The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-07-13
HIGHWAY ROBBERY,
DIR. Mart. Bechtel Knocked Down and
Robbed at the East Creek Bridge.

DIR. Mart. BechteI Knocked Down and
Robbed at the East Creek Bridge.
This city is becoming unpleasantIy
notorious for the number and gravity
OF crimes and OutrageS which are COM
mitted within its confines, and it seems
that of late tidal wave of laWlessness-
had struck us, submerging all sense of
law and order.
Murder, rape and cutting affrays fol-
low each other in quick succession, and
the only satisfaction that can be CLEAN
ed from these varied phases of crime is
that in nearly every instance the real
perpetratOr of the misdeed has been
speedily apprehended and placed behind
iron bars, where he can do the least
harm to the community.
Last night another item was placed
in the long catalogue, which for bold
ness and audacity can hardly be equalI-
ed. DR.. Mart Bechtel, Jr., is Veterina-
ry surgeon, of this city, who has his
office and sleeping apartment at FOrnes'
livery stable on Fifth street, below
Market, and enjOy5a good practice, both
in city and country. Yesterday morn
ing he started out on the Waynesburg
road and vicinity on
COLLECTING TRIP,
taking a buggy from the stable. He
met with good success, and upon return
ing about midnight approached the Tus--
carawas street bridge over the East
Creek from the Eastern terminus, in
| tending to drive to the barn, put up the
| horse and retire to bed. The night was
pretty dark, as it had been raining in
| the earlier part of the evening and the
| sky was Obscured with heavy clouds,
the remnants of the storm. Just as he
| got to the middle of the bridge he saw
three men come out of the gloom, one of
whom took his horse by the head, while
another sprang into the buggy, saying,
"HoLD, ON, DOC"
and grasped him by the back of the neck,
pressing him forward over the dash
board, which is badly bent, and threw
him out on the hard plank. He gave one
| loud scream, and knew no more for at
least two hours, when he recovered con-
sciOusness, and found himself in the
mud down on the bank of the creek, with
his clothing soaking wet, having evil
IDENTIFY been thrown into the water, as if
the villains meant to add murder to rOb-
| berry. He crawled up and made his way
to his brother David Bechtels house,
| which Is the last one on East Tuscara-
was street next the creek, where he
gained admission, and is now lying
there with confused wound on top of
his head caused by striking on the
bridge timbers.
THE HIGHWAYMEN
succeeded in rObbing him of 1870 and
fine gold watch. David's wife said
that she was awakened about midnight
by hearing scream coming from the di.
TectiOn of the bridge, but paid no atten-
! t1On to 1t, as such sounds were frequent
! in that neighbOrhOOd. Fortunately the
! Doctor is not seriously injured, except
D the nervous shock caused by such rough
! handling. 1t is evident that the rob
berry was committed by persons ac-
; quainted with the Doctor, and his OBJ.
= ject in making the journey. The police
. are on their track, and it is to be hoped
3 that the bold perpetrators of this mid
: night assault will speedily be brought
| to Justice,