Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-10
DEADLY ASSAULT.
BY a Drunken Lunatic on an Old
Man.
AHorrbIe Scene Back Of BeIlaire-An Aged
Citizen dubbed by a Half-Wittsd
Iaebriate-His Wife to the Rescue.

0Ie of the most barbarous outrages that
has been perpetrated in this community
for years occurred about three miles west
of this city, by which Joseph Bamferd, an
old gentleman Of eighlytwo years of age,
| was eriously Injured. TIE perpetrator,
Maurice Davis, is half witted individual
who, when sober, is a simple, harmless sort
OF fellow, but when blinking is terror
| to the community. He was in town on
Saturday and was drinking all day, and in
! the evening started for his home, which Is
| oul near Valley Grove church. be went
| up Blocks run, and when he arrived al
| Bamforu s residence, which is about hun
| dIed yards from the road, he opened the
| gate and went into the yard. Mrs. BAN
| ford ssw him coming and went out 10 see
| what he wanted, and as soon as Davis saw
| her he ran behind a building in the
! ward and started around toward the bSck
| part of the house where the old man was
sitting in the kitchen door. He was swear
| ing at the top OF bis voice, and had picked
| up q stout club about two or three feet
/ locg and was carrying it in his hand. Mr..
Banford stepped out into the yard and
met him and asked him what was wrong,
| and receiving no answer told him he had
! better 90 on home Davis then drew back
| and struck the old man q terrific blow in
! the mouth with the club and knocked him
down. He Immediately got up and Davis
attempted to strike him again with the
! club, but the old man got hold OF him and
/ prevented his doing so. A scutfie ensued,
! until the old gentleman became exhausted,
| when the drunken fiend struck him blow
! with his fist and knocked him down again,
] and then Jumped upon him and pounded
! him terribly with the club and his fists.
By this time Mrs. Bamford, who was
| frightened almost to death, ran up
| with broomstick and while
| Davis was beating her husband struck him
with all her force across the head and laid
| il open to the bone. He still kept ham
mering away at the old man until he con,
| Cluded that he was dead, and then started
toward Mrs. Bamford, saying Now, d
! you, Ill fix you She started to run and
screamed murder at the top OF her voice,
| and succeeded in attracting the attention
| of some men, and Davis seeing them, made
! his escape. He was covered with blood
| and was a terrible looking sight. Some
| ladies who were returning from picnic at
| Valley Grove, met him and were compel
! led TO leave the road and take the fields to
| get away from him. A REGISTER reporter
| visited Mr.. Bamford at his home yester.
day and found him able to sit up, though
| he is very much Frustrated by the
shock. He is terribly bruised about the
| head and face and was unconscious
! for some time after the assault.
! His mouth where he was struck with the
! club is badly cut, one of his lips being cut
: entirely through and mashed to Jelly.
| Or. Anderson was called to attend to his
| iriuries, AID his wounds were Sewed up,
! sid unless evil results from the shock he
! will probably recover. He is 81 years Of
| sge. and be and his wife live alone in the
| house, which is in rather an out OF the way
| place, and not very near any OF the neigh
| boring houses No possible cause can be
| assigned for the outrage, unless it was on
| account of the man being drunk, as when
! softer he has always been very friendly with
both Mr.. Bamford and his wife.
| Mr.. Bamford thinks that robbery
was his object. but there was
nothing as far as we could learn to indi-
| cate this. A warrant was issued yesterday
| for his arrest, charging him with an as
| sault with intent to kill. 1t was placed in
| the hands of Constable Sotterheld. but at
this writing Davis could not be found, and
il is thought that he has fed the country.
Great excitement was created in the neigh
borhood, and it was the sole topic OF con-
versation yesterday. Visitors to the scene
of the conflict were numerous, and from
the conversation OF many We infer that
Davis would fare badly should he fall into
the hands of Baumford's ueighbors at this
time.
THE 20OTH III CENTENNIAL.
Last evening the German citizens held
meeting at the Turner Hall for the pur-
pose of perfecting arrangements for the
bi.tentennial celebration, whi2h comes
off on the Sth of October.
The following resolutions were en-
dorsed by those present: Resolved, Thai
> 90 Of Roll aT mil
celebrate the tooth anniversary OF the first
emigration of Germans to this country,
and we further resolve aud ask the Ger
man citizens and friends of Benwood to
participate with us on that occasion.
The following gentlemen we're appointed
q committee on arrangements: Peter Len
hardt, Jacob Altmyer Fred Niedemyer,
Charles Bole, Henry Fisher, Jacob Lautier
and August Chase. The citizens
on the above committee will work with
! will and try and make this occasion
| brilliant and long to be remembered one.
Aman was killed near Bellaire on the B.,
Il. & c. railroad on Saturday night.
DELAYED NOTES.
VIM. schramm, the Fourth ward grocer,
is visiting friends at Marietta.
A. D. Mellott has been awarded the con-
tract to furnish the furniture for the new
| Windsor Hotel.
Mr. Hoffman, boss tailor for H. Bonarin's,
hiss moved his family into the house pur
chased by him some time since.
Harry Leasure, of Gravel Hill, has gone
| to Homestead, Pa, to work.
| Mr.. Fred Muhlman has been running his
! Touring mill for the last week.
The Harmonic Club will give their first
dance of the season next Friday evening.
Miss Blanche Russell is visiting friends
| at Mingo.
Mr.. Hoffman an6 John King, the tailor,
! wagered roast pig on the election last
year and Hoffman got the pig. 1t turns
| out this year that Hoffman is an enthusi-
aStiC Hoadly man and has bet another pig
that his man will be elected. II King loses
his pig this year Hoffman will be acting the
! hog by taking it.
! The Saul family will give a musical
| concert in this city on Friday evening.
The dramatic associations of this city
| are slow to take hold this season, and it is
thought they will not be recognized
! again.
The marriage of Emil Smith to Miss
| Albertina Staub on Tuesday evening was
one OF the important happenings of the
| week.
We understand that Friday" Sprow aud
Miss Nora Knee were married at West
| Alexander last Saturday.
The grocers of this city gave notice
| through the papers some time since that
| they were preparing to sell ali bad &C
counts held by them the second Tuesday
Of September, but they have failed to do
anything further.
At both masses yesterday st. Johns
| Church was crowded to its utmost cspac-
ity. At the first mass the sermon was on
| the feast OF the day-the name of the Vir-
| gin Mary, and at high mass on the love of