The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-28
HIGHWAY ROBBERY
sansI Monstt Set Upon, BrutaIly
Beaten and Robbed on the Island
Saturday Night.

About midnight on Saturday night as
Sam'l Moffett one of the Suspension
Bridge toll keepers was on his way, from
his residence, on the Island to the toll
house, he was set upon a. the corner Of
Broadway and Zane street, by four high
waymen, garroted, cruelty beaten, and
robbed of his pocket book and small
book of receipts, both contain in all about |
nine dollars and lot Of bridge receipts.
The robbers, after finishing their work,
lit out in the direction of the Back river
bridge, and from information since
learned proceeded Oh up 10 Etnsville,
tor the receipts that had been in the toll
keepers pocket book were picked up
Sunday morning on the Back river
bridge and up as tar as Etnaville.
As soon as Mr.. Moffett re.
turned to consciousness he pro.
ceeded as best he could to the toll
house, meeting several friends on his
way, to whom he related the circum-
stances. They Immediately organized
themselves into a squad to 60 in search
of the rufians, and proceeded over to
Bridgeport, and then up the railroad
some distance and met party OF four
persons coming this way, whom
they believed ware the men they were
after, yet they had not sufficient evil
depce, at that time, TO warrant them IN
making an arrest. The squad followed
them, however, across the back river
bridge, and attempted to intercept them
at the eastern toll house, by taking o
circuitous route. But the pursued know
Ing they were being watched, made rapid
strides across the Island and were at the
rcund.house before the other party.
From thereon they hurried across
the bridge and ran past the toll
house without stopping to hand in their
tickets. A policeman was in the toll
house at the time. One ofthis party is
known to the authorities, and if the cir.
cumstances wsrranted an arrest it should
have been done ut the time.
Yesterday reporter of the REGISTER
called on Mr.. Moffett, who is confined to
his bed, from the effect of the attack, and
he gave him the following account of the
highwaymen's procedure:
Just as he was in front of Michael
Reily's new building on Zane street and
within few feet of the lamp post on the
corner, he passed four men, three
standing on the curb, and the
fourth, quite a tall man,
in close to the building. Thinking
they were some of the Island boys, he
remarked he was little late. After he
had fairly passed them, the large one
sprang forward like a fash and threw
his long arm around his neck and
pressed him with great strength to his
breast. In order to thoroughly accom-
plish his purpose of choking
him, he caught with his other
hand the wrist of the arm around the
old mans neck, and thus more effectually
prevented his victim from rendering him.
self any assistance. One of the other
robbers then picked up hickory stick
about three quarters Of an inch in
diameter, which Mr.. Mofrett usually
carries, and which he had dropped
at the beginning, and commenced beat
ing him over the face and head, in a
merciless manner, knocking several teeth
down his throat, binding him and oven
tually producing Inconsistencies. He
appealed to them ''for Gods sake not to
kill him ard he would give them what
money he had in his possession" No at
tentlon was paid to this appeal, however,
and they kept on in their brutal work.
In the meantime, third one, he thinks,
rifed his pockets of the two pocket books
already referred to. BY this time he was
overcome and fast loesing his senses.
His sight was gone and he. was perfectly
helpless. He must have lam
some minutes after tie brutal deed before
returning consciousness made him cogni.
zant OF his condition. He then arose and
proceeded as best he could on his way.
The balance the reader has learned from
above.
This is the most shocking and boldly
executed highway robbery that has been
committed in our midst for some
time. 1t is the more aggra-
vatipg to think that right under
a lamp post on the main Island thor
oughfare four ruttians without mo
lestation, could attack and almost kill a
citiz'n. The bloodthirsty cruelty dis
played in wantonly beating this defense
less old mans face into a jelly is also
cause for aggravated indignation on the
part of the community that will make it |
90 hard with the rsscals if the law is
Justly meeted out to them.
From further information it is learned |
that these rogues had been trying to
effect an entrance into the store of j. B.
Lukens & Brother and had |
succeeded in prying open the shutter on
North Broadway when they were either
foiled in their plans by the growing of
the watch dog in the store or else thought |
the sounding footsteps Of Mr.. MoHett