The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-03

Search ana Ihci0eosaS
Ms Frank Weber. os Florence. Wis.
Was robbed OF sI.pe0 on = Northern Pa
cisie car a. Puyaiiup yesterday morning
al 6 O'clock TWO men did the JOB ana
they were so skillful that Mrs Weheer
did not know what had happened until
the guilty parties were out Of the way.
The robbery s. all the more remarkable
because Mrs. wabber was in constant fear
Of losing the money and made practice
Of keeping her hand on her pocketbook.
Northern Pacific detectives were hard af
work on the case yesterday ard last even
ing IL was reported that accurate descrfp-
tons Of the men had been obtained. Ar
rests may be made at any time unless the
clever thieves have thought 1t advisable
TO leave the country.
Frank Weber Is man about IS years
old. His wife Is pleasant looking woman
some years his junior. They have one
daughter. Mr.. Weber will be remembers
ed. especially in Tacoma and the extreme
western part of the state, as working for
Griggs & Hustis In the construction of the
Grays harbor branch OF the Northern Pa
csfc railroad. For several years, how
ever, he has lived in Florence. Wis.
The wonderful stories of the klondike
aroused in Mr.. sWebbers mind desire 10
see that country. He collected together
his property and then converted il into
cash, or, at least. good portion of 1t. .Ac-
companied by his wife and daughter, he
took the Northern Pacific railroad for Se-
attic. intending TO proceed north by
steamer After purchasing tickets he had
81 900 In cash. OF this amount he Invested
$3.50 In draft. This draft and the re-
mainder Of the cash was placed in an old
fashioned long. black pocketbook, which
Mrs. Weber carried in her skirt pocket
Through fear Of losing the money, Mrs.
Weber made it a practice TO keep her hand
over the purse almost constantly. IL she
did not do this she placed her skirt In such
manner that while sitting down the
purse was under her. When the train
reached Puyaliup early yesterday morning
Mrs. Weber was still in possession of her
wealth and had not relaxed vigilance in
the least She sat with her hand on the
pocketbook when two men came down the
aisle of the car hurriediy, as II looking for
something. They were well dressed and.
TO the casual observer, gave no evidence
of their occupation.
Stopping at the seat where Mrs. Web
Der sat alone one OF the men commenced
to look around. II beg your pardon" said
the man, but | am looking for satchel.
think that / must have left Ii under this
seat"
Mrs. Webher was thrown off her guard
and moved to allow the man to look I'M
der the seat. This man and his companion
made great show OF searching, and while
they were so engaged Mrs. Weber uncon-
Gnfn scfx hszx, vv.a sr.tAu
were doing and arose. In doing so she
took her hand from the precious purse.
Il guess i must have been mistaken"
said the man. II do not see the satchel
here" Begging Mrs webber's pardon for
disturbing her he and his companion walk
ed down the aisle Of the car ana disap-
peared.
short time after they had gone Mrs.
Weber put her hand in her pocket and
discovered that the money had disappear
ed. The blow could not have affected her
more II i; had been struck with a club.
She could hardly breathe. The little for
tune she had so carefully guarded had
been suatched from her posse ssion in the
twtnkling of an eye
The alarm was given and the officials
of the road made every effort possible to
iocafa the supposed robbers. They had
disappeared, however as quickly and
mysteriously as the 81. 900. Mr. and Mrs.
Weber and their daughter came on to
Seattle and took rooms temporarily at the
New Western hotel, on Third avenue be-
tween Columbia and Marion streets Lat
or In the day they took roams elsewhere
having been provided for by the railroad
company. II IL probable that they will be
forced 10 give up their trip to Alaska, as
the loss OF their money has left them prac-
tieaiiy stranded.
General Agent Nadeau, OF the Northern
Pacific. Is taking great interest in the case
and VIII use all the resources at his COM
manG TO bring the guilty parties to JUS
tee. The case has been placed in the
hands of the railroad detectives, who
+ have already obtained complete descrip-
tons of the two '.satchel searchers, In
speaking OF this robbery last evening. Mr.
Natieau said that ii was one of the mos,
shameful robberies he had ever heard Of
I'VE are helpless. however" he continued
n the matter Of keeping sharpers off the
trains Iney purchase tickets and ride
from place To place. No matter how close
~ we attempt 10 guard the passengers
there are times when thieves get in their
work. / am very anxious 10 get hold OF
the pen who robbed Mrs. Weber. and
shall do ali in nay power TO ioc1e them"
IL Is supposed that the precautiou taken
by Mrs. Weber to guard her money was
what led to its loss. Clever thieves do not
werk in an aimIess manner. They watch
people closely, and In most cases can dis
cover sooner or later whether they have
money and where Ii is Ioca:ed
The fact that Mrs. Weber kept her hand
over a certain place in her dress most ~
the time indicated plainly 10 the thieves
that she had something she desired 10
keep. Being skiiiful in finding their way
into other peoples pockets. they neesie,
cnIy a. second off-guard on the part OF Mrs
Weber TO relieve her Of her vaiusbies.
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