Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-09
Medical Student Assaulted on a Public
Street in Daylight.
HlS POCKET BOOK AND MONEY TAKEN
AssaiIant Uses a Knife, InfIicting
Several Slabs.
POLICE ON THE TRAIL

Mr.. Bedford NJ. Downing, a medical stu
dent at Howard University, who lives at
No. $40 9Th street northw est, was murder
ously assaulted and robbed by an I'M
known colored man on Florida avenue
northwest between 9Th and 7th streets
about $40 m. yesterday. He received four
cuts and was robbed of his pocket book,
which contained $34.95. Inspector Mat
tingly's detectives were called into the
case. and they are looking for the GRIM
inal. Of whom they have not good de-
scription.
Although the affair happened within so
short a distarce of the terminus of three
car lines and at a time of the day when
many persons are on the streets going
home from work, there was no excitement
occasioned. due probably to the fact that
Mr.. Downing made no cutlery. He was in
bed today under the care of DIR. Hall when
Star reporter visited his house and learn
ed from him the circumstances of the as
sault.
The young man left his home on 9Th
street in time to reach Howard University
at q o'clock, the time set for lecture
ne went out 18th street en- cable car and.
when he reached Florida avenue, went in
store and bought a cigar. A IS bill was
rendered in payment, re said, and Mr.
Downing: after lighting the cigar. started
money in his pocket book.
AccOsted by the RObber.
When he had walked almost as far as
9th street his attention was attracted by
somebody in the rear calling: Hold on,
there"
What do you want?" he inquired, and
he turned and saw tall colored man ap-
preaching, who had evidently followed him
from eth street.
Il want your pocket book" was the col
0red mans response
Instead Of handing over his pocket book.
Mr. Downing called him - foor' and
dealt the man blow with his fist, but not
with force enough to do any damage. The
confessed highwayman then grabbed him
and a short struggle ensued, during which
the wounds were inflicted and pocket book
taken.
Although very much excited, in addition
to having been worsted in the combat,
Mr.. Downing boarded a southbound car
and returned home 1t was not until DR..
animation that he knew to just what extent
he had been wounded There was an ugly
stab wound in the left breast, about three
inches above the heart, another in the right
fieshy part of the thigh. There was
fourth wound in the left wrist.
The doctor found that pointed blade,
probably penknife, had been used by the
been'lost there is no reason to fear serious
results. =.
Dealer Makes Denial.
Speaking of the cigar incident, he said he
bought the cigar in an Italian fruit store,
on the southeast corner of 7th street and
Florida avenue, and as already stated. he
says he gave the storekeeper five-dollar
bill in payment for it. Louis Cuneo, keeper
of the fruit store, was seen by Inspector
Mattingly and Detective Parham, and he
denied that he had received a five-dollar
bill in payment for anything last night: He
was certain that no one rendered hinz a
tive-dollar bill IN payment for cigar.
Patients Condition.
This afternoon the patients condition
was much better. and in few days he
will be able to leave his bed. His clothes
were badly slashed by the colored mans
knife.
AS soon as the case was reported In
spector Mattingly sent two officers to Mr.
Downing's house, and they heard his YER
sion of the affair. as given above. Mr.
Downing gave the officers as good de-
scription as he could of the colored man.
He said he was tall. and he thinks he had
a mustache. The officers are making a
further investigation of the affair.
Cuneo, the cigar Vender, was taken to
the house of the injured man. but he failed
to recognize him as having been in his
store yesterday, although he said he had
frequently seen him passing the store.
On the other hand, Mr.. Downing failed to
identify Cuneo as the man who waited ON