Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-01-08
PRAISED BY A ROBBER.
An Old Mans Courage Wins the Ad-
miratfon of q HOld-Up Man.


miration of q Hold-Up Man.
II mean business; hand over that
gold or you're a dead mani" Thus
spoke a business-like looking stranger
as he thrust a pistol into the face Of
E. H. Neville, a money broker at ia
Montgomery street, at $50 o'clock yes
terday morning. Neville had just re-
turned from the safe deposit vaults
and spread out his trays with $500 In
gold for the days exchanges. :
"If it's shoot, shoot, but you get no
gold!" calmly replied Neville, as he
stood face to face with the man and
only the narrow counter between them.
Then Neville walked slowly down
few PAGES toward the little counter
gateway. The man edged along oppo-
site keeping the pistol presented full
at his victims face. AS Neville reach
ed to open the gate and come from be-
hind the barrier the man looked full at
him and with quivering lip and tremu-
lous voice said: II cannot kill man."
He lowered his weapon and turned
toward the door. Neville accompanied
him, and at the entrance extended his
hand. The stranger gripped it warmly,
and then said: Don't follow me-"
IT will not" was Neville's assurance.
And the stranger. passed out and dis
appeared along the sidewalk in front
Of the Occidental hotel.
II could have Summoned the police"
exclaimed Neville, after he had been
pressed for an accurate detailed ac-
count of the affair, but the man had
every appearance Of being a gentle
man. He uttered no coarse word while
in the place. He came and started
talking about the price Of English SOW
ereigns, and I supposed he had come
with Some to sell. Then he suddenly
drew his pistol, small, nickeled one.
He was no ordinary criminal. He ap-
peared to be about IS years Of age,
about medium height and wore plain
business suit and short, dark, rather
curly beard"
But this Is not the most remarkable
part Of the affair. The attempted rob-
ber wrote a letter expressing his graf
itude and thanking Neville for having
prevented him from committing a
crime. It was with much reluctance
that the money broker, who is 72 years
old and an active and much younger
looking little man, would consent to the
publication Of the letter. He declared
that it was altogether too laudatory
Of his simple act Of resistance, merely
the fevered expression Of gratitude
from a man laboring under strong feel
ing, and that he did not purpose to
pose as hero. This is the letter, writ
ten in pencil on plain cheap paper,
within the hour Of the attempted rob-
berry and posted in the regular way:
"CITY, 9 a. m.-Mr. Neville. Broker
Dear Sir: wish without delay to thank
you for the magnificent display of
physical and moral courage which
saved to you your money and at the
same time saved me from what I now
see would have been disturbing men,
ory through life had my plans been
successful.
IT entered your place fully intend
ing to get money or die endeavoring.
I looked for resistance and should have
fought my way out. reserving the last
shot for myself; but your kind Of re-
sistance was something I never dream
ed of. I did not believe that that kind
of courage existed outside Of fiction.
I am glad I have met with brave man.
I could have killed a coward, and
would have died fighting had you
drawn a weapon or made an outcry.
Your calm courage in defence of a
principle Il don't for a moment believe
it was for the sake Of the money! dis
armed me. I might have taken my
own worthless life, and may yet, but
I honor a brave man. The names Of
military and naval officers are heralded
to all the world for acts which would
not compare with yours as demon
stration of courage, physical and
moral.
"As to myself. no one can know the
torture I have experienced. seeing
little home slipping away by mort
gage, my dear ones suffering actual
hunger, at times sickness. death and
poverty all around me. Made desper-
ate by failure to secure a situation. I
have brooded over my troubles till you
know the result.
II have destroyed every evidence of
identity on my person, and should I be
apprehended the coroner and not the
sheriff will officiate. I have at last met
that rarest of creatures, brave man.
salute you"
IL feel sincerely sorry for that man."
added Neville, land 1 wish you would
say that If he will call on me in con-
tidence, believing his statement as
do, I'll try to help him. Fran
cisco Chronicle.