The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-19
John Wilcox Of Auburn Knocked Sense
less While HltchinS His Horse.
THEN ROBBED OF his MONEY,
Which Amounted TO S551-Ths Crime
Was Committed I'm the Dusk of the
Early Morning and the Cuiprit Mad.
His Escspe-Police Searching.

dastardly and cowardly assault on a
middle aged man occurred early this
morning just over the city line in the town
of Cranston. John " ilcox, who lives Oh
what Is known as the Pontiac road WIS
set upon by some person unknown; ren
dered unconscious by a terrific blow on the
back OF the he d with q stone and was
robbed of over $500 In money.
4o''lock this morning John WilcoA
went To his barn In the rear Of mis- house
cn the Pontiac road, md started TO hitch
up his Nurse. Wilcox 10 marke
garden,r and Is In the habi
Of CO ning TO this city daily with loaa
of farm pro luce, which he disposes OF I,
the retail dealers. His farm is at Ap
ponaug. and every afternoon b.
drives down and secures load of vege-
Ia les and returning at night pu up al
his house from which he leaves for the
market early Ia the morning.
Had More Than $500.
Yesterday Mr.. Wilcox made several col.
lections OF money due him and hal th1
money, amounting to more than $500.
wi b him when he started to hitch u
this morning. The money was to pa,
some bills in this city and he had it se-
cured IN his inside vest pocket In hug
wallet.
As he was fastening the traces to th
wagon some one stole up behind MIN aud
before he could make any resistance
struck him To the gro uni, " ith a stou
wrapped in burlap Mr.. Wilcox attempte,
to ri~e aud was struck again al,
this time the to rible bio ~ on mis- head
caused him O lose consciousness. II
did no. ne.' his assailtn AS the deed W =
committed in the darkness.
The man then riflel Wllc ks pocket.
and secured the wallet heavy with bills
from he vest pocket. Then he made hi
escape.
Found by His wife.
AS Wilcox failed TO return to the house
Li- wife became alarmed and went to tile
barn To investigate. SIC found Wilcox
lying unconscious on TIE floor OF q e
earn with his clothing disarranRed, and
~he at once called for assistance.
One OF tue neighbors heard her cry and
FASTENED to the barn, AID as soon as be
ascertained the nature of the affair b
summoned Deputy Snerif Frank Vail of
the S ate prison who lives near by.
Mr.. Wall Immediately answered th,
summons aud investigated. He found
that Wilcox had been hi on the back OF
the neck with slungshot made of !,
stone weig ing about two pounds.
done up in al old piece
of burlap, and also found
the murderous-lookng weapon near by
just outside the door OF the barn. Til,
empty wallet lay on he around ne r tn e
slungshot, where 1t had been dropped
after the assailant hid rified 1t of its
contents.
Wilcox was in pitiful coVdition, and
his neck was swollen terribly. He re-
msined in an unconscious state
despiie the heroic fl rus of hi
friends to revive hin, for almost tw,
hours. and wien he finally came to hi
senses, relapsed ito uuconsciousne- S
again for short period.
Did Not See His AsSaiisnt.
Finally he was revived ana when askeG
about the affair could tell nothing He
had seen no one about the premises, and
heard 10 noises before he was struck.
fact he, for some time, thought
that he had been kicked BY his horse
He was soon informed tnat he had been
robbed and his anger knew no bounds.
Captain Cory OF STA ioa was notifie
ard detrii OF birteen men from thai
station co-operated with the Cranston po-
lice in securing the woods the eabouts
for the bber but without success.
In rifling Wilcox's pockets the robber
overlooked bag containing large sum
in silver and second wallet with num-
ber OF bills. However, the haul he did
make was sufficient tosatisfy any ordinary
man. consisting as It did OF $40 in 81
bills, So in SIS and 500 In $20s with S5l
in bills OF small denon,n ,tions
After the tuiprit
The Cranston pol ce are busily tracing
a clue watch may eal the arrest OF the
perpetrator. The deed wa committed
by some one ho was we'll acquante I
with the habits Of Wilcox ana k ew
that he had the large sum Of money ia
his possession today.
Wilcox. who is forty-two years of age.
Is badly shaken up by the beating he
received. aud this morning was extremely
i'll. There are hopes however OF his
recovery.