The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-21
SWIFT RErRIBUrIoN.
A Remarkable Tragedy I'm Illinois-Desper-
ate Struggle Between a Farmer and a
Robber ON a Railroad Track,

A Remarkable Tragedy I'm Il1inois-Desper-
ate Struggle Between a Farmer and a
Robber on Railroad Track.
lst. Louis Republican,
One of the most remarkable tragedies of
the year occurred on Wednesday evening
last, on the Illinois side of the river, the full
facts relating to which were cleaned by q
Republican reporter yesterday. John Full
lerton is q farmer, q kind-hesrted man,
living near Swanwich, on the Cairo Short
Line Railroad, southeast of East st. Louis.
Last Wednesday, at late hour in the after
noon, a tramp sauntered lszily up to the
Fullerton farm house and told the old story
of destitution, want and scarcity of work.
He said that he was tired and hungry. and
the farmer, believing his story, invited him
into the house. The good farmers wife was
away, and so he, with his own hands, set
out a meal for the beggar. The latter par
took of the edibles, and at the end seemed
grateful for them, and thanked the farmer as
he finished his meal, and started upon his
journey again.
So soon as he had turned his back on the
premises the farmer locked his house and
started out into the fields to work. The
tramp only went little distance from the
house, and then hid in the bush and waited
to see what move farmer Fullerton would
make. He was evidently a long headed
tramp. and had made up his mind that Full
lerton's family were away, that Fullerton,
too would soon leave the house, and that
then and there a good chance would present
itself to enter and rob the premises.
The farmer. as already stated, went out to
work in the field, but only little distance
from the hou 9. Then it was that the
tramp returned to the place which had
sheltered and fed him but a moment before,
that be broke open a window, entered the
premises, rigged himself out with new
suit of clothing, and took possession Of a
silver watch and 50 in money. Then he
went to the window through which he had
entered, jumped out, and resumed his jour
ney at quick pace.
1t was about this time that Fullerton
looked up from his work and saw the tram D
| Jump out of the window and hurry away
toward the railroad track. He lost no time
in following the thief, and after a sharp pur-
suit caught up with him at the track. The
tramp was a well-built man, and was evil
IDENTIFY q desperate one for instead of run
nIng away he stood and faced the farmer.
The latter rushed right at him without a
word of explanation, and desperate hand.
to hand encounter ensued. Hard work and
regular living gave the farmer the advantage
of mis- villeinous opponent, and soon the lat
ter was the under man in what seemed a
struggle for life. But the tramp, knowing
that it meant almost death to let go of Full
|
grip. As they lay struggling there the
farmer was startled by the sound of an ap-
preaching train. The south-bound express
was rounding curve and approaching the
two at lightning speed. Fullerton looked
and saw it coming. With all tie
power that ke could muster, aided
by the impulse of fear, he gave one
tremendous spring and broke loose from the
tramp's grip. He had not moment to spare
when he made the spring, and as he jumped
the side of the cowcatcher OF the engine
grazsd his shoulder. The tramp, suddenly
alarmed, also attempted to escape, but be
! fore he could regain his feet the cowcatcher
struck and killed him instantly. The farmer
when the train had passed, stood alone with
| the dead body. The remains were subse-
quently picked up, and the mans clothing
| searched In the pockets were found the
money and watch stolen from the farm house
and referred to above. These were returned
| to the farmer There was nothing to be
| found about the dead man to prove his iden-
/ tity. a Coroner's inquest VIII be held, and
may throw some new light on the strapge
tragedy,