The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-03

Samuel Halper, a Jewish pack ped
dler, about 20 years DID, whose home Is
at LA South Fell street, Wilkes-B Barre,
was decoyed by some unknown man
into vacant house in Duryea at 8
o'clock yesterday morning and was
robbed Of all the money he had. and
was almost murdered besides.
The scene Of the crime Is an old two
story frame house, unoccupied. which
is located along the Lehigh Valleys 3
Avoca branch, just above the bridge
crossing the Bloomsbury division. Inc
house Is owned by James Kennedy, Of
Duryea, and there Is another house in
the same lot not more than nltv feet
away. The house was entered from
the back, the kitchen door being open.
In the kitchen were found on the floor
the peddler's pack and his basket.
LARGE POOL OF BLOOD.
In the room leading of from the
Kitchen Halper was assaulted. Just in
side the door was pool of thick blood,
almost two feet in diameter. and there
were smaller pools In several other
spots. The instrument used lay on the
floor, beside the pool of blood. 1t was
bent piece Of gas pipe, about two feet
long, and was covered with blood. The
young mans hat was found on the
floor, also the ring Of his watch.
Edward Miller and allan Tracey,
of Duryea, discovered the peddler after
he had been assaulted. He was stand
ing on the road leading from the Old
Forge to the Phoenix breakers. and his
face was covered over with blood. They
took him to the engine room of the Old
Forge breaker and sent for DR.. Pier,
of Avoca. The doctor found his head
cut in several places, and there was Il
deep cut under the right eye. Later
In the day the injured man was taken
in carriage to mis- home.
The story he tells about the case was
that he had just begun his round Of the
houses close to the Lehign Valley
tracks. in the extreme lower end Of
the village. and was standing on a
small road which leads up the hill just
back of the Columbia colliery, when
he was approached by a man, whom
ne describes as being short. thick set
fellow, with black hair and black eyes.
THE ASSAULT.
This man said he wan,1d to buy a
handkerchief and asked Halper to go
to his house. The peddler, with n large
pack on his back and large basket in
one hand, followed the man and was led
into his house. He said that the man
selected handkerchief from his stock
and paid him five cents for the same
He then said that his wife was moving
Into the house and that she wanted to
get something. With that he led the
way into the next room, when suddenly
the peddler was knockd snseless and
robbed of all his money. the right pocket
of his trousers being cut completely out
In 1t there was little more than eleven
dollars.
His assailant also attempted to steal
his watch. but the ring came out and
the man got only the chain. Halper
remembers nothing more concerning
his assault. He did not remember any
thing about leaving the house or where
he went to afterward. He says that to
the best of his knowledge it was about
$50 o'clock when the man decoyed him
into the house.
The injured man will recover, and up
to late hour last night the officers
of the law had learned nothing of the
identity of the highwayman. Duryea
is becoming blood thirsty community
Of late and grave crimes happen there
frequently.