The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-23
Thrilling, II True.

Thrilling, If True.
A bright, intelligent-looking man of
about twenty-five years of age, visited
police headquarters one afternoon, and
told such weird, blood-curdling tale of
suffering and persecution that he soon
collected crowd. The young man had
! handkerchief tied about his neck to
6onceal horrible cash that extended
jacross his throat, nearly from ear to ear,
which he stated had been inflicted by Q
band of men who had forcibly removed
him from Wabash train, when within
eight or ten hours of st. Louis, on the
road from Toledo, Ohio. His strange
story and the earnesthess and sincerity
of his manner made him an object of GU
riosity. and Captain Fruchte and num-
Der Of officers attempted to test the truth
of his assertions by numberless questions
and q rigid REORGANIZATION. He
stated that he was Q native of Dublin,
Ireland, and had arrived in New York
the latter part of February, where he
worked for some time at his trade-fur-
niture making. From New York he
moved to Rochester, where he was en-
ployed in the furniture factory of
Handy & Halves, but, desiring to visit
st. Louis. quit work about q month
since and took the train for Cleve-
land, Ohio. Being furnished with q
letter of introduction to e Mr.. O'Brien,
he stopped off at that point for three or
four hours. He found O'Brien, who in.
sisted that he should remain at his house
and secure work in Cleveland. This lie
refused to do, and started for Toledo,
1 Where he remained short time and fell
in with some strangers who, he thinks,
had followed him from Cleveland under
the impression that be was spy in the
employ OF the English Government.
to st. Louis, but somewhere en- route his
arms were suddenly pinioned behind him
and three or four men removed him from
the train, which had stopped to take
water. Pushing him forcibly into q
buggy, they drove him hurriedly away
and did not let the horses rest till after
the lapse of about eight hours. At the
end OF the journey, and at point which
he had never visited before, he was
dragged from the buggy, led to a barn,
where he was surrounded by eight or
ten men with false boards, and tied
hand and foot. His captors then disap-
peared and returned from time to time
during the six succeeding days. demand
ing 1t each visit history Of himself and
family, and an explanation OF his bust
ness and intentions. He was asked if
hss name Was not Clayton, but he re-
plisd in the negative, giving his name as
John Heating. In their endeavor to
elliott 9 confession of some kind
from their victim, his captors
ou0 his throat. When they again
returned they we're accompanied by
snoiher man who told his associates that
dkey had made . mistake. Though me-
0lscted BY his wou'd-be ssmurderers, the
wound did not prove fatal, and after .
lspse Of Z week he Was returned to the
railroad and placed on board the train in
charge OF one Of Ne gang, who accom-
panied him 70 81. Louis. During the
1rst three dsys Of his imprisonment he
received nothing To- eht but was fur
nished some s36at duxing the three last.
On his arrival y 81. Louis he was oau-
toned by his escort not TO say anything
Of his mysGosious adyenture, but 70 tell
any one Inst might inquire in regard to
the matter thAthChad ont his throat him
self. Fearing that he was the victim OF .
horrible c6napiracy planned by q secret
order that regarded him - servant OF
the EngliBh government, travelling
through The United States for the pur-
pose OF iery0ting ont some criminals he
Sustained from revealing his experience
until induced to do 20 by friends. To
those Who listened 10 his story not the
slightess suspicion Of insanity presented
ifoo1f and fha nnrorank trr1kh of hja