The Elizabethville Echo of 30 September 1906 reported the following story of a highway robbery on the Uniontown Road:
A bold highway robbery took place on top of the hill on the Uniontown Road about one-fourth mile from Loyalton about nine o’clock on Saturday evening. Frank Wiest, the butcher, living near Uniontown Gap, was returning form the Lykens Market, where he had made his regular collections, and when he reached this point a daring thief rushed up to the team and while it was in motion, struck Mr. Wiest a terrible blow on the head with a billy. At the same moment an accomplice rushed to the other side of the wagon and both boarded it at once, when an encounter ensued during which the victim was horribly beaten with the weapon the thugs carried, and was robbed of something like $70. Mr. Wiest was left unconscious but shortly revived and turned his team back toward Loyalton when he was met by Peter Matter and Edward Grubb, and the latter took charge of the team and brought the unfortunate man to Loyalton, where he was taken to [the] Zerbe Hotel. Dr. Lebo of Gratz was hurriedly summoned and dressed the wounds and on Sunday afternoon he was considered able to be removed to his home where it is expected he will again recover. One of the thieves lost his hat in the scuffle and it is likely both will soon be apprehended and brought to justice.
In the same newspaper, but apparently written later, was an update on Frank Wiest:
Latest reports from Pillow state that the condition of Frank Wiest who was co cruelly handled by highway men near Loyalton last Saturday, is very much improved, and that he expects to again attend market this week. May the guilty ones receive their reward.
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The Harrisburg Daily Independent, 18 September 1906, also reported on the incident:
On last Saturday evening while butcher Frank Wiest, of near Pillow, was going home from market about 9 o’clock, two men came along behind and struck two blows at his head and got in his wagon and robbed him of all his money and then left him. He then turned and came back to Zerbe’s Hotel, where they at once ‘phoned for Dr. Lebo of Gratz, who dressed the ugly cuts on Mr. Wiest’s head. One of the robbers lost his hat and also the weapon with which the blows were given.
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