The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-19
WAS BEATEN BY THIEVES.
Detective Swan the Victim Of a
Brutal Assault Today.
He HAD ARRESTED A CROOK.
Two Pals Attacked Him From behind
Fought Bravely but Several Times
beaten Ia His Knees-Almost Insensi-
bic, He Released His Hold.


every detail was that committed on De-
tective James o. Swan this morning.
While conveying a prisoner to the City
ball he was attacked b. two desperate o
characters, whom he fought with the
desperation OF lion. only giving up
when be was rendered helpless and was
thrown on the street bleeding and almost
insensible from the terrific pummeling
he had received.
The affair occurre on Exchange place.
in the busiest part Of the city, aud out OF
tie large crowd OF witnesses there was
not one who had courage enough TO go
10 the oiiic RS assistance nor TO stop the
murderousiy inclined scoundrels In their
Il ight after the officer had been beaten
into state Of helplessness.
At Work with n Chisel.
1t was Just before 10 o'clock this morn
ing and while the circus procession wa 5
passing around Turks Head that crook
sneaked into the Office of John G. Wood
in the Wilcox building, No AZ Wey-
bosset street, and began t. pry open a
desk.
The clerks were absent at the moment,
but Samuel Darling. who wished To use
the telephone in Mr.. Woods Office, saw
the fellow just as ne burst the desk open
with n chlsel. Mr.. Darling started to
grab the intruder. but he ran out into
the street.
Here Mr.. Darling found Detective
Swan and pointed out TO him the would
be robber. who was promptly taken
his prisoner back to Mr.. Woods
Office, where he searched him
and found revolver which had been
taken from the desk aud some other
articles which he restored to the owner.
lie also found au additional revolver
belonging to the prisoner and confiscated
the weapon.
He then star ted out, first taking the
precaution TO put the twisters on his
man.
Then the couple started for the City
hall.
AS they issued from the door on to
Custom House street the detective
no iced twJ men standing near by who
seemed surprised at seeing the prisoner
tween them and his prisoner.
AS the detective aud his man walked
down WeyOosseo-~sS 'et Swan noticed
these two men lowering around aud took
extra precautions against any attempted
re. cue.
Finally the men disappear d and the
pair passed rapidly down Exchange
place headed for the City all
Struck From Behind.
When at the entrance of the lane at
the store of Barden g. Keep OH Exchan .e
place crowd of circns goers were EN-
countered and the officers and prisoner
stepped into the lane to allow them to
20 by.
Suddei ly, without any warning the two
men noticed before rushed up behind thu
officer aud felled him to the grouad with
terrible blow on the head.
The detective fell on his knees but
pluckily retained his grasp on the pris-
oner who by this time was struggling
fiercely o effect his release.
The officer managed to rise to his feet
and for moment fought the three
s, ouudrels with his free hand, but a sec
ond crushing blow on the head knocked
him TO his knees again.
Kicked with Brutal Ferocity.
Then the three men commenced TO beat
the fallen detective on the face and head,
using both hands and feet.
Detective SWANS face soon presented a
ptiable sight and his resistance rapidly
became weaker and weaker.
Rousing himself again he made another
attempt to get on his feet, but was
knock q down again by blow from a
revolver butt.
Taking advantage OF his momentary
weakness and insensibility the ruffians
dashed through the panic-stricken crowd
with drawn revolvers and ran across Ex-
change place to the depot, where they
were lost to view.
1he detective was picked up and con-
veyed into Is lrden 81 Keeps store, where
he was revived. Blood streamed from
countless cuts and gashes on his face.
head and neck, and saturated his cloth
ing.
He walked to City Hall.
The detective walked to the city hall.
where he was attended by DR.. Sheffield
Smith. and later went TO his home. His
wounds revealed the brutality and feroc.
ity OF his assailants.
A full dozen cuts on the scalp streamed
blood while his eyes. nose aud mouth
were badly swollel aud discolored.
A general alarm and description OF the
three men was sent out to the di fferent
pol ce precincts. and IL they remain in
the city they will be in the hands OF the
police before many hours.
n. +. Moore, clerk for Barden g. Keen,
saw the affair. an heard the detectives
cry for help.
Mr.. Moore rushed out OF the store and
Jaw the two men standing over Swan
beating him on the head. while the pris-
oner was struggling TO release his hand
from the twisters.
Held Back by n Pistol.
He started to the officers assistance,
but was forced 10 retire when one of the
men sprang In front OF him and showing
n revolver into his fac, ordered him to
desist He at once rushed back into the
store and grabbing up an axe, start
ed oft oncs more, but was Just
In time to see the men as they dashed
through the crowd, that scattered like n
flock Of frightened sheep, and disap-
peared in the station. He at once gave
his attention to the officer. and assisted
him into the store, where he worked
over him until consciousness returned
He noticed one OF the men and described
him as be nv about thirty-fve years of
age, dark complexion, dark hair, and
heavy mustache. Weighing about 167
pounds. This is the man who was unde
arrest aud this description is corroborated q
by the people who saw him with the
detective.
They Saw the Assault
William B. wesicott and Albert Prior,
In the store occupied by Oliver johnson n
& CO., siw the men rush up behind
the detective and strike him, but before
hey uld yet through the crowd tie