Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-31
HURLED FROM a TRAIN.
AN AUGUSTA COUNTY CITIZEN ROBBED AND
ALMOST MURDERED IN WASHINGTON.
washington Post, Jan. H. 1917


People on First street, northeast between
g and streets last night heard some one
calling for help JUS as the O'Clock SUBURBAN
more and Ohio Railroad, which passes up First
street, passed on its way from the city. The
filled with cars, and lying beside the tracks.
covered with the dirt he had rolled over and
over in, the men found an elderly gentleman
with one foot crushed of. He told the most
horrible story OF robbery and violence thath
come to light for years. ,o,-
Ninth street, clerk in the Census Office. He
is about fifty three years old he SAID that ne
took the O'Clock train for Takoma Park. SIX
or seven miles out on the Baltimore and ONO
road, 1t was dark when the train left the de-
pot, though the electric lights in the railroad
yard lighted the streets at intervals:
Just after the train left the depot while 1t
was running along First, between g and II.
Mr.. Heller left the smoking car In front to go
| to the second car. AS he reached the platform
he was confronted by two men,. one of whom
seized his hat, and pulled 1T down over his
eyes so that he could not see, while the other
pinned his arms to his sides. While the train
swayed along over the steel rails. rattle and
CHATTER of the wheels echoed by the long lines
of freight cars on each side. making such din
that scarcely anything else could be heard, the
robbers tore open Mr.. Heizer's coat and took
red morocco pocket book from his pocket.
One of them grabbed his watch chain. but the
chain broke, leaving the watch in the dazed
victims pocket and the chain In the rascars
hand.
Then, so quickly that Mr.. Heller could make
no effort at resistance the two men hurled him
from the train. He was thrown against the
freight cars on the sidings, and when he fell to
| the cinder path, between the tracks, his right
| foot was caught under the wheels or the Train
| he had been thrown from. and was crushed off
| at the heel. Mr.. HeiZer says it was all done so
Quickly that he scarcely knew what had hap
peued TIL he found himself lying on the ground
with his foot crushed off half falnting from loss
| of blood, and the train he had been hurled
| from disappearing in the distance with In.
creasing speed as the city limits were passed
and bearing his two brutal assailants: ne was
| n II md parr q saloon
Der of ii street.
The police patrol wagon of the Ninth pre-
cinct was called, and Mr.. Heizer taken to the
| Providence Hospital. where his leg was cut OH
| Just above the ankle. by Drs. Malion and Can
noE; ,d loss q, blood make re.
| coyery for q man OF Mr.. HeZers age, fifty &c
years. much more slow and doubtful than II
would be for younger man. DR.. Cannon SAID
/ last night that the patient was probably out OF
danger, He says he didn't really sse either Of
the two men who robbed him ana cant even
/ tell whether they were white or colored.
/ P,Iice lieutenant Teeple. of the Ninth pre-
cinct. visited the railroad soation and cues
Il Detective Mahon, but reither of them founc
the slightest ciew to the rascals The theory
4 OF the police is that the daring robbers were
II two men who had been hanging about thu
, freight yards and who jumped on the traI
While it was moving slowly, just after 1t lef
: the station. with the intention OF robbing ane
j perhaps muE dering the first well dressed mar
wCnecame oht on the platform. Some OF thu
RI Eund men are of the opinion that the ras
> CHI Ini6 Ia fe Iu66Qt 10 TOD ino COnQuCtoi
Il dfame on to %he platform on his way through
thy1traid, as suSh things have been done.
1fegrams yece sent to the conductor OF thu
train as soon apostolic, but he could throw
J. no Whit upon sNhe matter. The men nigh
( easiN nave juroSed off the train few mo
= mems after throwing their victim from IT, q
the tlains 90 nor run fast Till after passing tn
city limits.
Mr. Heizer recovered very slowly from tn
effects of the ether Used for the operation, an
. is still at the hospital He does not remembe
S lust hoy much money there was in his wallet
, but there was somewh ere between $40 and $3t
Il [Ths yictim OF this Caring assault is a nativ
and well. known resident Of Augusta county
A His wife IS daughter Of the late Harvey Bea
{ of Churchy Tile. while eDtaged in the insuranc
business Ia washinston. his services as an ex
BERT we're Ediicited for census work by the chic
clerk ofthe bureau and be has been IN
ploved since last septsmben His eld y
, the principa, elerk "A one q the la,
stores in Wash}ngtop.l