The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-15
ATTEMPTED HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
While Going Over the Bridge, Charles
Burns, a Railroad Conductor, is
Assaulted by Four Men.

1t is mighty cold day when there is
nothing floating on the surface in the way
of news in this city. About 10 o'clock
last night, freight conductor on the c.,
r. |. &. p. road, named Burns, was 60
ing over the bridge near the waterworks.
The night was not SO very dark, yet the
clouds above 0bscured the moon and kept
it from shining Burns, as he says
looked at his watch rs he passed the
waterworks building and it was about 10
O'clock lie then went on the bridge, as
his destination was Davenport. He got
| about the middle Of the bridge when he
was set upon by three or four men. He
SAYS he is sure that there were three men
but not positive about there being more
than three. They set upon him, beat
him in the back, punched him on the
head and on one of his legs. He cried
out loudly for help, and after finding that
he was so ''gamy showing fight
the robbers turned and ran away
He then came back to this city and
notified the police of the attempted rob
berry. Chief of Police Miller was called
up from bed about o'clock this morning
and at once sent men in every direcnion
looking for the robbers Two of the
policemen discovered Henry Lahilf and
John Hcegen sknlking in the Rock Island
Lumber and Manufacturing Cos lumber
yard and brought them into the Armory.
They had not been there long before
another officer came in with Martin Kelly.
Burns was sent for and identified all three
of the men Burns was interviewed by
the ARGUS reporter this morning, and he
was positive that the three men are the
fellows who held him up. They did not
succeed in 'pinching' him for any money.
One of the fellows made grab for his
watch, but he knocked him down. He
thinks Kelly is the man who he knocked
down. The parties were brought before
Justice Chopper for preliminary hearing
at 10 O'Clock this morning.
All three of the men arrested were
brought before Magistrate Chopper this
morning, where their preliminary exam
nation was held States Attorney Par
menter appeared and prosecuted The
evidence of Burns WAS heard. He most
positively Unidentified Kelly and Lahiif
He was not positive, about lIeneby, but
thought he was along with the gang
After hearing all the evidence and tho
arguments Of the attorneys, Justice
Chopper bound Kelly and Lahih over to
the circuit court in the sum of 81 600, and
in default of bail sent them to Jail
Ieneby was discharged.
About one O'Clock this afternoon tn,
ARGUS reporter j0urneyed down TO tn,
| JAN D"iluliG' utttIilIh'u 10 iltCIN it" th'
prisoners. Opening the Jail door tn,
reporter entered and asked Mr.. Calhoun
! if he could see the prisoners, and received
Il reply il the affirmative. Taking dow
4 large bunch of keys big iron doc
was unlocked and We entered. Their,
we found about dozen men eating din
ner. Kelly and Lahif1 were up stairs
however and they had to be called dow
from up stairs. Both boys came to til,
front and grasped the iron bars with thei
hands and said,
Wen, here We are, what do yo'
want
"oh, nothing replied Mr.. Calhoun
only here is reporter for the ARGUt
who wants to ask you few questions.
Well let him fire away. We will Sc
what he wants rs to do and then we vii
let INN know whether we'll do 1t, or not
"Haye yon any statement To maket
asked the reporter The ARGUS will pull
lish just what you say.
/ we haven't got anything to say, re
| pied the fellows.
But you surely must have somethin!
to say, replied the reporter, Come
boys be lar with me and l will be fai
with You
nocent- l am hard working man.