Oct. 31, 1967: Accosted by robber, Minneapolis woman says: 'Get lost'

Woman Defies 200-Pound Man, Saves 50 Cents

A 115-pound woman with 50 cents in her purse told a 200-pound robber to "get lost," Monday – and succeeded.

Sheila Keating, 2638 3rd Av. S., 21 years old today, said she was returning from downtown when a man followed her after she got off a bus at 24th St. and 3rd Av. S. about 2:30 p.m.

She said the man, about 35 to 40 years old, with a thin moustache and pockmarked faced, tried to edge her off the sidewalk, then demanded her money.

"I couldn't believe it – good grief – right in the middle of the day," she said. When he again demanded her money, she said, "Are you crazy? When don't you get lost?"

She said the man then put his hand into his pocket as if to touch a gun and said, "Look, I mean business."

Miss Keating said she saw a line of cars driving up 24th St., so she ran into the street and began screaming. The man fled.

Miss Keating, a clerk at Minnesota Blue Shield, 2344 Nicollet Av., stood to lose only 50 cents, but she said she was afraid the small take might cause him to harm her.