The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-17
Mrs. 8. Wsissberg Robbed at Her
Own Door.
TOOK HER GRIP AND GUN
She Had Got Safely Home When the
Highwaymsn sprans Upon Her.
The Gun Failed TO Do
It's Duty.

ups in which the victims were men. II
Is not a matter of record that a woman
was ever held up in this city before
early yesterday morning. when Mrs. s.
weissberg. Just as she was about TO
open the door leading to her apart
ments. was accosted by a man and her
hand satchel n revolver grabbed. The
highvayman made good his escape.
Mrs. weissberg lives with her two chill
dren in the lodging house at No. 2i5
South Montana street. She conducts
a cigar store at No. So South Main
| street. Her story of the affair. as h
told Il yesterday to a Standard reporter,
ls as follows:
Il always keep my store open till !
and sometimes 2 o'clock in the morning.
Just as business warrants. This morn
ing I was rather late In closing up.
always carry a hand satchel. In which
I keep a few papers. trinkets. etc.
which are indispensable among women.
And I tell you when i go home OF
| mornings ! carry a gun. too. 1 usually
carry the satchel in my left hand and
my gun in the right. and sometimes
walk I'm the middle OF the road. The
policemen along my road home know
| me, and whenever I go down Montana
! street and see them standing on their
| respective orners. I feel perfectly safe.
Just as ] did this morning, when saw
| officer Matthews near Mercury street.
| As soon as I IN him I took my gun
and grip in my left hand. and with my
right raised my skirt to a convenient
height and quickened my pace towards
my house. feeling confident that the
road was now clear and free Of dan
ger. Just as I reached the hall door
leading up to my room. / saw a man
standing on the walk in front OF the
house. At first / thought he was one
Of the dodgers and paid no particular
attention to him. With my right hand
turned the door knob. little thinking
that the strangers eve was on my
satchel.
IT had now opened the door and was
about 10 step inside when, with the
agility of a panther lesping on Its prey.
the man sprang towards me. grabbed
my grip and gun and was away In an
instant. screamed. OF course. and
screamed I'VE or three times. Before !
could scream again officer Matthews
was by my side. l said Historically, no
doubt. there's the man, We could see
the fleeing form making down the
street. I was never so badly fright
ened in my life. I don't think. My
heart was now up in my throat and ]
could not speak. officer Matthews was
just under steam on the trail OF the
thief when Officer O'Meara flew by TO
Join in the chase. In n minute ar two
a dozen men came up to me, attracted
by my cries. and I was taken 10 my
brothers. house on West Mercury
street, where I remained until my
nerves quieted down. after which ] was
escorted home. While = at first thought
the man was a lodger in the house
where I live, I now feel positive that IL
IL the same man whom 7 have noticed In
front OF my store a number Of times. ]
saw his face az he sprang toward me.
and its image Is indelibly impressed
upon my mind right now. Oh with a
knowing wink, 81 can recognize that
man the moment I see him"
Mrs. weissberg, in relating the ac-
count Of the hold-up. could not but
betray her chagrin at being the victim
OF a thugs design when the big gun.
always her trusted companion on her
lonely walks home. so completely failed
to do its duty at n critical time.
officer Matthews chased the fellow
down Montana street into al alley near
the marble works. where he fired two
shots at the fugitive. n continued to
go and finally lost himself. Both Mat
thews and O'Mesra secured the vicinity
and the old placer d%iggings. where the
man would likely hide himself, but
their search was unavailine. They
found a well worn brown Fedora hat.
which might nave been worn by the
hold-up. II II IL his hat. II IL about
the only clue they have. Yet Mrs.
weissberg claims that she can identify
him on sight.
Mrs. weissberg has recovered her
satchel inc It's contents except about 35
cents which was in n when taken away
from her. Yesterday afternoon a man
who lives at No. $40 South Dakota
street called at Mrs. weissberg's store
and Informed the lady that he had
stumbled over the satchel In front 81
his house as he IVES returning from
work yesterday morning at = o'clock.
He told her his name and rave the
number Of his residence. and said that
II he had time he would bring the grip
TO her, IL not she should send a messen-
ger boy after II. He told her that the
grip had been forced omen. She sent
n boy after ~ at 8 o'clock last evening.
Everything was In II except the money,
as stated. There was n gold ring In II.
which was evidently overlooked by the
robber. The grip was not locked. but
the robber evidently didn't know how
to open II in the proper way. 30 ne
pried II open by bending the iron frame
on which the clasps are fastened. The
lady did not remember the name OF the
man who caused the return OF the
satchei. The several papers, cards, re-
ceipts. etc, In the grip bore the name
OF the owner. and by these the finder
was easily directed to the owner Of
them.