Evening star., 1950-03-03
Bandits Sought
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Tying I Women
Mrs. Melvin Ottenberq
Loses ST, 300 in Rings
At Point of Gun

Loses 81 300 in Rings
At Point Of Gun
Police were searching today for
two "soft-spoken" men who en-
tered a Sixteenth street home on
ruse and at gunpoint robbed a
housewife of two diamond rings
valued at $1,000.
Mrs. Florence Gutenberg, 38, of
1921 Sixteenth street NV, told
police the men, who had gained
entrance by pretending they were
delivering a package, tied both
her and her maid to chairs with
some of her husbands neckties.
They also made off with SIS in
cash from Mrs. Gutenberg S
pocketbook. All the while her
two children slept serenely in a
room nearby.
Mrs. Gutenberg. whose husband
Melvin operates Ottenberg's Bak-
ers. Inc, at 1881 Morse street
NE, said she was in the kitchen
about $3.50 pm. yesterday when
she heard a knock on the door.
The maid, Mrs. Eleanor Carter,
35, colored, of 1921 Kalorama
street NV, was working in the
basement.
Saw Man With Package.
Il saw a man standing there
with a large package" Mrs. Ot-
tenberg related, land opened the
door to let him in"
Her parentS-in-law, she ex-
planned, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Ot-
tenberg, celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary Sunday, and
packages were arriving all the
time" The elder Ottenbergs also
live at the Sixteenth street ad-
dress, but both were absent. The
elder Mr.. Gutenberg owns the
bakery.
After she opened the door, Mrs.
Gutenberg turned back to close
the kitchen door on her bull ter
rier, which Jumps at strangers, -
so he wouldn't molest the de
liveryman." Then she turned
around.
Il saw him standing there with
a gun in his hand" she said. II
was so surprised I don't think
/ thought at ALL
The man then politely told me
to sit down" Mrs. Gutenberg
complied.
Second Man Enters.
Where do you keep your
money!" the man asked pleas
antly.
Mrs. Gutenberg told him she
had none. except what's in my
pocketbook" She also noted that
a second man had entered.
The man with the gun took
about SIS from her purse which
was hanging on the wall nearby,
and made me hold out my
hands" He then removed her
wedding ring, encrusted with eight
small diamonds. and her engage
ment ring, which bears three
carat stone and had belonged to
her husbands grandmother.
The pair forced the woman up
stairs to her second-f1oor bedroom
and tied her to a chair with some
Of her husbands neckties. Soon
afterward, while the men were
rummaging through drawers, the
maid entered the room.
Pointing the gun at her. the
first man also directed the maid
to chair and tied her with some
more neckties.
Are you expecting anyone
home soon?" the first man in
quired. Although her husband
was out of town, Mrs. Gutenberg
said he was due home at any time
In an adjoining bedroom, TAX
ing their afternoon nap, were Mrs
Ottenberg's two small children,
Ray, 8, and Lee, 2.
They (the mem assured me
they wouldn't bother the chill
dren," Mrs Gutenberg said. How
ever, presently one of the boys
awakened and began calling to
his mother.
II told him I was lying down" "
Mrs. Gutenberg recalled.
The men, who had been in the
house about 20 minutes, then went
downstairs and left, taking their
package with them.
II was tied very loosely" Mrs.
Gutenberg related, land was able
to get out easily" She then un-
tied the maid and called police.
The bandits were described In
a police lookout as follows: No. /,
the gunman, about six feet tall,
180 pounds, dressed in a red and
blue mackinaw and brown hat;
No. 2 about five feet 10 inches,
180 pounds, wearing a dark blue
overcoat.