Evening star., 1899-03-07
ROBBERY NEAR HAGERSTOWN
Miss Eliza ]. Waltz Loses Over $1,000 in
Cash.
Burglary Committed by Five Masked
Men, Who Escape, Leaving No
Clue to Identity.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star


HAGERSTOWN, Md, March e-What
was probably the boldest robbery In the
history of Washington county took place
few miles from this city between / and 2
o'clock yesterday morning. The victim was
Miss Eliza ]. Waltz, an elderly lady, and
the amount obtained between 81 900 and
$500 in cash. The robbers made their es-
cape and there is apparently no clue which
would be likely to lead to the detection and
arrest of the guilty parties.
The scene of the crime was one mile from
Cavetown, small village seven miles east
of Hagerstown, and the house robbed stands
directly on the public road. The occupants
We're Miss Waltz and boy relative named
John Holtzman.
About l o'clock Miss Waltz and her COM
panlon were awakened from their sleep by
the noise made by the entrance of five men,
VINO We're subsequently found to be mask
ed and heavily armed. Before the lady and
boy were able to realize what had occurred
the men tied their hands behind their backs.
This done, the leader of the gang said, it
Is reported: Now. Eliza. tell us where your
money Is. This circumstance leads some
persons to think that the crime was COM
mitted either by some parties who were
well acquainted with Miss Waltz and her
habits or else had been posted as to her
given name and other matters by some one
in the neighborhood.
Miss Waltz refused to give any informa-
ton concerning her money, and the rob-
berS, without attempting any further vio-
lence, preceded to search every part of the
house where money might be kept. The
burglars evidently expected to find the
money hidden in the bed in which Miss
Waltz slept, for they tore the coverings
into shreds. Finally the money was discov-
cred in the corner of bureau drawer, and
few minutes after obtaining possession of
it the robbers left.
Miss Waltz and the boy were badly
frightened and made no attempt to call for
help while the robbers were in the house.
Soon after their departure, however, the
boy succeeded in slipping his hands through
the rope with which they were tied and
then released Miss Waltz. Marion Houck
nephew of Miss Waltz, and who makes
his home with his aunt. was away Sunday
night, and knew nothing of the robbery
until he returned yesterday morning. 1t
is believed the robbers were familiar with
Mr.. Houcks habits as they remained in
the house nearly an hour. Miss Waltz had
been in the habit of keeping large sums
of money about the house, and part of
the money stolen was the proceeds Of
peaches sold last summer.
AS soon as news of the crime reached the
county officials the states attorney, with
deputy sheriff and two detectives, hurried
to the scene. Miss Waltz told the officers
that she was not able to identify any of
were tall and rather slender and the others
shorter and more heavily built No effort
will be spared to capture the criminals.
A bout fifteen years go Jacob and Daniel
Waltz, unclaS of Mss Waltz. who lived in
the sane section of the county, were robbed
of 81 SEQ. The money was buried in the
cellar, where the thieves located it.