The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
ROBBERS VICTIM
FIGHTS FOR LIFE
Daylight Thug FIees When Mer-
chant Grabs Pistol, but Is
Run Down by Crowd

In a desperate attempt to rob the
jewelry store of Sig Hurtig. at 2216
Mission street, Louis Schultz, a hard
ened ex-convict, tried to fell the pro-
prietor of the store with a huge iron
bar in broad daylight yesterday after
noon. Almost by miracle the muir
derous blow glanced and, though badly
wounded, Hurtig whirled around and
reached for a revolver on a nearby
shelf. The thug saw the move and
struck again and again across the
counter at his victim. Blinded by blood,
Hurtig instinctively found the weapon,
but as soon as he got it In his grasp
the thug took to his heels.
CROWD TAKES UP CHASE
Hurtig dashed to the door, the blood
streaming down his face. Spectators
in the street took in the situation at a
glance and pursued the fleeing robber.
After an exciting chase from the scene
of the crime to a vacant lot at Nine
teenth and Howard streets the thug
was captured.
Hurtig's escape from death was won
derful, said the doctors at St. Luke's
hospital, where he was treated
Jack Peacock, a bar tender in the
Mayfield saloon at Eighteenth and Mis-
sion streets. was one of those who
started after Schultz. Overtaking the
crook, a hand to hand struggle fol-
lowed, in which Schultz pulled a 80
caliber revolver and attempted to kill
his assailant He failed in this, but
broke away and ran to Nineteenth and
Howard street, where he backed into a
vacant lot, menacing his pursuers with
the gun. Special Policemen NJ NJ Jack
7 Il Il
of the crowd, rushed 10 the spot and
covered Schultz with their revoIvers.
The desperate Immediately surrendered
CRIME WELL PLANNED
The robbery and assault were both
carefully planned, Schultz apparently
intending to kill or fell Hurtig and
then, with the jeweler on the floor and
out of sight behind the counter, loot
the store and the SAFE
Schultz entered the store last Thurs
day and picked out a gold chain and
locket. which he pretended he wished
to purchase. He left the store, stating
that he would return the next day,
which he did, but, finding another in
the store with Hurtig, left.
Schultz returned again yesterday
afternoon at about 1 o'clock and once
more pretended to examine the chain
and locket. He told Hurtig that he
wished to have a diamond set in the
locket and was shown a diamond
worth about $40. Then leaning over
the showcase Schultz said:
See, 1 want it set in this way"
Hurtig bent over to watch the d.
rections, but noted sudden move on
Schultz part and drew back 1t was
then that the crook swung across the
showcase with the bar, but Hurtig's
move, though slight, caused the blow
to glance and saved his life. The iron
struck and smashed the showcase.
THUG STRIKES AGAIN
Despite the stunning effect of the
blow, Hurtig remained conscious and
backed further away, whereupon
Schultz reached across the showcase
again and struck Hurtig several more
blows on the head. Reaching toward
the shelf Hurtig grabbed his revolver.
whereupon Schultz ran out of the store
and up the street. In backing away
Hurtig grabbed the diamond
Sixteen stitches were taken in Hur-
tig's wound at st. Luke's hospital and
it was found that in addition to the
main wound he was suffering from
several minor scalp injuries.
Schultz, who is a native of Sweden.
was released from Folsom December g.
having been sentenced May 8, 1905. to
five years for burglary committed sin
@SS AH6SAcS. AoSAoA1N' dL TIE age OF Is,
was arrested in San Francisco Octo-
Der 5, 1904, together with Edward
Long. Both were charged with bur-
glary. They were sentenced to one
year in the old county Jail, but Schultz
escaped March 4. 1905, and went to
Los Angeles. When arrested Schultz
was taken to the Seventeenth street
station and booked on the charges of
robbery and assault to murder 1t was
discovered that he wore the same
clothes given him on his release from
Folsom. Letters on his person from
that prison revealed his identity.