The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-12
ASSAULTED, ROBBED
And Left Unconscious in a Ladies'
Waiting Room.
AN EXPRESS AGENT MIsTREATED
at woodsflsld. o., aud over Six Hun.
.dred Dollars raken-No Cine to the
Robbers. though ono Man was Ar
rested on susplcion-The Man Bad
ly Hurt.

John Heck, IT,, the Adams Express
agent at Woodsfeld, was assaulted by
robbers late Monday night and robbed
Of an express package Of currency con-
tanning 1902 10, and the office Of the Bel
laire, Zanesville & Cincinnati Railroad
Company at that point was ritied OF
everything valuable 10 be found in it
Young Heck was bucked. gagged and
hit across the back of the head with q
blunt weapon and left upon the floor OF
the ladies' waiting room in the railroad
station, indicating that quite struggle
hid taken place. Nothing was known
Of this until yesterday morning, when
Robert Heck, the railroad agent and q
brother OF the express agent, went to
the depot for the first train that leaves
there. He found his brother apparent.
ly lifeless upon the floor. He was even
cold, and it was apparent at n glance
that he had been foully dealt with. A
physician was quickly summoned and
the alarm given
The express agent was removed to his
home and given all the attention pos
sible, but did not recover consciousness
yesterday. This left the authorities
without definite information as 10 the
robbery and murderous attack upon
the agent, but they went to work i'm
mediately to find a clue, and to
stir up greater activity in the discovery
OF the Villains they offered reward OF
5000 for information leading to the ar
rest and conviction Of the robbers-pos-
sible murderers. They had, however,
covered up their tracks well. A FIVE
dollar bill was found on bridge on the
road leading toward Louisville, and this
was accepted as possible clue that
they had taken that direction, and was
worked for all there was in it. All this
time those in attendance upon the agent
did all in their power to revive him,
and it was hoped he might say some
thing that would lead 20 the quick APP
prehension Of the outlaws, but the
hours passed slowly and there was little
sign OF improvement in young Heck's
condition.
The express package of money was a
collection made by the Bank OF the Ohio
Valley in Wheeling on the woodsteld
bank and the currency was taken from
the bank on Monday by young Heck,
who intended to send it on the after
noon train, but when he got back to the
station the train was gone. Why he
did not return it to the bank is not
known, unless it was his intention to
send it on the early train yesterday
morning before the bank would be
open. But whatever the reason his
murderous assailants must have known
he had the package in his possession.
and this seems to have been the induce
ment forthe assault. Or, it may have
been tramps bent on plumber broke
into the station, and finding young
Heck there with valuable package in
charge, got more than they expected.
Then too, it is questioned why he did
not go home with the package-a much
safer place. But the last known OF him
prior to his discovery was when the
watchman left the, station about III
o'clock Monday night. Young Heck
was then writing letter in tho office.
The next known OF him he was uncon.
pcious and the package OF money and
all other money about the place aud
some railroad tickets were gone.
A tramp was arrested and locked up
II NoOusueiu yeeteTuhy aiteihoou III
suspicion, but nothing was found upon
him to implicate him, nor is there any
evidence against him so far. The i'm.
preston is general that at least one OF
the robbers had gray hair or a gray
besrd. because punches Of gray hair
were found in the waiting room where
the struggle had taken place. \
Late yesterday evening the injured
agent woke from the sleep that had COW
cred most Of the afternoon, and it was
expected he would be able to give some
information, but he was still in semi
conscious state, and could not speak,
only shaking'his head when questioned.
His face and neck are badly swollen,
and he has bruises on his body, indi-
eating that he had hard fight before
he was overpowered. The people along
the limo OF the Bellaire, GAINESVILLE &
Cincinnati from Woodsfield to Bellaire
are in a fever heat OF excitement over
the affair, and strangers along that line
will be closely watched, but the Woods
field authorities now think the thieves
wen. toward Barnesville.