Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-26
MYSTERIOUS MUss.
A Man Whe Claimed to Have Been
Robbed
On the Street, After Having Been Tricked
and 8eaten-A Story Rather
Too 6auzy.

Late yesterday morning at the dark hour
before dawn, a REGISTER reporter was pass
ing quickly down Market street on his way
home after his nightly labors were over.
At the Corner Of Alley Is, opposite the
st. Alphonsus church. he saw q man
climb out OF toe German church yard aud
peer cautiously up the alley. Satisfied
with his survey, he crossed the alley and
sat down on the foundation stones OF the
fence around Rev. Cookies residence. The
reporter crossed the street aud approached
him, to find his face covered with blood,
his hat gone, and a general woe BECOME
look on his c~ountenance. He eyed the re-
7 orter cautiously and asked what he
wanted. The reportorial profession was
disclosed and the unknown said:
IL am the victim Of a conspiracy and
highway robbery, which happened this
way: < half hour ago l came along Mar
ket street, here, and in front OF that church
up yonder Indicating the Disciples
Church) I saw q man lying on the pave
ment and another STOPPING over him. The
latter told me his friend had had an epilep
tic attack and be was trying TO get him to
his home, q few doors down street, and
asked me to assist him. / said | would,
and he said for me to take his head and he
would take his feet. He went to the feet
and lifted them, and / caught hold OF the
shoulders and raised them up. When got
him lifted up the man in the fit put his
arms around my neck, but l thought he
was only recovering slightly, and PAID no
attention to it. Suddenly he frightened
his arms and said All right when the
other man dropped his feet ard grabbed
me too. 1t was a 'possum game, and l
fought hard until one of them hit me on
the head with a billy. Here's the cut"
aId he showed q bruised cash onlhis fore
head, from which the blood had trickled
over his face.
Then what happened
Il was knocked down, but not so much
hurt as stunned. While l was down they
running up this alley. / ran down here,
but they had disappeared"
What did you lose"N
II only had 81 80 in money, but they got
a certificate OF deposit for $40 and my gold
watch. The watch had no chain"
Would you be able to identify them"
~ hardly know. The lamp gave some
light, but | didn't notice their faces par
ticularly. Well, when they ran OF,
thought one of them might walk back By
some other route to see what had become
of me, so I Just climbed over into that yard
to watch and wait. But they haven't come
yet"
The reporter enquired the mans name,
but he refused to give it, saying he "dldn't
want no damn paper to publish him.
The loss of his hat he could not account
for and did not know what had become Of
It. He again went through his pockets to
determine his losses aud discovered a pearl
handled knife was gone. The reporter
walked back toward the d sciples' church
with him, and on the sidewalk, near the
gate of Mrs. Wilson's residence, the knife
was found. Must have dropped there
when | TELL" he said, and this gave an air
Of probability 10 IN otherwise gauzy story.
did all this fuss make no noise?' asked
tie reporter.
IL yelled twice, but guess NOBODY heard
me-"
The reporter suggested walking across to
the hook and ladder house, to see if the
wells had been heard there, but the stranger
demurred and said he would wait there
while the REGIsTER man went. This was
done, but nobody at the house had heard
q sound, and as the west door was open 1t
is scarcely credible that two yells would
not have been heard for that short dis
lance. The street at the time was still as
death, but officer Barum, on duty near by,
heard no disturbance OF any kind. Tue
reporter Quilted the hose house n re-
turned to where the victim" had bsen
sitting, but no trace OF him could be found.
He had either gone away or melted into
the air. The reporter decided TO await
daylight to unravel the mystery, which
had all the ear marks OF a hoax, and went