The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-17
ROBBERS m An AUTOMOBILE
GIVE 4 MAN KNOCKOUT DROPS
AND BREAK 4 SAFE.


Lone Island sIeuths Looking for Party OF
Three Crooks Who Got Away With n
Farmers 1000 and Poisoned His
81. Hired Man on the Jericho Turnpike.
MINRoLA, l.. L.. June 16.-The home OF
Charles Oswald, on the Jericho turnpike
east Of Krug's Corner. along the level
, stretch between this place and Westbury.
where the automobiles make their fastest
tine in the Vanderbilt races, was the scene
Of a bold holdup and robbery this fore
? noon.
Oswald lives not far from some OF the
wealthy people who make their homes
In and about Westbury. When he returned
this moor after church he found his farm
hand, Herman Schwerter. bound. gagged
and unconscious on the floor His safe
had been broken open and about 81 900 IN
: cash and some iewelry we're gone. The rob-
hers are supposed to have gone TO the house
in a red automobile and departed in the
machine after the robbery.
Mr.. Oswald and his mother started from
the farmhouse a little before 10 O'Clock
to drive to church. Schwerter was left
10 charge. He wanted TO write a letter
to his folks in Europe and he was rovided
with writing materials in the house.
Midway between his house and Krug's Cor
ner Mr.. Oswald saw a red automobile and
three men standing at the side OF the road,
and two Of the men apparently were trying
TO adjust something under the hood, Oswald
paid no particular attention to them, but says
they we're all dressed in dark clothing and
wore caps. The machine was one of the
kind with two seats in front and one behind.
1t was low lying and had a long chassis.
When Mr.. Oswald and his mother reached
home and found Schwerter as described
Mr.. Oswald t]elephoned for the ambulance
from the Nassau Hospital. Then he cut
the rope with which the man was bound
and removed the cloth which had been
stuffed into his mouth,
DIR. Murray responded with the ambu-
lance and took Schwerter TO the hospital,
where it took three hours 10 revive him.
The physicians said he was suffering from
choral poisoning.
When able TO tell his story Schwerter
said he was writing his letter-the partly
finished sheet bore him out in this-when
there was a rap al the door. He responded
and found three men dressed in dark cloth
ing and wearing automobile caps on the
porch. Two of the men stepped into the
entry as he opened the door and the third
remained just outside.
Tn foremost man asked for Mr.. Oswald
and with a couple of other questions learned
that Schwerter was alone. Meanwhile the
second man had got behind Schwerter and
when in position grabbed him. As he be-
gan to choke him the other visitor forced
open ~Schwerter's lips and poured something
from a bottle into his mouth. Schwerter
says he can't remember anything else dis
tinctlv.
After rendering the man helpless and
tying him the mon went into the living
room and moved the small safe, which stood
in a corner, out into the middle of the room
Then with a pickaXe which was obtained
al the barn they broke open the back. Mr.,
Oswald had been saving the money which
they found and thought it secure in the safe
Sheriff Gildersleeve took charge of the
investigation and has several of his
deputies at work on the case. They are
earching for such a machine as that dc
.scrIbed by Oswald. for they believe The
three men he saw were the robbers. The
TACT that an automobile has been used in
a number Of burglaries in the county makes
them inclined TO this belief.
II was dark in the entry where Schwerter
encountered the burglars and he is able to
give a better description of the man who
remained outside the house during the brief
harley than of the men who laid hands on
him