The record-union., 1891-05-13
CROPPING IN THE DARK.
The Police Unable to Find Robert
Aliens AssaiIaats.
Several Clues But No DEVELOPMENTS
Yet-Mr. Allen Still in a CritI-
cal Condition.

The murderous assault made by foot
pads upon Robert Allen Monday morn
ing was the main topic of conversation
about the hotels and street corners yes
terday.
Mr.. Allen is still in a very critical con-
dltlon, but the attending physician, DR..
Simmons, said he noticed symptoms that
caused him to feel encouraged. However,
he said he would not venture definite
opinion until after to-day-the third day.
The sufferer was kept under the intlu-
ence of opiates nearly all day, and no one
was permitted to converse with him any
length of time. A large number of Mr..
Aliens friends called at the house dur
ing the day to inquire as to his condi-
ton.
STILL IN THE DARK.
The police are working hard on the
case and are following up every sugges-
ton ofa clue. But, as Captain Lee stated
to a reporter last night, they are still
practically cropping in the dark. Several
persons who it was thought might know
something about the affair We're hustled
down to the station and questioned, but
none of them appeared to know any
thing. ''Of course" said Captain Lee,
or not they amount to anything it is i'm
possible to say. The present outlook is
not very bright. You see we have abso-
lutely nothing to work on except the
finding of the hammer with which the
blow was struck. That, as you have al
ready published, has been identified as
being among the tools that were stolen
from Melvin's blacksmith shop last
week. We do not propose to give up,
however, as long as there is any hope for
us to run the scoundrels to earth.''
The Captain added that the dives had
all been thoroughly searched, but they
were rewarded with no new develop
ments.
THEY FOLLOWED HIM.
1t is now about definitely settled that
the thugs followed Mir. Allen, and rushed
upon him from behind instead Of lying
in wait for him at the alley, as was at first
supposed. Mr.. Allen, during one of his
lucid moments yesterday, informed de-
tective Arlington positively that he heard
the men coming from behind, but as their
steps sounded as if they were walking
along leisurely, he did not pay any atten-
ton to them. When he first heard their
footsteps he turned around and looked up
the street toward them-they were COM
ing from [ street along Seventh-but
there was nothing about their actions to
arouse his suspicious.
The police are firmly Of the opinion
that the foOtpads knew that Mr.. Allen
was in the habit of carrying large sums
of money home with him from his saloon
every night, and followed him from the
saloon to the Golden Eagle Hotel, where
he stopped for an hour, and then followed
him home.
it has also been suggested that the rob-
bers were watching the saloon with the
intention of breaking into it after Mr..
Allen LETT, but observing that he took the
money with him instead of r1llttipCr n
the safe, changed their plans and decided
10 waylay him.
THE VICTIMS CONDITION.
AT an early hour this morning the
RECoRD-UNIoN received word from Mr..
Aliens nurse to the effect that the sufferer
was resting easy, but that there was no
change in his condition.