Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-07
BRAVE GIRL
FIGHTS DUEL
WITH ROBBER
CHILD WOUNDED DURING RUN
MING BATTLE
BULLET PASSES THROUGH THE
BURGLARS HAT
Young Woman Shows She Has Not
Forgotten Eeary Training on
Uncle's Ranch-Man
Eludes Arrest

burglar and Miss Claribel Otto, the 90
year-old niece of Edward Otto, 151t
South Hoover street, last night dozen
shots were interchanged by the burg
lar and the plucky young woman, and
Lida Mcdonald, a 10-year-old girl, was
struck and wounded by a spent bullet
The pistol battle was a sensational
one, and for nearly a blocl Claribel
OTTO followed the escaping burglar.
She fired two shots to his one in the
interchange and only desisted in her
pursuit of the man when the screams
of the wounded child came to her ears.
The moment she head the cry of pain
from the little one she threw aside her
revolver and ran to the side of the
child and allowed the burglar to escape
without further check.
Edward Otto is a retired stock raiser
from Texas and his nieces Claribel and
Ida May Otto, were raised by him on a
mammoth cattle ranch. There they
learned 10 ride and shoot. Some years
ago the family removed to Los Angeles
and took up their residence in the
handsome home at 1915 South Hoover
street.
Yesterday afternoon shortly after 5
o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Otto with Miss
Claribel and Ida May left the house in
All automobile driven by j. NJ. Sander
son, their chauffeur.
Party Returns Home
The trip they took was but short
one, and at 6:15 o'clock the big touring
car glided up in front of the house on
the return and Mrs. Otto and Claribel
alighted from the machine and walked
around to the rear of the house with
the intention of entering the rear door.
AS Mrs. Otto walked on the porch
she noticed the form of man hastily
pass the window. She felt sure the
man had seen her but did not wish him
to know he had been observed, so in a
natural tone of voice she called to her
niece Claribel to come to her as she
wished to send her on an errand.
The young woman came up on the
tone Mrs. Otto remarked, "go over to
Mrs. Browns and ask her to come over
and play cards after dinner" Then in
a quick whisper she said, there is a
man in the house."
The young woman instantly realized
the situation and cody remarking, "all
right" ran across the open lawn be-
tween the Otto residence and that of
Mrs. II. Brown at 1917 Hoover street
Entering the back door of the Brown
residence she exclaimed where does
Mr.. Brown keep his pistols, there is a
burglar in our house? Don't make
noise or you will alarm him." she said,
'only give me the pistols quick"
Goes After Burglar
Two big Colts revolvers were handed
her, and only looking to see if they
were loaded she darted out of the
house.
In the meantime Mr.. Otto and Ida
May had Joined Mrs. Otto on the back
porch. and seeing the man in the party
the burglar thought he was trapped
He opened the kitchen door and
stepped to the porch with revolver
pointed at them.
Throw up your hands," he yelled,
and as the man and the two women
elevated their hands at his command
he backed down off the step and
around the house to the driveway.
He was leaving with his pistol
pointed toward the three people on the
porch when Claribel Otto came from
the rear door Of the Brown residence
with a revolver in each hand.
AS she saw the retreating burglar
with extended pistol she stepped from
the porch, and raising one of her pistols
took deliberate aim and fired.
His hat raised a bit from his head
and tilted to one side. Seeing that she
had not hit him the young woman fred
second shot, but this one flew wide.
The fellow then turned his gun on
her and fired, the bullet whistling by
iiNl NetIs
Advances on Burglar
Throw down your gun or I'll kill
you" she cried, and continuing to adj
vance she fired again. The man shifted
his revolver to his other hand and fired
a second shot and then turned and
ran with Miss Otto after him. As
he sped down the block he turned and
fired at his pun suer, and still running
after him as fast as possible the young
woman fired again and again.
AS the lsst shot was fired little girl,
who was<playing on the sidewalk near
Sixteeyth street, gave a scream of pain
and fell to the sidewalk.
AS she heard the childs cry Miss
QUO turned to Sanderson, the chauf- |
feuf, who came up behind her, and
putting the pistols in his hands cried |
to the side of the child, which lay on
the sidewalk screaming with pain and
fright
The little girl was Ida Mcdonald,
who resides at 1927 South Hoover
street and who was playing in front of
her nome MISS Otto picked her up |
and hurried her into the house. where |
an examination was made of her
wound.
1t was found a spent ball which had
glanced from the sidewalk had struck
her in the fleshy part of her left hand
near the base of the little finger. in
ficting a slight, although painful. |
wound. Medical attention was called |
for her.
Takes Up Chase
In the meantime Sanderson had taken
up the chase Of the fleeing burglar but
because of the fact that tho street was
by this time full of people he fired no 4
shots and Re burglar having gained
Continued ON page two) !