The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-03
HEROIC MRS. WEST
Grapples with a Burglar
and Saves Her Hus-
bands Life.
II SHOT HER TWICE
Crawford Visited by a Gang Of
Desperadoss-Graat Ex-
element in Town.
THIEF SHOT HER TWICE
speetalt to tAs Jerssu cir Me,rs.

~ t&~ 81 = 0stN Af<<to~
CRAWFORD. March 8, 1s97.-This village
was in a state of great excitement this
morning, owing to the depredations of
a gang of desperate burglars last night.
1t is also proud OF the fac that it num-
bers among its residents a real heroine,
in the person of Mrs. Henry c. West. h
probably saved her husbands life by
graphing with one of the robbers at the
muzzle of a revolver in the hand of the
desperate. Mrs. West was shot twice by
the burglar, but her wounds, although
painful, are not considered dangerous.
1t was just after three O'Clock this
morning that Mr.. and Mrs. West, who
were sleeping on the second floor of their
house in Madison avenue, were awakened
by a noise in the room. They saw the in
distinct form of q man near the window.
Mr.. West jumped out of bed to get his
revolver from the bureau. AS he did so
the burglar, turning the rays of a dark
lantern upon him., levelled a pistol and
fired two shots. The robbers aim was
poor. n the bullets went wide of their
mark. Il
Mrs. West, although almost hysterical
with terror. sprang from bed when she
saw her husbands danger, and al
straight at the burglar. She seized him
by the arms as he was about to fire an
other shot at her husband.
Damn you, let gor' shouted the rob-
Der. Mrs. West chung all the tighter.
The burglar. who was a big, muscular
fellow, wreStled with the little woman
and getting one hand free. thrust his re-
volver into her face and fired point
blank. The bullet tore a hole In Mrs.
Vests left cheek and she fell back upon
the bed. almost overcome with pain and
West was fumbling in desperation about
Ine bureau for his revolver, and the burg
lar took a step toward him with, out
stretched pistol. Mrs. West thought he
was about TO shoot again. and her love
caught the robber by the right arm as
upon him.
He wheeled about and fired a second
shot at her. The bullet struck the woman
In the right shoulder and she fell to the
noor, this time unable to get up.
The robber then made a dive for the
pedroom door, and brushed past West,
West clutched at him as he ran, but the
burglar dashed down the stairs and made
his escape into the street. West pursuing,
saw a second man standing on the COR
ner, who Joined in the flight.
Meantime neighborS had been aroused
by the shots and came rushing to the
West house. In a few minutes the, entire
village was awake and in a state of terror
and excitement.
A physician, DIR. Allen, was soon on the
scene. He dressed Mrs. Vests Wounds
while an armed posse set out to scour
the neighborhood for the burglars. i
1t was found that the robbers had
made two attempts at burglary in other
houses before they tackled Vests. They
had broker into Walter NJ. Irving's house
in Min street. had stolen 5000 worth of
jewelry and had got away without dis
covery They tried to get into the house
of J. F. Grow in the same street, but
were heard by the family n scared
away.
Entrance was gained to Vests home
by the front door, one burglar going up
stairs to the sleeping room occupied by
Mr.. n Mrs. West while the other kept
watch in the street