The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-26
WANTED TO KILL MOLINE.
Tramps Thought, He Would BE
Safer If Dead.

Oscar Moline, the young drug clerk
who was robbed and thrown from a
STOCK car near Mendoza by a gang of
tramps Monday morning, suffered a
great deal OF pain yesterday from the
rough treatment he had received, but
is congratulating himself that his eX-
peflence did not result more seriously
In fact, Mr. Moline is thankful he is
alive, as he is firmly of the opinion
mat his assailants attempted to kill
MN. The five tramps, one of whom
was negro, who appeared to be the
leader OF the gang, got into Moline's
car at OWatonna, in the presence OF one
OF the train brakemen, and why this
Individual did not stop them Is pc
cul1arity which Mr.. Moline cannot I'M
derstand. The men said they wanted
to get to St Paul, and not thinking 1t
wise, Moline made no objection to their
company. At Faribault two boys be-
tween the ages of fifteen and sixteen
years asked Moline for a ride to the
irwin Cities and also got into the car
The lads curled up in corner and went
to sleep, but the tramps kept up con-
tlnual muttered conversation among
themselves, evidently planning the at
tack upon the young druggist.
After the train had passed Mendoza
the negro approached Moline, and sud-
denly springing upon him with an ugly
looking pistol in one hand, called to
his companions. The entire gang then
set upon Moline, beating and kicking
him and profanely demanding his
money. They searched his pockets and
hndlng only rs cents again pounded him
Tor not having more money about him.
While the negro stood guard over Mo-
line with the revolver the other tramps
then searched the two boys and took
what little change they had, but did
them no physical harm beyond fright
ening the lads with orders to remain
quiet. They next forced Moline to re-
move his clothing, and in a second
search found 81 in an inside pocket.
CurSing the young man for conceal
ing this money the negro ordered his
companions to throw the druggist out
of the car. The car was in the middle
of the train and running at nearly thir-
ty miles an hour. Taking Moline to
the end of the car the tramps opened
a door and tried to force him between
the couplings, remarking that if the
young man was found dead it would
be considered a railroad accident and
no harm would come to them. AS they
pushed him through the door Moline
caught a brake rod running to the top
of the car, to which he chung desper-
ate1y. Seeing he did not fall the trampS
pounded him on the head and kicked
him viciously about the body in an
effort to break his hold. Knowing he
must eventually fall beneath the car
wheels under this attack, Moline swung
himself further out of reach Of his as
sailants, when the negro gave him a
strong push which threw him to the
ground. Moline lay in a gully twenty
feet down an embankment for nearly
an hour before gaining consciousness.
Covered with blood and with his cloth
ing nearly torn from his body he walk
ed to st. Paul, where~he informed the
police of the experience he had been
through. He had q long. cash over the
left eye, and his face was yesterday
swollen out of all proportion, while the
skin is torn from portions of his body,
and his entire frame bruised and sore.
Mr.. Moline formerly lived in this
city and came here to visit his wife.
who is spending the summer with her
mother, Mrs. o. G. Hale, at 472 Sibley
street, where he will remain until suf
fiCiently recovered from his injuries to
return to his employment at Ridgway,
10.