Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-11-06
FIVE R0BBERIES
WITH NO ARRESTS
BOLD HIGHWAYMEN HAVE MERRY
TIME IN MILWAUKEE DURING
FORTNIGHT.
SALOON HELD UP ON MONDAY.
Thug Beats Physician on Head and Locks
Him IN Icebox-Escapes with
$50 Watch.


MILWAUKEE, Wis, Nov. s.
Five daring hold-Ups, in which revol-
vers were flashed to cove unwilling vic
tins, and where one was shot when re
sisting robbery, is the record of highway
men in Milwaukee in the last two weeks.
During this time little trace has been
secured to the robbers. although the
manner of escape on bicycles, has been
the same IN several cases. The method
Of attack, the flash Of a big revolver and
a threat of death, if a word is spoken,
also has been almost identical.
Monday night the robbers varied their
style of attack and robbery, by holding
up the saloon of Charles Messing, 931
Center street, and relieving DR.. Charles
Sonneman, 929 Center street, of a watch
valued at $50. In the battle to secure
possession Of the timepiece, the high
Wayman forced DR.. SOnneman into the
ice box. and also beat the fighting phySi-
clan over the head with the butt end
of a gun.
Attacks Dr.. Sonneman.
William Leharke, a brother-in-law of
Messing, was in charge of the saloon
and alone, when Il young man entered
and ordered a glass of beer. Leharke
turned around with glass Of beer III one
hand, he stared directly into the barrel
Of a large caliber revolver.
Sneak over into that corner, | want
to get at the register the r0bber or
dered Leharke, and he obeyed meekly.
At this time, DR.. SOnneman dropped
into the saloon. DR.. Sonneman had no
coat The robber saw him and grabbed
the watch chain, attempting to tear it
from the vest fastening. DR.. SOnneman
struggled, and finally the roDber forced
the physician into the ice box, using the
butt end of the gun on DR., Sonneman's
head.
Leharke, recovering from fright, began
to call for help, and the rObber darted
out. Detectives secured the neighbour
hood, but were unable to secure clue
Bandit Is a "Raffles"
The highwayman is described as well
dressed, wearing not only good clothing,
but elegant attire The description given
the police TALES exactly with that of the
bandit, who held up and robbed Harry
Abrams, a salesman, at Twenty
and Cedar streets Saturday night.
DR.. Sonneman today said he treated
the entire robbery as a joke, when he
entered the saloon, and did not fully
awake to the seriousness of the affair
until the highwayman grabbed his watch
and chain, wrested them from the vest,
and darted through the door.
List of Robberies.
Following are the robberies in the last
fortnight:
October 21-JoIn Hertman, street car
conductor, held up at Eighth and Wright,
and robbed of $50. Threatened with a
knife.
October 24-John Buscher, Forty -seventh
and State streets, shot III the abdomen
near White City, while resisting robbery.
October 30-William Wenzel, 1873 Ninth
street, held up and robbed of $215 on Green
Bay road. Robbers escaped on bicycles.
October 31-IIarry Abrams 703 First ave
nue., held up near Twenty-third and Prairie
streets. Handed over $1.JO. RObber missed
gold watch and $50 bill.
November DIR. Charles Sonneman, 92Y
Center street robbed watch $50 in saloon
Of Charles Messing, 931 Center street
Unknown q Victim?
On the morning of October %, an I'M
known man was picked UP at Reed and
South Pierce streets i'll an unconscious
condition. He was suffering With Il
bruise on the head which may have been
inflicted by a robber. No solution has
been reached in this case.
At the time of the robbery Of John
Buscher, Victor Stein, 3013 Viet street,
reported to the police that he had been
by running away.
One Eighwayman Caught.
On the morning of October 10. the
Waterman and fireman at the Schuster
department store, Third and Garfield,
We're bound and gagged and the store
plundered. Oswald LentzScE. former
discharged employee, was arrested in St.
Louis and confessed the crime. Since
the flight and arrest of Lentzsch, the
robberies have continued, however.