The record-union., 1891-05-12
MURDEROUS FO0TPADS.
Robert Allen Struck Upon the Head
With a Hammer.
The Garroters Take Over $500 From
the Victim and Then Leave
Him to Die.

An atrociOuS crime was committed in
this city carly yesterday morning.
Robert Allen, the well known turf
man, and proprietor of the Exchange on
Seventh street between J and K, was way
laid Iby footpads, robbed Of over $500 and
probably fatally wounded The murder
Gus garroters escaped and there is no clue
as yet to their identity or whereabouts.
Mr.. Allen is still alive but is in a very
precarious condition.
THEY MEANT MURDER.
Mr.. Allen closed up his saloon as usual
shortly after midnight, and after stopping
in at the Golden Eagle Hotel for about
an hour started for his home on the cor
ner of Seventh and Ii streets. He was
walking along slowly, and had just
reached the alley which runs back of the
! Courthouse when two men suddenly
Sprang out from the shadow of the
county's building and assailed him.
One of the footpads seized Mr.. Allen
by the lappels of his coat and before he
could realize what was going on the other
dealt him terrible blow on the back of
the head with a hammer.
The cruel blow stunned the old gentle
man, but only fora moment. The thugs
seeing that he was recovering his senses,
set upon him again. The man who had laid
hold OF his coat now seized him by the
throat and Str2ngled him in manner
that prevented him from crying out for
help. He was dragged into the darkness
of the alley, brutally kicked several times.
and then robbed. Something over $500
was taken from him besides his watch
and foh-charm.
The garroters then left their victim, who
was now insensible, and perfect stream
of blood was gushing from the ghastly
hammer wound in his head.
NO ONE THERE.
Strange, no one seems to have heard
the scuilie, no one saw the footpads when
! they ran away, and no one happened
| along in that vicinity for some time after
! the murderous assault.
After lying in the alley for some time,
it appears Mr.. Allen regained conscious
ness sufficiently TO enable him TO drag
! himself to his home, which was only a
| few yards distant. His daughter heard
his feeble knocks on the door, and rushed
! TO her fathers assistance. He was
| scarcely able to speak, but managed to
! tell her that he had been assaulted and
| robbed.
| The young lady ran to a neighbor's
| house, and after telling what had hap
pened, had them go for a doctor.
| DIR. q. l.. Simmons attended the
wounded man, and pronounced the
! wound most serious one. Mr.. Allen
had become unconscious again after be-
! ing laid upon bed, and remained in that
condition for several hours, when his
/ senses again returned for a short time.
| The doctor stated that he was suffering
| from concussion Of the brain, and while
there was chance for his recovery, that
chance was a rather slim one.
POLICE INVESTIGATING.
The matter was reported to the police
promptly, and several officers were de-
tailed to investigate. The deadly ham
mer which had been used with such terri
! bic effect upon the unfortunate Mr..
! Aliens head was found in the alley, COW
cred with blood. Mr.. Aliens bunch of
/ keys and 81 p in silver were also found.
| These had evidently been dropped by the
! footpads in their hurry.
The hammer has been positively identi-
! fled as one that was stolen from Herbert
( Melvin's blacksmith shop, along with
various other tools, several nights ago.
| At last accounts this morning Mr..
! Allen was still alive and was resting
easy.
NOT THE ONLY ONE.
| On Sunday evening a young man
named Louis Kemmitzer was passing
/ Tenth and c streets TO visit his brother,
who lives in that locality, when suddenly
| two men jumped upon him from behind
| some trees. One of the footpads held
| pistol at Kimmitzer's head while the
other rified his pocket of silver watch. a
| gold chain and gold pencil, being all the
| valuables he had on his person
Some time during Sunday night or
yesterday morning burglar tried to
break into the grocery store mt Twelfth
and Il streets He took out pane of the
rear door, but the glass fell to the ground
and the crash woke up the occupants of
the house, and the robber took to his
! hnsla