The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-08
BOLD NEW YORK ROBBERY
Ernest G. W. Woerz. His Daughter
and Niece Accosted in Their Home.
ONE MAN HOLDS UP HOUSEHOLD

Forces Entrance by Front door,, Foi'
lows Maid Upstairs and at Point of
Gun Relieves Rich Brewer OF One
Hundred Dollars.
New York City.-Wearing a black
silk muller as 4 mask and waving q
revolver of large size, with which lie
threatened to shoot to kill. a man en-
tered the residence of Ernest G. w.
Woerz. No. 1 East Sixty-third street,
the other evening and "held up Mr..
Woerz and the women of his family.
He demanded money. and lett only
when Mr.. Woerz. convinced that the
man was in deadly earnest, tossed 500
in bills to him.
This daring robbery occurred at b
o'clock in the evening. Mr.. Woerzs
residence is one door from Fifth ave-
nue., within a stones throw OF the
homes of George J. and Howard
Gould, John Jacob Aston and other
men of wealth. Coming at a time
when the Police Department is under
fire for failure to protect the homes or
citizens, strict orders were given Dy
police officials to keep the robbery
quiet. Nothing was said about 1t IN
til Mr.. Woerz, finding that the detect
Ives had accomplished nothing, gave
put the story.
Mr.. Woerz is president Of the Bead
lesion & Woerz Brewing Company. In
the house at the time Of the robbery
were Mr.. Woerz. his daughter, Mrs. q.
NJ. Steele, and his niece. Miss Clara
Hoffman All but Mr.. Steele were IN
their rooms on the second floor, dress.
Ing for dinner. He was on the third
floor. and knew nothing Of the robbery.
Three women servants were also in
the house. but only one Of them, the
maid, who admitted the robber, knew
what was transporting.
The caller was we'll dressed. and as
cended the front steps without attract
ing attention. In the vestlbule he at
justed Il black silk muller to conceal
the lower half of his face. When the
maid opened the door he stepped In
side. thrusting the barrel of q revolver
into her face. and said in a low tone:
II want money, and I want it quick.
If you scream or give an alarm LII
shoot" -.
II have no money" said the maid,
shut I'll get some" And she fed up
the stairs. The man with the revol-
yer followed. At the head of the stairs
the maid tripped ore her dress and
fell.
Miss Hoffman, who was with Mrs.
Steele stepped into the hall and
looked over the balustrade just as the
maid reached the landing.
Before I could realize what was the
matter the man had stepped over the
maid and was pointing a big revolver
in my face" said Miss Hoffman. -
want money quick he said. I backed
into the room and he stood in the door
way.
MRS. Steele was in the room, and he
waved the pistol about. pointing. 1t
first at one of us and then the other.
I was frightened and stood still.
"'I've come to get some money. and
I shan't go away without it. am go
ing to. get it or kill some one. If, any
one tries to trap me I'll shoot every
one in the house. he declared.
Mrs. Steele asked how much he
wanted. All you've got said he. We
knew that Mr.. Woerz was in the front
room. so we spoke louder to attract
his attention. I started toward the
door, but the intruder ordered me
back and got between me and the door.
Just then Mr.. WOerZ came. The man
pointed the revolver at him and
backed over toward the wall, where he
could watch all of us.
''The black handkerchief slipped
down from his face and 1 had a good
look at him. He pushed it up with his
left hand.
"Mr. Woerz asked what was wanted.
Il want money, and if you don't give
it to me I'll shoot YOU said he.
"Mr. Woerz took some bills out OF
his pocket. They amounted to about
S1OO. He rolled them up and tossed
them at the burglar. The man picked
up the money and backed toward the
stairway.
Don't one of you move he said.
I'll kill any one who tries to give an
alarm
HE didn't stop to take q purse I had
in my hand, or to get any Of the jew
elry on the dresser in the next room.
but ran down the stairs. slamming the
door and ran toward Central Park. re-
moving the mask as he went out or
the house.
"Mr. Woerz then went to the tele-
phone and called up Police Headquar-