The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-20
BRUTAL ASSAULT.
A Man Badly injured Because He Would
Not Stop Work.

Michael Guthrie, who is an iron moulder
by trade. arrived in Richmond about week
ago direct from California. and secural job
at the Richmond Locomotive and Machine
Works, where he made about S3 day; but he
WAS unable 10 go 10 work yesterday. on ac-
count of most brutal beating which he receiv-
ed Monday eveningat the hands of some. Of the
strikers Monday evening about dusk. He
was seen by TIMES man yesterday ut his
boarding house, on Seventeenth street.
opposite the Chesapeake and Ohio shops.
His face was dreadtully swollen and disfgured.
and was one mass Of bruises. His right eye
was entirely closed on account OF the blows
inflicted.
He is fifty eight years old, but lookedas if he
might. under ordinary circumstances, have
taken care of himself.
He met some of the men, he stated. and
took few drinks with them in Holloran 5
bar. While there they insisted on has joining
the union. and offered 20 pay his board until
he could get more work or % give him a rail
road ticket TO some other place but he told
them that he did not wish TO have anything TO
do with the union.
They then invited him TO take n walk with
them. He went about two squares with them,
but when they insisted on his walking up the
railroad with them he became suspicious ana
started back TO his clearinghouse. Tie states
that they followed him, and when he got IN
about half a square of HOlloran's. where he
lived, one Of them struck him on the head
and knocked him down. and then they stamped
his head and face with their shoe-heels.
A crowd of people soon assembled and
rescued the old man. but not before he was
severely punished.
Mr.. Guthrie says that he has seena great deal
of this world and has been in many danger
Gus situations, but that he never came rs
near losing his lite before lie IS
positive that had they gotten him on the rail-
road they would have killed him. He declares
that he gave them no cause whatever tor
the assault more than his refusal To Join
the union and quit work. They were all
drinking. but he insists that none Of them
were drunk. There were several in the party,
but the assault was only made by two OF
them. The old man says he has enough Of
tins city and will leave now just as soon as
some one will pay his way out of town. In
fact. he may have gone already, as he could
not be found at his boarding house last even
ing.
Sergeant Tomlinson. who with Policeman
Hall Is looking for the men who assaulted
Guthrie, says that it Is the most brutal and
uncalled-for affair that ever came under his
notice.
Several clearinghouse keepers in the
vicinity of the Locomotive Works have re-
ported 10 the police that they have been
threatened in case that they give aid or com
fort TO any new hands coming on to work at
the Locomotive Works.
Two Of the strikers called at No. G04 east
Leigh street and represented themselves as
New York detectives. aud sought information
in reference 10 the new men who nave come
on. The people Of the house applied to the
Second district police station for protection,
which was sent them.
An increased detail Of police will probably
he kept on duty in that section, and 1t Is
hoped they will be vigilant enough to protect
those who deserve it.