The Detroit times., 1910-11-18
WOMAN DRUGGED
ON Street AND
ROBBED OF $500
Mrs. Alta Van Deventer Attacked
Just After Leaving Boarding House
and Gagged With Handkerchief
Saturated With Chloroform.
Footpad Slashes Clothing and Secures
Money Which Was Sewed Inside
Dress.

Mrs. Alta Van Deventer, As years
old, living in Mt Morris. \. y, and
boarding at the home OF Mrs. c. u.
Lillibridge, No. So Winderst., was at
tackled by a highwayman, gagged with
a handkerchief saturated with chloro'
form, and robbed OF S70O, which she
had wrapped up In a handkerchief and
pinned to her waist beneath her cor
set, about $3.50 o'clock Wednesday
night.
She was waylaid just after leaving
the Lillibridge home, on her way TO
n mail box with letter she was send
ing to her son. Carl Shepard, barber,
In Hornell, y. Y. The assailant
grabbed her as she was passing va.
cant lot, dragged ner from the side.
walk and viciously went TO work at
ripping her clothes from her waist,
evidently knowing that she had the
roll OF bills concealed within After
getting the money. the robber left
Mrs. Van Deventer unconscious on the
ground. She was found some hours
later and taken TO ST. Mary's hospital
In the police ambulance. Her breast
was covered with scratches, made by
the robber in wrestling the money
from her clothing.
The police believed that Mrs. Van
Deventer had tried to commit suicide,
because OF the odor of chloroform
which came from her. but DR.. Ross
Hamilton, house surgeon in St Mary's
hospital. found that she had taken
no poison. He pumped out her stom-
ach and found no trace of a drug OF
any kind He smelled chloroform on
her. however, but is or the opinion
that the drug was on her face, the
result of the handkerchief being
stuffed into her mouth by her assaii
ant.
please deny the report that tried
10 commit suicide" tearfully pleaded
Mrs. Van Deventer with The Times
when seen on her cot in ST. Mary 5
hospital, Thursday morning. II made
no attempt on my life; | had no rea-
son 10 do that. was attacked by a
robber. a large man. just after ! LETT
the LiIlibridge house. where nave
been rooming since week ago Wed
nesday. when | came here from my
home in Mt. Morris, n. Y, TO receive
a payment Of 1852 in connection with
the sale OF some of my property IN
Newaygo county. Mich.
ct saw a man crouching behind a
tree inst as left the Lilhbridge
house. l was afraid and turned back
I remained on the steps for a few
minutes and then, thinking the Fellow
had gone. I went out again. AS
reached the vacant lot, was grabbed
and pulIed on the sidewalk. The man
stuffed the handkerchief INTO my
mouth lust as | started to yell he
also pulled a revolver on me. then
seemed to lose my senses. and | re-
membered nothing more until ] woke
up In the hospital.
sThe money lost was paid TO me
by Otis l.. Glisbery, Grand Rapids
attorney, who sold the property in
Newaygo county, for me. II was last
Wednesday that ! received II. Mr.
Glisbery was on his way out west
when he handed over the money 70
me. I met him here by arrangement
TOR the purpose of getting the pay
menf. He left for the west as soon
M the money was paid over. The
property he sold for me was left to
me by my father, George W. Bern.
hardt, who died two years ago in
Tuscarora village, n. Y, eight miles
from Mt Morris.
when / came here. a week ago
last Tuesday, was a perfect
stranger. II was night when I ar
rived and / went TO the police for d.
rections as to where 20 stay. They
sent me TO the Y. W. G. A. and these
people recommended the Lillibridge
home to me. 7 had 1892 with me
when I came, but most OF that has
been used for expenses. ] am sure
nobody knew ! had the money con-
Eealed beneath my corsets, and can.
not see how that assailant knew
where to find It,
IN addition 10 having the. money
pinned to her waist, Mrs. Van Deven.
ter also attached the following note:
II am Mrs. Alta Van Deventer, of Nj.
Morris. Livingstone county. New
York. My Detroit address is No 81
Winder-st., where live with Mrs. Lii.
bridge
Mrs. Van Deventer SAYS that she
always keeps her name and address
concealed about her when she Is in a
strange place. so that her identity will
% known should anything happen TO
her.
Mrs. Van Deventer is short.
plump little woman, and looks mucn
younger than As. She is now a
widow having buried her second hu9
band, Chauncey Albert Van Deventer
two years ago. Her first husband
name was Shepard. by whom she had
three children. One of them Is tho
son I'm Hornell, N. Y. while an
other is willard c. Shepard. "a years
old, student in the Art institute. Chi
cago. Her first husband died % years
ago. For some time Mrs Van Devon
ter has been following the occupai .ol
or private nurse
Mrs. Van Deventers father GeOrR,
w Bernhardt. was a third cousin u
sarah Bernhardt, the celebrated az
tress. now in Detroit. Mrs. Van De
,enter secured three seats in a bol
FOR tonight's performance hayiul
plannod to take Mr.. and Mrs. Liz
bridge with her.