Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-01-14
HURLED FROM A TRAIN.
AN AUGUSTA COUNTY CITIZEN ROBBED AND
ALMOST MURDERED IN WASHINGTON.
washington Post, Jan. IL. 1917


People on First street, northeast between
G and II streets last night heard some one
calling for help JUS as the Z O'Clock suburban
train on the Metropolitan Branch of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, which passes up First
street, passed on its way from the city. The
| sidings on each side Of the main tracks were
filled with cars and lying beside the tracks.
covered with the dirt he had rolled over and
over in. the men found an elderly gentleman
with one foot crushed off. He told the most
horrible story OF robbery and violence that has
come to light for years.
Tho Injured man was John H Heizer of 1905
Ninth street. clerk in the Census Office. He
| is about fifty three years old. He said that he
| took the o'clock train for Takoma Park. six
| or seven miles out on the Baltimore and Ohio
road, 1t was dark when the train left the de-
| pot, though the electric lights in the railroad
| yard lighted the streets at intervals
| Just after the train left the depot. while 1t
was running along First, between G and h,
Mr.. Heizer left the smoking car in front to 60
to the second car. As he reached the platform
seized his hat, and pulled 1t down over his
| eyes SO that he could not see, while the other
| pinned his arms to his sides While the train
| sway ed along over the steel rails. rattle and
chatter of the wheels, echoed by the long lines
| of freight cars on each side making such a din
| that scarcely anything else could be heard, the
robbers tore open Mr.. HeiZer's coat and took O
red morocco pocket book from his pocket
One OF them grabbed MS watch chain H. put the
| victims pocket and the chain in the rascafs
hand.
Then. so quickly that Mr. HeiZer could make
no effort at resistance the two men hurled him
from the train. He was thrown against the
| freight cars on the sidings, and when he fell to
the cinder path, between the tracks, his right
foot was caught under the wheels of the train
he had been thrown from, and was crushed off
at the heel MI. aelzer says II was al done SO
peued till he found himself lying on the ground
with his foot crushed of, halffa1nting from loss
| of blood, and the train he had been hurled
| from disappearing in the distance with in
! creasing speed as the city limits were passed
and bearing his two brutal assailants. He was
nd orrp init O 60 m q
ner of II street.
The police patrol wagon of the Ninth pre-
| cinct was called, and Mr.. Heizer taken to the
Providence Hospital. where his leg was cut off
| just above the ankle, by Drs. Malon and Can
| nor.
coyery for man of Mr.. HeiZer's age ffy-three
| years, much more slow and doubtful than 1T
m s De i1 hat e nsisnt was nronabiv ont Of
| danger He says he didn't really sse either OF
! the two men who robbed him. and can't even
| tell whether they were white or colOred.
| Police Lieutenant Teeple. of the Ninth pre-
cinct visited the railroad station and Ques
Detective Mahon. but reither ofthem found
4 the slightest clew TO the rascals- The theory
! OF the police is that the daring robbers were
two Inen who had been hanging about the
freight yards and who jumped on the train
| while 1t was moving slowly. just after 1t left
| the station. with the intention OF robbing and
perhaps mul dering the first well dressed man
wtNecame ONT on the platform. Some of the
ra kuad menlar Of the opinion that the ras-
cal Inieub naTe meant 10 ROD the conductor IS
h&Iame on to %he platform on bis way through
| thyJraia, as sush things have been done.
9&egrams yece sent to the conductor OF the
tran as soon sFpossbl but he could throw
| no Whit upon NShe matter. The men might
easiA nave jurnSed off the train few mo-
menss alter Throwing their victim from IL, as
the tlains 40 mol run fast TIL after passing the
| city limits.
| Mr. Heizer recovered very slowly from the
effects OF The ether U sed for the operation. and
| is still at me nospftal. He does not remember
just hoy mucn money there was in his wallet
| but theie was someWh ere between $40 and $50
! [Ths i9tim Oh tnls Earring assault Is a native
and well known resident of Augusta county,
His wits Is q dausntef or the late Harvey Bear,
of Church, flle. Wnho eDtaged in the insurance
| business in Wasn1nGsons mis- services as an ex-
pert were sdjicited for census work by the CHIEF
clerk of II 3 bureau and lae has been nm
ployed since last septsmbeis His cid u
the principal elerk y zone OF the la,
stores in Wash}ngtons]