L.A. Gaut, Salesman of

New Ulm Grocery Co., Has Thrilling Experience,

Friday Morning.

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DODGES ROCK HURLED THROUGH WINDSHIELD

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Bandits Foiled by Intended Victims Presence of Mind and Courage,

Then Disappear.

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L. A. Gaut of this city, veteran traveling salesman of the New Ulm Grocery Co., had a thrilling experience, Friday morning, which he is not anxious to repeat very soon.

Faced by desperate masked bandits, who attempted to hold him up and rob him of money which he had collected on his trip, Mr. Gaut, with rare presence of mind, stepped on the throttle of his truck and sped past the bad men.

Narrowly Escapes Injury.

When the would be holdup artists realized that they were being foiled, one of them hurled a large stone through the windshield of the truck in a vain effort to strike its lone occupant and render him helpless. Mr. Gaut narrowly escaped being struck by the missile, which he dodged just in time. The rock whizzed over his left shoulder and crashed through the window in the truck cab on that side. His hands and portions of his body were covered with a shower of glass splinters, which fortunately, did no harm.

Happened on Hill.

Mr. Gaut was about to descend a hill on the highway some nine miles south of Renville, Friday morning at about 8:15 o’clock, when he ob-served an old Ford touring car with lowered top occupying the road ahead. He saw three men in the machine, and, believing they had experienced some trouble, increased his caution and approached slowly, intending to stop and offer assistance, if such were needed.

Faced by Masked Men.

Upon nearing the spot, Mr. Gaut noticed that the car had no front license plate. His attention was attracted when two of its three occupants stepped down to the road and confronted him, their faces masked with handkerchiefs. When he was still about 100 feet away, the bandits waved their hands for him to stop. Taking in the situation at a glance, and noticing that the men apparently were unarmed, the courageous New Ulmite released the breaks and stepped on the gas. The stone was hurled through the windshield at a distance of some 50 feet.

Bandits Disappear.

Upon looking back, Mr. Gaut noticed his attackers drive away. There was no farm house near, from which he might telephone, but upon reaching Delhi, the intended victim communicated with the Renville police, who had not seen any car or men answering the description pass through the village. Thereupon Sheriff L. J. Kise of Redwood county was notified.

Brown County Journal

May 7, 1926