The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-08
LEFTFOR DEAD BY TRAMPS.
EDWARD PHILLTPS CHISED, BEAT.
EN. avn ROBBED.
He souaht 60 Fide BehInd H.ystsek. Bus
wss Diseevered ~ che Gsss er Parse
ers-He Lay IseoHsclous All Might

ne sousht 60 Hide RehInd = H.ystsek. Rus
We. Discovered ~ the Gsss er Fsrss-
er--He LAY IseosscIou- All Ntsht
ELIzABETH. Oct. while walking from the
railroad station To his home in Linden last
evening Edward Phillips WAS set upon by
gang Of tramps and almost murdered. He Is
overseer of W. II. fuckers large farm and had
been in this city making purchases. When
about a quarter Of mile from his home. at
deserted place, Phillips was accoSted by several
tramps. They demanded his bundles ans
his money. He was unarmed and he started
TO run. The tramps pursued him. Phil
lips leaped over fence and ran across
the fields toward cabin occupied by = dolores
family named CLARK. when within two hundred
yards Of the cabin his pursuers were close upoa
him and he tried to hide behind hsystack.
The tramrrs quickly discovered and attack I'd
him. He tried to call for help. but one of tbs
gang grabbed him by the throat A fierce fight
followed, in which PHILLIPS was beaten with
clubs and his clothes torn to shrcna.
Finally. one OF the gang struck him
blow on the head which stunned
him. The gang took his money and parcels.
covered his body will, hay. and. leaving him foe
dead. fed to the Pennsylvania Railroad. jumped
on passing coal train, and made their escape.
Phillips lay insensible all night, his cuts and
bruises exposed to the chilling night air. This
morning about @ O'Clock he regainetl conscious
ness He was sore and bleeding from the terri
bic beating he had received. and was scarcely
able TO raise himself About 4 o'clock lie
crawled toward Clark's cabin and was almost
there when he sank exhausted. He lay he
hind n fence In the lot for nearly an
hour before hc succee led in attracting the
attention OF Clark. who finally came out II the
cabin To go to the well for water. Phillips WAS
carried into the cabin and word was sent to his
employer.
Later IN the day he was brought to the general
hospital here. His wounds are very severe but
his condition tonight warrants hope OF his re-
Covcry.
Tn, tramps who assaulted him were members
of a gang that had established = camp in n small
patch OF wO,iS near Linden. The gang was par
ticularly demon>trativc, and had the inhabitants
OF Linden village in condition ofterror Women
were stoppcd in the streets in the early evening
and frightened by members of the gang, and
even men were held Up in the outskirts. The
farmers III the vicinity OF the camp suffered
particularly from raids upon hen rooSts and
provision cellars. Few OF the farmers had the
temcrty to- refuse the demands Of the tramps
for fool fearing that their barns would be
burned as a penalty. Phillips is t3o weak TO
talk much. hut II is understood that he
had some trouble few days ago with
q gang of tramps in camp near
fuckers farm and that they then swore ven
geance against him. The only constable in
Linden township is an old man unable to cope
even with single tramp. Some time ago a
gang took possession Of two empty freight cars
standing on a siding near the village OF Linden
neigh borhood. They were driven out only when
a vigilance committee Of citizens went TO the
cars one night armed with shotguns and re-
volyers.