The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-10-16
Te1enhone Girl Attacked

Miss Helen Arnold, pretty and pOpu
lar night operator at the telephone ex
change in Beverly, had a narrow escape
from the clutches of villain Saturday
morning about o'clock, an hour or two
prior to being relieved from duty by an.
other operator. Only her bravery and re-
sourceful tact prevailed where muscular
strength would haye failed, for Miss Ar
mold is a girl of slight build
The telephone exchange is situated on
the second floor of large Warren street
pharmacy building, on the main through
fare of the town.
Running by the side of window is a
telephone pole, by which one could climb
and find easy access into the room, where
from 10 O'Clock at night to o'clock A. M.
only one girl operator is employed Miss
Arnold has filled this capacity for num-
Der of months. AS the calls had been
very few Miss Arnold lay down on couch
and in few minutes was DOING. She
could not have taken more than ten min
ute nap, when chilly draught awakened
n6r Win nervous SCarL.
Turning she saw masked man. That
his intentions were criminal may be
gathered from the fact that there is no
money to be taken from the room, while
the furnishings are scarce She gave a
frightened scream, whepeupon the ruffan
wrestled with her and attempted to throw
over her head sheet saturated with chlor-
oform. But by her agility and quickness
she managed to evade his attacks.
The girl had purpose in view, and was
quick-witted enough not to let the in
truder surmise her intentions. and that
was to reach the telephone stand and call
for help. With dexterity she finally got
the villain away from near the telephone
apparatus, although all the time with de-
termined and superhuman effort retaining
her courage. When the coast was clear
she made a rush for the receiver
One of the company's representatives,
Mr.. Brown, boarding nearly directly OPP
posite. was fortunately awake at the hour
of A, and heard the telephone bell ringing
vigorously. He hurriedly asked the cause
of this unusual call at such an odd hour
of the morning, fearing that something
was wrong. His fears were not idle
thoughts, for he could family hear the
words
Hurry, hurry; come to the exchange.
1t was a matter of seconds before he was
running across the street to the exchange,
and was surprised to hear the story when
admitted by Miss Arnold, who apprised
him of the fact that there was no danger
now. While the girl was telephoning the
villain made another unsuccessful effort
to grab her, but she cleverly talked
through the phone, giving out the impress
sion that she was talking to some one.
when in reality she was not sure whether
she was heard and naturally had to stay
face to face with the villain on her nerve,
as there was no possibilities of escaping.
Evidently the man was foiled by the
clever ruse, and climbed out of the win
dow and descended to the ground and
safely made his escape.
Miss Arnold appears none the worse for
her experience, although she can not give
a minute description of the man because
the face was masked, more than that he
was evidently young and medium built,
and did not say a word 1t is believed
that some one acquainted with the build
ing, and no doubt resident of the city, is
the guilty party.