Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-12

shocking robbery and murderous assault
was committed on a railroad train Of the Metro
politan branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road within the city limits early Saturday even
ing. The affair occurred on train So, which left
here for stations on the branch road at o'clock.
Mr.. John II. Heller, q census Office clerk, was
the man who came near being killed after he
had been robbed. Mr.. Heller is u well-known
citizen and lives at 1905 9th street northwest.
he had some business at Takoma Park Satur-
day night and was on the train to 60 to that
station. He got on the second or third car and
soon after the train pulled out from the depot
he left the car that he was in and started ahead
to reach the smoker. Scarcely had he closed
the door behind him when he saw a man on
either side of him. but he could not tell whether
they were white or colored.
ROBBED ON THE PLATFORM.
Before he even had time to take look at
them one Of them pulled his SLOUGH hat down
over his head and held his arms behind him
while the other murderous ruffian proceeded to
go through him. The thieves succeeded in
securing red morocco pocket book, in which
there was about $40, and then made an effort
TO secure his watch. As their daring work had
to be done in haste they failed to get the watch,
but managed to break his chain. The robbers
probably thought that the watch had fallen from
the train, as they made no further effort to get
1t, and having secured what they could they
hurled their victim from the train to the bed
OF cinders between the tracks. This they no
doubt thought would seal the eyes of their
victim and clear them, but in this they failed,
Tor although Mr.. Heller received q severe
wound. which will make him cripple for life,
he Is on fair road to recovery. In going to
tho ground his left foot was caught beneath the
train from which he had been thrown and the
sole of the shoe was almost severed from the
upper. In doing this damage the car wheels SO
badly injured his foot that amputation was
after ward found necessary.
THE VICTIMS FOOT AMPuTArED.
No one on the train except those who COM
mitted the deed knew of what had happened,
and the two robbers went on up the road re-
joicing while Mr.. Heller lay beside the track
In terrible agony. He had been thrown from
the car only few feet north Of the Fl street
crossing and his agonizing groans attracted
him from the street to Sullivan's saloon, where
he was cared for until the arrival of Policemen
Judge and Lee. The police patrol wagon from
the ninth precinct soon reached the saloon and
the sufferer was taken to Providence Hospital,
where Drs Mallan and Cannon amputated the
injured member. Mr.. Heller is more than fifty
years old and his recovery will be rem
dered slow for that reason. The police and
detectives went to work on the case,
but this morning no one had been arrested.
Inc ponce nave an idea that the men who COM
mitted the crime boarded the train after it
pulled out Of the depot, but some think that it
was done by tramps who took chances to rob
the first man who happened to cross the plat
form The railroad men are of the opinion
that the men were lying in wait for the con-
ductor, but as Mr.. Heller was well dressed they
attacked him, knowing they would certainly
get some money. Conductor Auldridge who
had charge of the train, was telegraphed to at
Boyd's station, but that was the first he had
heard of the affair. The police think tina. after
the robbery was committed the men jumped
from the train before it reached the city limits
or they got of at the first stopping place.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE ROBBERS.
Yesterday morning shortly after daybreak
roughly dressed man came down the track
from the direction Of Boundary, and when he
reached point near where Mr.. Heizer was
thrown down he appeared to be making a thor
Ough search Of the ground, as though he were
looking for the watch. His face and hands, as
well as his clothing, were covered with nrd
and he stopped at the hydrant nearby to waas,
After doing SO he inquired of the watchman at
the crossing what time the first train for Ha-
gerstown would come along and then disap-
peared, going toward the outskirts of the city.
The officers have full description Of this in
dividual and they think that he might be able
to give them some information should they
succeed in capturing him. He was q white man,
apparently no more than twenty years old and
his appearance indicated that he was a tramp.
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