The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-20
FL0GGED THE DRUMMER
Il. N. ROGERS, OF CHICAGO, UNMER-
CIFULLY BEATEN AT COEBURN.
He 10 alleged to Have Attempted an As
sault Upon tho Eieven-Year-Oid
Daughter of Depot Agent Utter.

COEBURN. VA, July l9-Special.-A
week ago a mob Of twelve or fifteen men
dragged a. NJ. Rogers from the Alder
son Hotel here, carried him half a mile
and beat him numerically. They then
compelled him to leave town on foot, de-
nying medical assistance. Rogers is a
drummer, representing c. VI. Henderson
q Co., Chicago shoe firm. He was ac-
cused OF insulting the eleven-year-old
daughter Of Depot Agent Utter. The peo-
pie OF Wise county are indignant over the
inhuman action OF the mob, and Rogers
Is said 10 be entirely innocent OF any
guilty action or intention. Rogers is con-
fined TO his bed I'm a house near Norton.
His physicians fear that one stroke on
the back Of his neck will prove fatal
Several Of the mob have been arrested
and placed under heavy bond. and more
arrests VIII follow. Public sympathy is
with Rogers. and his prosecutors will be
punished.
Another telegram from Coeburn says:
Reports Of the affair are very much
exaggerated. No bones were broken. and
no blood drawn even. The man was able
10 be out next day, but, knowing the ex-
tent Of his crime. and, fearing he might
get another whipping. he played 'possum
10 get the sympathies Of the people. A
brother drummer went 10 see him next
day, and. I'm a conversation Rogers be-
came angry, forgetting himself, jumped
out OF bed and began dressing. When he
thought Of what he was doing he be-
came suddenly sick and crawled back in
bed. when his brother drummer left him
In disgust.
Another Account of tho Affair.
LOCUST LANE. July 19.-Special.-A
report has Just reached here Of a terrible
beating that n boot and shoe drummer
received at Coeburn, Va, several miles
from here. for attempting to assault the
little eight-year-old daughter Of the depot
agent on the Norfolk and Western rail-
road at that place. The whipping was done
by the enraged father OF the girl assisted
by a mob of twenty-five men. who kept
the officers from interfering. The drum
mer's" back was literally beaten into a
Jelly, and two OF his ribs broken and his
shoulder was dislOcated by the licking he
received The mans life is nearly de-
SPARED or The drummer protested his
innocence every time he could get a
chance 10 speak. and claims that the lit
tie girl was I'm the sample room" OF the
Anderson House, where he had his goods
and asked 20 try on n pair OF shoppers.
and he took her upon his lap 10 put
them on. She went home and told her
parents that he made improper proposals
TO her. Later advices. however says that
the girl now cOrrObOrates the drummer's
story, and that some Of the men engaged
In the beating are becoming uneasy.
The Comonwealths attorney Of Wise
county says he intends TO probe the mat
ter 20 the bottom, and II IS now thought
that II the drummer dies the depot
agent will be rigidly prosecuted.
The Democrats meet at Gate City the
first day OF the August court 10 elect dele
gates 10 the convention at Richmond on
the nth Of August. It is thought there
will be solid delegation for Tyler.