Articles Relating to Fredericksburg, Texas

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 10 No. 26
Thursday, April 26, 1917

(page 10)

BOLD DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
The most sensational hold-up to take place in Gillespie county for many years occurred about 4 miles south of Fredericksburg on the San Antonio road last Saturday morning between 10 and 11 o'clock. The robbery was committed by three deserters of the U. S. Army, who were trying to make their getaway in a stolen car. The robbery was committed on the person of a stranger by the name of Joe Bond, who was traveling through the country alone by wagon. Bond had killed a squirrel and stopped to prepare his noonday meal, when the three men in the car came upon him. They alighted from the car and after a few minutes friendly conversation during which time they examined the traveler's guns, Bond was suddenly commanded to throw up his hands, and was jabbed in the side with an automatic pistol, to emphasize the command. Seeing that they meant business Bond's hands went up in a jiffy. The robbers then tied Bond's hands behind him with a piece of light insulated wire taken from the car they were driving. The traveler was then robbed of his two guns, a .301 automatic, a .22-calibre rifle and $21.35 in cash. After being relieved of his money and guns Bond was thrown over the wire fence and marched down into a gully some distance from the main road and tied to a tree. He was told that he would be watched for a half-hour or so, and he would then be released. However, the three robbers did not lose much time, and after reaching their car, drove into Fredericksburg, believing their captor was still safely tied to the tree. After nearly on hour Bond freed himself and walked to the nearest rural telephone and informed Sheriff Ochs of the robbery.
Here is where business began to pick up. Sheriff Ochs, Deputy Morgan and State Ranger Eddie Klaerner, were soon hot on the trail of the fleeing robbers, who only stopped in Fredericksburg long enough to buy gasoline and ammunition for the stolen guns. The robbers left in the direction of Mason. When they reached Cherry Spring they purchased citizens clothes from Mr. Alfred Klingelhoefer, and a short distance up the road discarded their uniforms. The Mason officers were notified and the sheriff and a posse in two cars started towards Fredericksburg to give the visitors a warm reception. The three robbers were met six miles this side of Mason and their capture affected after a shot had been fired in front of their car. Sheriff Ochs and posse who were hot on their trail, arrived on the scene a few minutes after the three men were arrested and took charge of them, bringing the robbers back to Fredericksburg where they were lodged in jail.
Sunday morning Sheriff Ochs got in communication with the army officers in San Antonio, and the three soldiers were ordered brought to that city. One of the robbers was placed in the stolen car in the custody of Ranger Klaerner, and the other two were taken in charge by Sheriff Ochs, accompanied by his son, Eugene, age 18, who drove the car. Everything went smoothly until a few miles this side of Boerne, when the car driven by Ranger Klaerner gave trouble and both cars were stopped for a short time. they drove on to Boerne and there had the cars filled with gasoline. By some means or other the two men in Sheriff Ochs' car managed to get hold of a hammer and the crank shaft of one of the cars which they concealed. When within a few miles of Leon Springs the two robbers made a desperate assault on Sheriff Ochs and his son with a hammer and a crank shaft. The sheriff was struck over the head and dazed for a short time. His son, Eugene grasped the situation before being injured, and managed to get hold of an unloaded automatic pistol and with one blow felled one of the men and he remained unconscious for several hours. By this time, Sheriff Ochs had regained conscious and the other robber gave up the fight. Ranger Klaerner whose car had taken the lead at Boerne, suspected trouble and he turned his car back to meet the Sheriff. The three men and the stolen car were carried to San Antonio, without further trouble, where the men were turned over to the army officers and the car restored to the owner, Mr. H. B. Vodrie. Sheriff Ochs and son had a narrow escape, and Eugene proved himself a hero. The final chapter of the escapade of the three youthful robbers and deserters, will be written when justice has been exacted by Uncle Sam.---------Fredericksburg Standard------

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