Covington, Pennsylvnia

From the Towanda Daily and Sunday Review of September 4, 2006

Elderly man fights off armed robber

An attempted armed robbery recently occurred at the residence of Harry Lewis, 81, of Covington, Pa.

At 12:50 a.m. Saturday, an unknown male knocked on Lewis' door and said he needed help, state police said.

When Lewis opened the front door, the unknown male pulled a white, knitted scarf over his face and forced his way into the residence, according to state police from Mansfield.

The intruder had a claw hammer and threatened to hit Lewis if Lewis did not give him his wallet and money, police said.

Lewis tried to hit the robber with a flashlight, and a struggle between the two ensued, police said.

Lewis wrestled the robber to the floor and then went to retrieve a gun, police said.

While Lewis was retrieving the gun, the robber fled the scene in an unknown direction, police said.

Lewis received two minor cuts on his hand from the claw hammer and did not seek medical treatment, police said.