The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-20
Almost BRUTAL MURDER
Committed on a Lonely Road by
Two Strange Men.
HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED.
The Men Beguilcd Him from Home
Under Pretense OF Buying Real Estate
and heat Him Into Unconsciousn ass

and Beat Him Into Unconsciousn sss-
He was Found at Prof wilson's Door.
Anthony Z. Haswell, an old aud re-
spected resident of East Providence was
beguiled away from his home last even
ing and was murderously assaulted. Has
well was 50 years of age, a painter by oc-
cupation aud had lived at % Mary ave-
nue., East Providence. for a long time. He
had amassed n considerable amount of
money during his years of labor and at
the present time had retired from active
work.
During the land boom at Kettle Point
number OF years ago, Mr. baswell in
vested a considerable sum in real estate
in that locality aud was the possessor OF a
number Of fine building sites at the Point.
He and his wife lived alone and up to his
untimely death it was thought he was
without an enemy.
At about o'clock yesterday afternoon
nicely dressed young man, apparently
about 25 years Of age, called mt the house.
owner. Mrs. Haswell was at home and
told the stranger that her husband was
out.
The young man expressed his disap-
pointment at not meeting Mr.. Haswell,
and stated that he was commissioned by
another man to negotiate with Haswell
for the purchase OF some OF the land
owned by him at Kettle Point.
He appeared so sincere In his disap-
poiniment that Mrs. Haswell told him to
gone the woman thought the matter over
and became more and moro impressed
with an instructive dislike Of the stranger.
She spoke to her husband about the
call, but he made light of her fears, and
remained at home to receive the expected
guests.
Soon after o'clock the stranger. ac-
cpmpanied by a man about 45 years OF
age, shabbily dressed and bearing an un-
preposessing. physiognomy, came and they
were closeted with the owner OF the land
for some little time.
rhe smartly dressed young man, after a
long and tiresome haranRie on real estate
in general, suggested that Hasweli ac-
cempany them to a house on Morris ave.
noe street in the northern section OF
the city, where he claimed they had the
mo0ey for the purchase, and where the
trsesfer could be made.
Au attempt was made to shroud the
whole affair In mystery, but the wife of
the owner of the land heard the plans of
the strangers.
Be&niled from Home.
Haswell agreed to the plans and taking
the two men. They then came
to this city, and boarding a
Brook street car rode to the end of the
route at the Hope Reservoir on Olney
street From there the party struck off
down Olney street. to Morris avenue, a
thoroughfare but slightly travelled run
ming parallel with East avenue to North
street
This road is n dismal one at the best
and In the night is very eer:e. The sides
lina6 with bnOa txbich
overhead forming an intermnable arch
aud causing the roadway to be shrowded
In the darkest gloom
An old house standing about $50 feet
back from the road is the only habitation
on the avenue, aud IL was to this that
Haswell supposed he was being conduc-
ted
When in one Of the darkest portions of
the road Haswell, who up to this time had
no suspicion of anything crooked, was
seized with premonition of something
wrong. and hesitated about going with
the two men. He stopped and attempted
to find out their object in bringing him to
such an out-of-the-way SPOT.
AT this he was Immediately set upon
by the men who knocked him down. He
was rendered unconscious and when he
returned to his senses must have been
lying on the ground for about an hour.
,-- His agony was terrible, bat hc managed
after several futile efforts, to gain his feet,
the house occupied by Prof. Wilson Of
Brown University, 30s Oluey street, where
he sank senseless on the steps.
He managed after time to ring the
oeil OF the house and was found on the
steps by the professor, when he answered
the bell. In few brief sentences he ex-
planned to the professor that he had been
badly hurt, ana asked him to assist him
to the reservoir where he could take car
aud eventually get to his home in East
Professor Wilson immediately started
with him, but had only proceeded short
distance when Haswell was taken with
deathly illness and became unconscious.
AT this time the Professor and his COM
panion were near the Homeopathic Hos
pital on Olney street, and he Immediately
carried Haswell into the hospital
DIR. Peck the visiting physician was
summoned and found that Haswel was
suffering from confusion on the face aud
also from serious internal injuries.
Tho man reRained consciousness shortly
after his entrance to the hospital aud
was able to relate to tb urse the above
particulars.
An examination of his clothing disclosed
tue TACT that his gold watch and glasses,
valued at $3.50 were missing. Two pock-
etbooks containing a large sum of money
were not disturbed In the least.
The Police Notified.
The police of Station were immcdi-
ately notified and at once visited Haswell
In the hospital. He steadfastly refused,
however, to say anything to the police re-
garding the assault. Lieut.. Dairy with an
officer visited the avenue at daybreak
this morning, but failed to fud any
traces Of struggle.
At O'clock Haswell began TO sink, and
i've minutes later, despite the efforts of
the physicians. died. To the last he suf-
fered the most excruciatipg agony. His
wife waited until late bour for her hus-
band, and on his failing TO return, noti-
fed the police In the Third precinct.
An autopsy will be held this afternoon
at o'clock. The police are busy lnves-
tigating the affair. but AS yet have Sc
CURED no trace Of che assailantA