Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-05
WOMAN WIELDS
BIG REVOLVER
TRIED TO HOLD OFFICERS AT
BAY
Mrs. Mary Buss Refuses to Allow
Deputies to Attach Roominu House
Furnture-Threatens to
Say Sheriffs

Goodhue Mrs. Mary Buss stood at
bay In the front room of her apart
ment house on East Fifth street yes
terday afternoon and dared the off,
GERS to evict her.
The woman first gained prominence
several months ago when she engaged
in quarrel with special officers from
the police department. She next came
Into notoriety by filing suit against
4 Theodore Wesendanger a prominent
Los Angeles real estate dealer, for
100000, alleging breach of promise.
In her suit for breach of promise
Mrs. Buss alleged that Weisendanger
had been paying court to her for sew
eral months and that he had promised
to marry her. She further stated that
her admirer had rented her an apart
ment house at S15 East Fifth street
and had furnished 1T for her
1t was the same apartment house
That the officers attempted to take
charge of yesterday and serve a writ
OF ejectment upon the occupants.
The owner, M. II. Collins, applied
to Sheriff White several days ago for
aid in recovering possession of his
property. Mr.. Collins swore out writ
of eiectment and yesterday morning
Deputy William Goodhue. who has
charge of the civil cases, went to the
East Fifth street house and proceeded
to serve the writ. The officer had a
keeper" with him to watch the fur
niture until legal matters could be
arranged, but upon reaching the place,
they met with trouble at the door,
way.
Calls Her Attorney
Mrs. Buss ran to a phone and called
Attorney Hutchinson, who represents
her. to her aid. The lawyer arrived
a short time later and in the meantime
Nrc had hapl1 tp11ipp thp Offi
GERS her opinion of all deputy sheriffs
in general and the ones then before
her in particular.
When Attorney Hutchison arrived
he asserted that the furniture in the
house was Mrs Buss' and that it
could not be attached. He further as
serted that the goods were bought from
= the Eastern Quitting company and
that the mortgage on them had not
yet been foreclosed.
The officers contended that the furni-
ture, valued at $4,000. was held in lease
and that a foreclosure was unneces-
Sary.
The trouble lasted until afternoon
when Deputy George Conart was sent
for. The nature of the objection had
been explained to the sheriff and when
Conart started for the place he had
orders to evict the woman bodily
He informed her of his intention
upon reaching the house and she start
ed ~ storm. Finally, when excitement
was at its highest. Mrs. Buss ran to
her room, and in a moment returned
with a big revolver. She held the
weapon behind her and walked straight
toward the officer.
When within five feet of Conart she
suddenly whirled around and placed
the muzzle within a few inches of his
face. stop that" she ordered, as one
At.N1 ,t,fN
fere.
Fails to Fire at Officer
"Now," she continued, "the first Of
ficer who attempts TO put me out of
here, l will kill, and I'll begin on you,
you - -" she said to CO.
mart.
The woman stood, held the revolver
with steady grip, while the officer
looked straight into the muzzle and
never backed an inch. From the side
Attorney Hutchison struck out with
his cane in an attempt to disarm the
woman, while he warned her of the
danger she was placing herself in by
her act.
Conart advanced a step and the wo-
man failed to fire. He tnen reached
forward and took the revolver from
her. Mrs. Buss and her attorney then
held consultation, and at its close,
Buss to pack her trunk and remove
her personal effects from the house.
This the woman refused to do ard she
was arrested and taken to the sheriff s
office. On the way to the office Mrs.
Buss brooded over her alleged troubles
so that when she reached the Jail she
was in hysterical condition.
"You can't fool this Dutchman," the
woman shouted, and then flew into Il
rage. First she turned to Under Sher-
iff Yonkin and tried to scream out her
troubles, but he ordered her to be
quiet. She then turned and caught
hold of one of the pillars in the room
and tried to shake it in her frenzy.
Seized With Hysteria
Il have never been in a place like
this before" shouted Mrs. Buss. "All
my life l have worked hard for a liV-
ling, and l have been a waitress for
mine years and that furniture belongs
Ito me, and I'll keep it or die You'll
have to kill me before you get my
things. damn you'll"
Sheriff White then appeared on the
scene and warned the woman to be
still. "Shut up!" she screamed Il
want to see the desk sergeant"
Reasoning proved of no avail, and
the Womans screams became worse
and worse. She was allowed to use
up a man, named Schmidt, at the
Scotch Tailoring company, but her
Mysteries were so continuous that
every time central attempted to get
a number from her she would emit a
shrek,
Mrs. Buss was then taken toward
the sheriffs private office. On the
way she was seized with another fit
of hysteria and attempted to tear her
clothing She tore her silk handker-
chief to pieces and then beat her fists
on the door.
She was finally ushered into the
sheriff's office and warned that her
demonstration against the officer was
a penitentiary offense, but that she
would be allowed to go free If she
promised to behave.
She continued her rawlings and left
the office cursing the officers,
During her stay at the jail the board
ing house was attached, so that when
she returned she was denied admit