The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-29
AMUCK IN A BELT CAR.
A CRAZY CUBAN ATTACKS THE
PASSENGERS WITH A RAZOR.


Scheme to Rob Him OF His Cold
Colored Pass enger Cut and the Others
Flee-Rodrir.qe Shut In the Car Cuts
ms Throat.
Francisco Rodririqe, q Cuban, while
half crazed with whisky, ran amuck with
q razor in car No. 4 of the Belt Line on
West Broad street last night shortly after
So'clock, and nearly committed both muir
der and suicide. He cut Sandy Hayes
(colored) twice, and. after running the pas
sengers out of the car. gashed himself in the
throat.
Rodririqe boarded the car at Bay and
Bull streets when 1t was going east to make
the southern circuit of the city. Conductor
Williams noticed that the man had wild,
nervous look, but as he behaved himself
the conductor said nothing. Hayes
and West Broad streets, and
took q seat directly opposite the Cuban.
The mans strange expression attracted
Hayes and he watched him closely. Rod
ririqe countered back by looking steadily at
the negro.
THE ATTACK IN THE DARK.
When the car reached West Broad and
Bryan streets the trolley slipped and the
lights went out Almost Immediately
Rodririqe gave yell and jumping from
his seat he drew a razor and began slashinR
Hayes. The negro made up his mind that a
crazy man was after him and he leaped
through the front window over the motor
man into the street. ran few steps and
fell unconscious.
The other passengers in the car didn't
realize what was taking place until the
lights were turned on a moment or two later
-. l..
aisle waving razor over his head. There
were five passengers, one OF whom was a
lady, and they made rush for the rear
door.
CUT AT EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.
The Cuban dashed after them yelling and
slashing his razor at their backs. None of
the men cared to make fight against the
mailman and In less that a
minute the car was cleared of everybody
but Rodririoe, Conductor Williams and
Motorman Howell The latter had stopped
the car as soon as the excitement started.
The conductor closed one door AMI the
motorman closed the other and Rodririqs,
finding himself alone drew the razor across
his own throat and toppled over on the seat
with blood squirting from the wound.
The affair had by this time created great
excitement and people crowded from
every direction. Hayes was bleeding
profusely and every one thought he was
dying. J. j. Flanagan and William Lee
were the first to reach the car, and with the
conductor aud moeorman they opened the
doors to find out if Rodrlriqe was dead.
A FIGHT AGAINST ARREST.
They found that he wasn't, in short order.
The Cuban jumped up and began cutting at
the four men with as much vIciousness as
he had attacked the passengers. They
overpowered him, however, and secured
the razor, but NOS until be had succeeded in
cutting Lee in the hand. Constable Jerry
Lee, brother Of William Lee. was the first
officer to reach the scene, and he took charge
Of the prisoner at once.
The crowd had now increased to hun
dreds, many Of whom were negroes, and
they were Infatuated at the idea of one of
their race being murdered, as they thought,
without the slightest provocation. AS
soon as they saw Constable Lee crossing
the street with the Cuban q mob Of them
rushed for him with the intention Of met
ing out summary vengeance on the prisoner
and Constable Lee was compelled to use his
billy to Eight them back.
WANTED TO LYNCH HIM.
This wouldn't have had much Of an effect
though il the officer hadn't threatened to
shoot any one who tried to take the prisoner.
Policemen Jsrnigan and Coffee got Arnold
while Constable Lee was holding back the
crowd, and they took the prisoner and
carried him to the alarm box at Bay and
West Broad streets aud sent In a call for the
patrol wagon and ambulance
While they were waiting for the wagon
Rodririqe, who cannot speak a word OF En-
glish, kept up continual ohattering in
Spanish and acted like crazy man. This
he continued until he got TO the barracks
sometimes almost crying and again laugh
ing.
THOUGHT THE NEGRO WANTED TO ROB HIM,
Mr.. Ruiz Spaniard, who happened TO
be passing the barracks, came in and acted
the part OF an interpreter. He got the
prisoner TO tell all about the cutting and
why he tried TO murder people,
Rodririqe said he was taking a ride
around the Belt and when Hayes got ON the
car he kept watching him 30 closely that
he decided the negro wanted to rob him.
When the lights weat out he thought he
saw Hayes jump up and pull out a big
pistol, and then be drew his razor and be-
gan cutting at the negro 30 prevent the
robbery he expected was contemplated.
When he saw everybody jump up in the car
Rodririqe decided all were going to take a
hand In the robbery and he determined "a
save himself by cutting at everybody in
reach. He didn't remember having cut
himself and said he supposed the negro had
done that.
A BAG OF MONEY.
In searching the prisoner the police dis
covered bag In his inside pocket. which
Rodririqe hastily snatched and insisted on
turning over to Sergt Lngg himself. he
opened the bag and counted out its contents
which was SS5 in gold, three 800, one
$40 and three S. In another
pocket 80 so in paper and silver was found
making altogether $94 so. which the Cuban
had on his person. This was what ht
thought everybody wanted to take from
him, and what caused him to nearly com.
init murder.
Rodririqe insisted on talking Spanish t.
Sergt. Liugg, and raised big racket wher
he was being carried to his cell, Yelling
MAR! Mari Espaniola"
HAYES WOUNDS NOT FATAL.
Hayes was taken in the ambulance TO th
Office of DR.. Snelson (colore6, wh,
dressed his wounds The physician
said that while his wounds ar
serious be does not fear fatal results On
was In the left side of the throat over al
inch In depth and escaped the iugular veil
only by fraction Of an inch. The othe
wound is In the center Of the breast wher
1t joins the throat and is two inches deeu
Hayes lost q great quantity OF blood an,
was quite weak in consequence. Both O
his shirts were thoroughly saturated anC
had to be cut away from his body.
Hayes was able TO talk. He said when b.
felt Rodririqe strike him he didn't know a
first that he was cut but feeling salts 40,