Wichita eagle., 1889-07-06
AN OUTRAGEOUS ASSAULT
A Tramp A Assaults Mrs. ". b. W oods-The Lady
Indispesed as q Result Of 1t.


w. II. Woods, Familiarity known as
BILLY" Woods, and formerly passenger
| conductor on the Wichita & Western rail-
way, resides at 312 Cleveland avenue in a
handsome frame residence. Yesterday
morning, while he was away from home,
his wife, who was ironing at the time,
noticed a ragged looking tramp crossing
the street in the direction of her house
She thought nothing of the matter until
she heard footsteps on the porch, and a
noise at the window. She then went to
the door and there stood the ragged look
ing tramp she had before noticed The
tramp boldly approached Mrs Woods and
impudently demanded something to eat.
The lady told him that she had nothing
cooked. Upon receiving this reply he
caught her by the arm, wrenched and
twisted it over her head and threw her vio-
lently to the floor, Mrs. Woods fell into
clothes basket and screamed for help,
when the tramp again approached her. AT
this Mrs. Woods screamed loudly for her
husband, and the tramp, thinking that
possibly there might be some man in the
house, hastily ran away. Mrs. Woods ran
up stairs and secured her husbands revol-
yer. When she reached her front gate
the tramp was just disappearing behind
some tall weeds to the rear of vacant
house diagonally across from her own resi-
dence. Mrs. Woods returned into the
house and, womanlike, after the danger
was all over swooned away. The neighbors
had been aroused by her cries and they
found her in an unconscious condition.
nr Tnh ed nd i'm,
mediately placed Mrs. Woods under the
influence of opiates. Mrs Woods had
several spasms yesterday afternoon. Last
night she was sleeping quietly under the
influence of morphine. DR.. St. John thinks
that her condition is not very serious. The
abnormal condition of her heart, the doc
tor thinks, is due from fright and not from
any affection Of the heart itself. Mrs.
Woods shoulder was badly wrenched and
is greatly swollen.
An EAGLE reporter called at the Woods
residence last evening and found the lady
not in a condition to be interviewed upon
the subject. Her husband related the par
ticulars to the reporter.
Yesterday afternoon the police arrested
four or five tough looking characters on
suspicion, but they were all subsequently
released. One was taken before Mrs.
Woods, but she could not identify him as
her assailant She describes the man as
being burly. red-faced, ragged looking
tramp. He has mustache and about
week or ten days growth of beard on his
chin. Mrs. Woods thinks that she would
be able to identify the man.
Yesterday and last night the police were
L. IT
no doubt be caught and will be snmmarily
dealt with.
1t is thought that there can hardly be a
doubt as to the brute's motive in assault
ing Mrs. Woods. II robbery had been his
motive there would have been no necessity
for throwing the lady on the floor; besides
he made no attempt to carry anything
from the house. He was probably aware
that Mrs. Woods was alone in the house,
no doubt having seen her husband leave
only short time before. The neighbors
are all considerably aroused over the oc
currence, They say that about ten days
ago rough looking tramp went to
the house of German family
living next door to Mr.. Woods. and
demanded something to eat The lady of
the house answered that she had nothing
for him, when he approached her savagely.
The German lady said. "here is quarter
for you" The tramp pocke,ed the money
and left.
Yesterdays occurrence has had the effect |
Of bringing to light several insults to
ladies in that vicinity by rough looking |
wretches who had been refused assistance. |
A detail of special policemen to that part |
Of the city would not be a bad idea.