DUEL IN A LIFT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11847, 31 May 1919, Page 6

DUEL IN A LIFT.

A revolver duel between three robbers and two cashiers in a rapidly moving’ lift—for the possession of £460, contained in pay-envelope, took place in a “syk-scraper” in Lafayette Street, New York. My Frederick Pabst, the • cashier for Mers Brokaw Brothers, a famous New York clothing firm, and his assistant, Mr Charle Baffler, entered the skyscrakper just before 11 a.m., Mr Baffler carrying a cardboard box wrapped in newspapers to conceal a sheaf of envelopes with the weekly pay for the tailors in the building. The two men stepped into the front lift of the building, and the action began with the enhance into the same lift, at the last moment, of three stocky gentlemen, wearing caps. The stocky gentlemen edged near Mr Baffler and his box, and Mr Pabst, a man of 54 became uneasy. As the fifth floor was being passed the three ,at a mutual signal, drew and levelled revolvers at the tw r o cashiers, the leader shouting, “Up go your hands, or we’ll put a bullet through you. ’ ’ For answer Mr Baffler crouched into a corner, and only hugged his precious box the tighter, shielding it with his body. Mr Pabst threw up his hands, but with the same motion pulled out an automatic revolver and fired point blank at the nearest of the band. One of the robbers fired back; then, leaping on him, beat him into un consciousness. JAt the eighth floor Abe Blackberg, the liftman, took a hand in the game, and during an especially sharp exchange of shots, gripped the control of the lift, stopped the cage, and flung open the door. The robbers thoroughly alarmed and surprised at the resistance offered, took advantage of the opportunity to dash out of the lift, and with their weapons forced an exist through tho offices of a printing firm, and so down a rear flight of stairs to the third floor offices of a patent coin-counting concern. There Miss Josephine Ehuby, a girl of 20, bravely confronted the men. One of them picked her up and flung her aside. The robbers, however, were now faced by a locked fire-escape door of steel, but at the point of their revolvers they forced an employee to open it, and dashed down the escape to the street and freedom. While the trio were going down the fire escapes, employees dropped ink bottles and several chairs but the missies missed their aim. Through the whole affray Baffler tightly held to the pay-roll money which was found to be intact. The attempted robbery took place within two blocks of police headquarters, and was the most audacious reported in New York for many mouths.