The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-11
ASSAULTED IN THE DARK.
III. Arthur Rooney, j., Severely Cut With
Ratchet Last Evening
1T THE R. AND A. RAILROAD OFFICE.
Bob Harvey. n Negro, Arrested, rs IL 10 he
Iieved That He Committed the Crime.
Poison Pound In tho Water Cooler.

Mr.. Arthur Rooney Jr., q well-known
young man Of Richmond. was fouliy assaulted
In tho dark last night with Ratchet and
cruelty disfgured and seriously injured
Mr.. Rooney is a clerk in tho employ OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway, and occupies
desk in one OF the Offices Of that company
located in the second story Of the building on
the west corner OF Twelfth and Cary streets
At about quarter Of 10 o'clock last evening
Dir. Rooney returned to the Office for the pur-
pose Of completing some unfinished work on
his books. and entering the building from the
Cary street front. assembled the steps to the
upper hallway where a gas light was dimly
burning and thence into room usually occu-
pied by the lantor Of the building.
In this room behind the door was kept the
KEYS of the several Office rooms and IL
for the purpose Of getting the key TO his Office
on the opposite side Of the hall that Mr..
Rooney entered the room referred TO. The
room was dark but knowing well tho exact
location of the key. he stepped unsuspect-
jngly behind the door and reached out his
hand for the key.
VICIOUS BLOW.
AS he leaned forward for this purpose
vicious blow was dealt him over the head from
an unseen foe. and dazed and stunned from
the murderous attack, he grapped with bis
unknown assaiant. trying at the same time TO
ward off the terrible strokes rained on his I'M
protected head. Feeling his inability 10 cope
with the unseen foe and almost senseless from
the blows, he cried orft with all his strength.
frightening the attacking party and alarming
persons on the street. The would-be assassin
ran down the steps 90 the Cary-street en-
trance, but was met by Mr.. Il. Il. Thompson,
whose Office is on the ground floor, and re-
treated to the upper story.
Archer Morris. one OF MIR. 1hompson's
colored drivers ran around TO the rear entrance
which is level with canal bank street., and
holding 10 the door prevented his escape from
that direction. The scoundrel. however. ran
down the hall into one of the Offices and rails
ing the window jumped to the street and fed.
Archer Morris followed him for some distance
and might have oyer;aken him but for fear of
receiving injury 10 himself The fugitive es-
capped. and when seen last was running up
Cary street.
Thompsons Office and the ambulance called.
On examination by the ambulance surgeon.
II was found that he had a dozen ugly cuts
over the head. across the back of his neck and
his arm and hand were badly mutiiated
One blow cut entirely through the left eye
brow and made a very painful and disfguring |
wound. As soon as Mr.. ROOney's wounds |
were dressed he was carried 10 the Retreat |
for the Sick.
THE WEAPON.
knife and small Ratchet were found in the |
room where the struggle took place. and a hat !
picked up on the sidewalk was thought to be
the property Of Bob Harvey, formerly janitor
OF the railroad Offices who was discharged /
from that position about two months ago, aud
Mr.. Rooney. who was shown the hat. denti-
fed il as being the kind worn by his assailant
as seen in the dim light of the hallway.
MISTAKE.
II is believed from the circumstances sur
Mr
Rooney was a mistake upon the part Of Bob
Harvey and intended for the new janitor,
named Charles Richardson, mulatto. almost
white. and about the same size as the victim
to the jealous hate Of his predecessor. 10 is
thought that Bob Harvey has had enmity in
his heart against the new janitor for taking
his place and that he hid himself in the
room occupied by Charles and waiting his re-
turn mistoOk Mr.. Rooney IN the dark for his
hated rival.
Bob Harvey since his discharge has been
employed in offices in the neghborhood and
from time 10 time has hung about his old
quarters.
POISON.
Acircumstance occurred this morning which
indicated that still deeper crime was pre-
than that which occurred, and
probably by the same fend who made the
murdeTous attack on Mr.. RoOoney. |
Charles the new janitor, this morning
when cleaning about the Office discovered
something white floating on the water in the
cooler. and tasting the water found 1t bitter
and drew il off into bucket. He called the
attention of the clerks in the Office TO the fact
md said he believed somebody had put poison
n the cooler. The matterwas treated light
", however until after the tragedy
asst night, when-the affair was recalled and
the bucket examined. 4 white pasty matter
was found in the bottom of IT, and also some
in the cooler and glass tumbler. DR.. Brock. .
who. was called to the assistance of Mr.. !
4 Al.
he appearance Of arsenic. The BUCKET was |.
aiken to the Second pOlice-statiOn to be more
carefully examined. .
MR. RooNKY's STATEMENT. q,
Mr.. Rooney stated to Police Officers Iange il
md Waddell that when he was attacked he {
truck his assailant three times with. his fist, t
Dut that the blows from the Ratchet camo
10 fast that he partially lost consciousness
md cried out for help.
The cuts on his head were from their nature c
made by the blunt-edged Ratchet found on
he floor and 1t is thought that after the v
handle OF the Ratchet broke the assassin L
escorted TO the knife Mr. Rooney lives with Il
lis mother at 70S Mosby street. but was taken
o the Retreat In part for the reason that his r.
INITIATED condition would be too great a Fl
hook TO her. o
BOB ARRESTED.
At II 80 last night Captain j. b. Angle. &C u
ompan,ed. by Sergeant Brooks and Officers ~
Walton and Wren, went to the house of Bob
Harvey. at 1916 west Leigh street. and took
i'm into custody. lie was found in
cd, apparently asleep, and denied all
nowledge OF the affair IL
The prisoner walked with Charles Richard W
on last night TO the corner of Jackson and o.
irst streets. when he went home, and Cap
ain Angles theory of the case is that he i'm ',
lediately returned and went into the Chesa- Si
cake and Ohio railway Offices for the pur- ~
osc of robbery. and was surprised shortly iss
fter entering the building. Captain Angle u
AVS he cannot account for the supposed
olson in the bucket CO
80, te