The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-22
ALLEGED HIGHwAYMAN IN JAIL.
CoIored Youth Suspected OF HonDins
Agent Gray. of Cambridge City.

Srecial TO the Indianapolis Journal
CAMBRIDGE CITY, Ind, Sept. 21.-Last
night and to-day has furnished much excite
ment here on account of the numerous as
sault on John E. Gray, agent OF the T. ~
C. & ST L.. as he was going home AFTER
his duties at the station were completed
He was felled by blow with an air-plpe
connection, being made up of a piece OF
hose about two and half feet long ana
having a heavy casting in one end me
car from which the pipe was taken stood
in front of the depot. The blow struck
GRAY full in the face MASKING his nose TO
a pulp inficting severe wounds over the
ewes and above the right ear. He was
knocked senseless and the robber got $50
and made his escape. People on the next
block heard the blow and seeing a man
crawling on the pavement FASTENED to his
relief. His face had turned black and was
mashed beyond resemblance, bleeding pro-
fusely. He was not recognized until he re-
gained consciousness. In a short time sew
eral hundred men had been attracted to the
scene. Bloodhounds were procured and put
on the trail They took the scent quickly
and darted through the alley way over to
the railroad closely followed by an excited
crowd. The dogs took the railroad as far
as Strawns where they lost the trail. The
operator at that little village was secured
and q telegram was sent TO the CONDUCTOR
of west bound passenger train NO. Z, from
whom they learned that colored tramp
was forciby elected from the train at
Knightstown. From his description 1t
proved to be Will Knox, a colored BOY OF
this city The party then tagged freight
train and boarded it for knightstown;
where they worked with the dogs until
morning, but were unable TO ma any trace
of Young Knox. They then returned to this
city and proceeded on another scent, which
Ali day an excited crowd would gather
around incoming trains eager for news. but
nothing of a substantial kind developed.
Had the party succeeded in catching Knox
last night the probabilities are that ne
would have been lynched. the authorities
at Knigthstown were unable to locate the
man. but ii was afterward learned that he
was seen near Carthage.
At 2:30 o'clock this afternoon Knox sur
prised the citizens by driving in from the
west and proceeded to the Gray residence:
He had heard the charges against MN ana
declared his innocence. saying that ne I'M
derstood at Carthage he was implicated In
the hod-up and came home to establish
his innocence. He boarded a freight at
Knirhtstown. riding to Dunreith where he
got 2 man TO drive him 10 this city His
actions in the afternoon being implicated
i'm a daylight robbery of a junk store, his
strange disappearance Just after the assault
and the bloodhound test convinced the peo-
ME Of his guilt. Tom Means one of his
companions i'm the days debauch. made a
statpmpnt 10 the local officers that he was
approached by Knox with the proposition
and was called coward when he refused
to help. Knox had been last seen at the
passenger depot nervously pacing the plat
form a few moments before Gray left his
office. Knox was taken charge of by Sher-
if IarSh. of Richmond. and he was taken
to the county Jail at Richmond. where he
will be kept until his victim is able to ap-
pear at trial. Mr.. Grays condition at pres
ent is serious but not thought dangerous
Public sentiment is strong against Knox
and his gang and the railroad authorities