The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-09
LIVE NEWS OF
TWO PITTST0NS
THE SCRANTON TRGBUNE's Pittston de-
partment is in charge of j. NJ. Fahy, to
whom news items and complaints may be
referred.l
saUTALLY ASSAULTED.
W. ]. Hepburn, of the Junction ofRce Of
AT W . y tha Utctin

W. J. Hepburn, Of the Junction oince Of
the L V. r Il the Victim.
A dastardly attempt to muCder W.
J. Hepburn, of the Lehigh Valley telc.
graph office, was made late Wednesday,
night. Mr.. Hepburn came to this place
during the strike and obtained work III
the company's offices at the Lshigh and
Wilkes. Barre junction. He secured
board with the family OF Frank I3lgier
on the West Side, near the west end OF
the Delaware, Lackawauua and West
eru Railroad bridge. The bridge bsing
on a direct line from the office, Mr.
Hepburn made it a practice to take
a short cut across tho bridge, while
going and returning from work. in de-
ference to goinE sround by way OF the
foot bridges. On the night in question
he was returning from his boarding
house TO the Office, and had gottep
about three-iourths way across when
he was accosted By three suspicious
looking men, who were going in an
opposite direction. As 1t is customary
for people to cross tue bridge. Mr..
Hepburn paid no attention TO the fell
lows until one Of them upon reaching
him suddenly let drive his naNd, in
wbstit Is supposed was S"blscS jack,
and oauxht Hepburn on the hesd.
The blow was so sudden and unex-
p0cted that Mr.. Hepburn scarcely reat-
lied what happened { o bim until he
found himself lying PROSTATE across
the ties. with the blood streaming from
a cash in the forehead. The would DO
murderers next pouuced upon him an d
after kicking and beating him unmer-
cifully attempted to end him by
throwing the unfortunate man into the
rushing 'waters below.
The fact of the ties being several
inches apart made it very difficult for
the Williams, as they were compslled to
use much caution while pursuing tEeir
wOrn.
Suffering terribly as he was, and re-
alizing his'life depended solely on his
own e1srIon, Hepburn fought as best
he could with what strength remained.
He finally succeeded in tearing himself
away and made his escape to the East
side. The Williams pursued him closely
until they reached the end, when they
gave up the chase.
The wounded man went to the Lack.
swanna and Bloomsburg junction
where he had his injuries dressed, after
which he was removed to his boarding
louse where ne lies in a precsrious
condition.
A number of men from the Junction
hurried to the bridge, but failed to dis
cover any clue of the villains who COM
nitted the assault; and noswithstand-
ng the neighborhood has been thor
Du2hly searched, they ara still at large.
Hepburn is at loss to known who
ais assailaints are as it was too dark TO
obtain clear view Of their faces. The
impression is they are sympSthizsrs OF
the strikers who had determined an
avenge for Hepburn going to work dur.
ing the late udpleasantness bp,tweeu
the railroad company and It's employees
The case has been placed In the hands
OF the companys' detective and shoulJ
their guilt be established the case will
go hard with them as the officials oil
the company are determined to protect
their employees at all hazards.