The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-06
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SPEEDY RErRIBU ZION. Que of the most
,emarkable tragedies Of the year occurred re-
nontly on the Illinois side of the river. John
Fullerton is a farmer, a kind hearted man,
living near Swanwick, on the Carlo Short
line railroad, southeast of east st. Louis.
Last Wednesday at a late hour in the af-
+ernoon. = tramp sauntered laZily up To the
Fullerton farm house and told the old sto-
~ Of destitutien, want and scarcity of
work. He said that be was tired and hun
cry, and t. e farmer. believing his story, in
yited him into the house. The good far
mer's wife was away. and SO he with his
own hands set out ii meal for the beggar.
The latter partonk 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 soou as he had turned his back on the
premises the farmer locked bis house and
started out into the fields 90 work. The
tramp only went ii little distance from the
house. and then hid in the brush and await
ed to see what Farmer Fullerton would do.
He was evidently a long headed tramp, and
had made up his mind that Fullerton, too.
would soon leave the house, and that then
and there a good chance would present it
self to enter and rob the premises.
The farmer, as already stated. went out
to work in the field but only a little dis
lance from the house. Then it was that
the tramp returned to the place which had
sheltered and fed him but a moment be
fore that he broke open a window, entered
the premises, rugged himself out a new suit
of clothing. and took possession Of a silver
watch and nine dollars in money. Then be
went to the window through which he en-
tered jumped out, and resumed his jour
ney at a quick pace.
II was about this time that Fullerton
cooked up from bis work and saw the tramp
lump out of the window and hurry away
toward the railway track. He lost no time
in following the thief, and after q short
pursuit caught up with him at the track.
The tramp was a we'll built man, and was
evidently a desperate one, for instead of
running away he stood and faced the far
mer. The latter rushed right at him with
out a word Of explanation, and a desperate
hand-to-hand encounter ensued. Hard
work and regular living gave the farmer
the advantage over his villaino1s -, o ,ent,
and soon the latter was the under man IN
what seemed Il struggle for life. Blu the
tramp knowing that it ment almost death
10 let 90 of Fullerten's shoulders. held on
with a terrible grip. As they lay strug-
niing there the farmer was startled by the
SCUM OF al dD DfOaC1lu2 tidin. II Soulu
bound express was rounding a curve and
approaching the two at tightening speed.
Fullerton looked and saw 1t coming. With
all the power that be could muster, aided
by the impulse of fear. he gave one m
dous spring and broke from the tramp 8
grasp. He had not a moment to spare
when be made the spring. and as he jump
ed the side Of the COW catcher Of the engine
grazed his shoulder. The tramp. suddenly
alarmed, also attempting to escape, but lac
fore he could regain his feet the cow-catch-
er struck and killed him instantly, The
farmer when the train had passed stood
alone with the dead body. The remains
was subsequently picked upand the mans
clothing searched. In the pockets were
found the money and watch stolen from the
farm house and reffered to above. There
was nothing to be found about the dead
man to prove his identity.-St Louis Re
publican.