New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-13
GIRL AND H|GHWAYMAN
BATTLE IN LONELY ROAD
DeSiuner of Dress Patterns Held
Up in Woods Near
Pelham Bay Park.
HATPIN is HER WEAPON
Screams Finally Brighten AS
sailant Away After He Had
Seized Her Handbag
and Watch.

ON a lonely stretch of road in the
woods between Pelham Bay Park and
the Barlow railroad station, Miss
Lillian Witzell. a designer OF dress pat
terms for a fashion magazine, was at
lacked by a man last night and thrown
10 the ground. Miss Witzell put up a
desperate battle with her assailant,
using one Of her hat pins as a weapon.
The man was finally scared off by her
screams and dashed into the woods,
disappearing in the direction Of the
Hutchinson River.
Mounted Patrolman Kennedy. of the
City Island station. aided by posse
OF men who quickly gathered, secured
the dense underbrush near the scene
of the assault, but did not succeed in
finding the highwayman Miss Witzell.
after recovering from the swoon which
had overpowered her. insisted upon
continuing TO her home at No. 723
wavman had stolen her silver mesh
bag. containing some change. and her
watch.
Miss witzell Is twenty-one years old
and lives with her father at the Eagle
avenue address. Above the average in
height she weighs about $50 pounds
and is an athlete.
For the last three weeks Miss Witzell
has been staying with her brother
Martin and some friends, who have
camp in Tent City. on the shores OF
Pelham Bay. Rowing, swimming and
other forms Of exercise have given Miss
Witzell unusual strength and agility,
and Il is because Of this she succeeded
IN escaping from the man who held her
up.
The young woman decided last night
she would go to her fathers home 10
look over some of her work. She left
the camp about Z o'clock. accompanied
by her brother, who went part Of the
way with her. After her brother had
turned back Miss Witzell struck out
through the woods at rapid pace.
She was within few hundred yards OF
Pelham Parkway, a favorite speedway
for automobiles, when a man sprang
from clump Of bushes and leaped
upon her, fastening his fingers around
her throat
The man and the girl struggled
silently for several moments without
either being able to gain an advantage.
Then the highwayman, resting his en-
tire weight on Miss Witzell, bore her
10 the ground, at the same time beat
ing her fiercely with his fists. The girl
managed TO pull out one Of her hatpins
and iabbed at her assailant several
times. but he still retained his grip
about her throat.
Thinking 10 deceive the man, Miss
Witzell then feigned unconsciousness
and Law quite still in the roadway. The
hiehwayman, after securing her hand
bag and ripping her white SILK shirt
waist in his efforts 10 tear the watch
from Miss Witzelrs bosom, again
grabbed her by the throat.
Rendered desperate. Miss Witzell
rose to her feet and fought furiously
with the man, striking him again and
again and wrestling him off his teet'
As soon as he could jump up the fell
low dashed off through the woods,
while Miss Witzell. unnerved by the
experience she had undergone, swooned
and fell TO the ground.
Sidney Meyer, private detective, OF
No. 2460 Seventh avenue, Manhattan,
and Miss Pauline Seidermann, Of No.
~ East 10th street, heard Miss Wit
zeu's screams, ran up and helped revive
her. Almost at the same time Kennedy
galloped up.
Two grocery clerks told Kennedy they
had seen a man running through the
woods toward the railroad tracks Inn
mediately after the attack upon Miss
WHEEL. The police are now looking for