carload of horses from Tex
He visited J. B. McCollum's, the d
ner saloon, and a few days ago introdud
a newcomer named Smith, vi
he stated had come from below, All
dinner Saturday he drew his revolver
a man in the Milwaukee house as he NJ
coming out of the dining room, claim
that a friend Of his had been insulted
the table; and whe,i Mr.. Winters, /
proprietor, interfered to prevent trou1
he flo, rished his revolver, saying: ska
away, Billy, l had Just as soon shoot N
as himw From the hotel he went to A
Park stables, got the horse he had beer
riding, and procured a picket rope, ID
ing that he might have some roping
do. From the stables he rode to !
corner of Central avenue and Seco
street, where he met Smith, got off
horse, and, placing the reins in the hal
Of Smith, they conversed a few m
utes, when Wegner snatched the N
from Smith, and led the horse id
Second street opposite the jawelry 81
of Sam Herskovitz. Then he becko
to Smith and gave the reins to
again.
At this time a warrant was being
tanned for bis arrest and be was ID
Swallowed. Arriving at the {stI
he found Herskovitz stand
outside the door, and leaving his lid
with the man Smith, said, "Sam, cd
in, l want to do some business with ydI
Sam went inside, and the man follow
closing the door as he came in.
instant this was done, Wegner pulled !
revolver, saying, II want every dol
you have in the house; il you don't
kill you" Sam hesitated a moment
two, and was then told to search hims4
Sam pulled out rs cents and laid it
the showcase, Wegner still holding l
revolver at Sans head. Sam III
walked slowly to the safe, the rob&
being close to him. At this lnst&
William Elliott, an expressman, who
standing on the opposite side Of
street, hailed Officer Hamilton. saw
he believed that the man was hold
up Sam and he dad Eotta< sC
there, on which the officer started
the store. At this time Herskovitz
putting some silver out Of the safe
the showcase, and saw a man pass1
and was going to halloo, when Weg@
said, 1T you boiler I'll kill you'd
Sam put down three or four stacksI
silver. Then Wegner said, "Hurry
with the bills" when at that inst
Officer Ed Hamilton burst in, and pladv
his revolver against Wegner's head,
dered him to drop his gun which he
at the same time Wegner saying, "Pd
ner, you've got me, but if I'd seer yo(
would have dropped I2u."
Both men were TAX iail and II
the inside Of Jail wallsF.s'l. y
come. bGt.
r For audacity in bro "-,
crowded street, this IN
been equalled in CT plA !:
speaks volumes for I'll i9did TT'
police force that the m moi Sftu L.
in the act. Officer Rs Of ~ "
mind he showed on et asistoay "
Mr.. McCullom wb 'Ydh"Megner
capade, 80 different to his charad
there. 1t is a moral certainty, bowe@
that this robbery has been planned
some time, all the actions of Was
proving that; and that he is insane,
was drunk at the time of the robbery
a matter of disbelief by all parties col
zant OF the facts in the case.
LATER-The true name of the acc
plice OF Wegner is Alma Smith, pal
on his person revaalipU Tho Foot bo