The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-02
BY BLACK ROBBERS
MRS. w. b. SEEsKIND AND MRS.
ID. a. WEBS WE'RE HELD UP.
LURED INTO LONELY ROAD
SURROUNDED AND THEIR MONEY
TAKEN BY FOUR BURLY
NEGROES.

After Being Forced to Promise
Not to TeII-Their JeweIry Not
Taken-Ladies Were Driving to
Hermitage and Lost Their Way
on the Louisville ROnd-Directed
Into side Road by IA Negro who
Disappeared just Before Robbers
showed Up-Ten Dollars and Fiji
teen Cents All They Had-POIice
at Work on the Case.
Held up and robbed by four negroes,
was the experience of Mrs. W. B.
Seeskind and Mrs. David A. Weis yes
1erday afternoon, just off the Louis
willie road, a few miles west of the
city.
The ladies left the De Soto about
visit the Hermitage. Being unfamiliar
with the way, they drove straight out
the Louisville road possibly six or
seven miles, and being in doubt as to
the road, asked for information of
negro whom they overlook.
I'm gSsine dere myself" he said,
and added that he would show them
the way, but suggested that inasmuch
as their horse was faster than his
mule they drive ahead and he
would "holler" when they came to the
Hermitage turmoil. In good faith Mrs.
Seeskind, who was driving. followed
directions, and a little later the negro
''hollered" for her to turn, which she
did, entering rough road where any
pace faster than a walk was impos-
sible.
She drove a short distance. and, be-
ing satisfied that there was a mistake
about the road, turned to ask the ne
gro, but negro, mule and wagon had
disappeared.
Surrounded by Robbers.
Before her first surprise was over
another and much more disagreeable
one was thrust on her. Four negroes
jumped from the thick brush along
the roadside one of them caught
her horse by the bride, and the others
surrounded the buggy.
Frightened at the aspect of the ne
groes and their threatening movements,
most ladies would have lost their pres
ence of mind, but Mrs. Seeskind, con-
cealing her fear as best she could, de-
manded:
What do you want?"
Neither of the men answered. They
looked from one to the other, each ex-
pecting the other to act as spokes-
man.
L know who you are" said Mrs
Seeskind, boldly land I will have
every one of you arrested before night"
The threat of arrest brought to one
of the men the use, of his tongue. and
he replied rs dat so" Then, step
ping closer to the buggy, 1--WE want
your money" he said.
IF we give you our money will you
let us go?" demanded Mrs. Seeskind |
yes" responded the spokesman of
the negroes, who said they would be
satisfied.
Gave Tn Their Money.
Under such circumstances Mrs.
Seeskind felt that they would have
cause for congratulation TO get out of
so dangerous a position with the loss
of nothing more than the ready cash
they had and both ladies handed out
TO the negro who had made the de-
mand all they possessed. Mrs. Sees
kind gave up $40 bill and Mrs Weis
Is cents and two postage stamps.
When the transfer had been made
the negro announced, you kin turn
round now and go, but" and there
was menace in his voice. don't you
tell The buggy was turned and the
trip back to the main road and safety
begun. but it was a trip of torture to
the ladies for the bad road made it
impossible to drive faster than a walk
and there was the fear that the ne
g,rces might change their minds about
letting them go at all
Il had a horrible fear" said
Mrs. Seeskind, in relating her
experience, that we might both
be murdered. The place was
lonesome enough and the men looked
like brutes capable of doing it."
No time was lost in getting back to
the city, once the main road was
reached and the matter was at once
reported to MIR. Seesknd and later to
Chief of Police Garfunkel and Detec-
live Murphy.
WOuIdn't Take JeweIry.
Mrs. Seeskind though she acted
bravely i'll the face of the danger be
gan to feel the effect of the shock
after it was over. Mrs. Weis gave
way to tears when the negroes first
made their appearance. Both of the
ladies wore valuable jewelry. Had
the negroes insisted on having the
jewels, too, the loss would have been
a heavy one
As this jewely could not have been
passed unnoticed it is thought that the
negroes were too shrewd to take any
thing that could be converted into
cash without danger of detection and
subsequent punishment and had no de-
sire 10 have about them anything that
might incriminate the possessor should
he be picked up.
because of the shock and excitement
OF the hold-up neither Mrs Seeskind
nor Mrs. Weis were sure that she could
identity the men. They agree. how
ever, that they We're large, husky men
apparently of the country, their faces
betraying the roughening influences of
exposure.
As to the negro who led them into
the trap Mrs. Seeskind is quite posi-
tive that she could identify him. and
she thinks she would also recognize tho
rig he drove. a rickety wagon with
Wobbly wheels, and old patched har-
ness with plough lines for reins.
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