The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-03-06
WOMAN ATTACKED AND ROBBED
Probably in Dying Condition.; Nearly
$4,000 Gone.


Mills, wife of wealthy land owner OF
San Antonio, Tex, to-day lies under
the care of physicians at an Evans
ton, ILL.,, hospital after having lost or
been robbed of about s43,5OO in that
city Saturday night. Mrs. Mills IS
suffering from wound in the back
of her head, but is uncertain whether
she was felled by blow ano robbed,
or whether she tainted and sustained
the injury by fall to the sidewalks.
1T is one of the strangest stories
that ever came to my attention, said
Chief of Police Shaffer, of Evanston,
tonight. There seems to be about
six different mysteries THAT have to
be solved instead of one"
According to information obtained
by police, Mrs. Mills came to Chica-
20 from San Antonio less than
week ago and registered at leading
hotel. Shortly before noon Saturday
she is supposed to have drawn s45,-
900 from bank, and, on returning
to the hotel, to have given the money
into the care of the cashier, receiv-
ing a receipt therefor.
Carried Money in Handbag.
When she returned for the money
a short time later, it is said, she dis
covered that she had lost the receipt,
but as she had made herself known to
the cashier, she succeeded in getting
the money back without trouble. In
the afternoon she went to Evanston
to attend a dinner at the home of a
friend, carrying the $4,000 in
large brown handbag, part of it be-
ing in a smaller purse inside the
larger bag.
After the dinner Mrs. Mills started
back to Chicago, but on the way open
ed the handbag and discovered that
the smaller purse was missing. She
returned to Evanston, missed her
way, and at $50 p. m. was seen
walking by a policeman, whom she
did not accost.
What happened during the next
hour is not known. At 1880 she
to a strangers door and
asked for assistance. A physician
and her friends were summoned. The
latter discovered the smaller purse,
containing $3.50, at their home.
Later the handbag was found on the
sidewalk opened and the money miss
ing.
What Puzzles Police.
The police are unable to under
stand why Mrs. Mills rode beyond
her station on her return to Evans
ton and why the scene of her mishap
should have been several blocks
from the house at which she applied
for aid. That she had money was
established by eye-witnesses. A
theory is that Mrs. Mills was dazed
by a fall and wandered away without
looking for her handbag, which was
afterward found and rifed. .
1t was said at. the hospital that
Mrs. Mills is suffering from concus-
sion of the brain and that her condi-
ton is serious. She is also Ill from
exposure. A physician in attendance
upon Mrs. Mills, after a consultation
with the police tonight, issued the
following statement:
1--WE are all practically satisfied
now that Mrs. Mills could not have
suffered the wound in her head from
a fall. The injury unquestionably
was caused by a blow with a sand
bag or other blunt weapon. She is
suffering from conclusion of the
brain and her condition is serious.
She may not live "a hours"
When found Mrs. Mills had in her
possession about $50, a revolver,
three diamond rings and a gold
watch. 1t was said by her friends
that she was an associate of her hus-
band in selling lands in the west,
was in the habit of carrying large
sums of money and also a revolver to
protect herself. 1t was asserted that
large red light in front of the
house, at which she applied for aid,
led her there and that unfamiliarlty
with the locality caused her to miss
her station. The fact that her rail-
road ticket to the South was IN the
small purse she left at Evanston ex-
planned her hurried return, accord
ing to friends.
Both Real Estate Dealers.
San Antonio, Tex, March e.
Mrs. E. w. Mills is the wife of a