Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-02
Special to the Register.

| Special to the Register
Parkersburg, w. Va, August l.
| Another dastardly and outrageous as
| sault was added to the many that have
been Committed in Parkersburg of late
The victim of the daring deed was an
| innocent lady who came from the far
| West to visit relatives in the city, and
| the perpetrator of the act was young
| man about twenty-one years of age,
whose identity is as yet unknown.
The victim, Mrs. James Kirk, of
Springfield, South Dakota, arrived here
over the B. & o. S.-W. at 1877 this
| morning, to visit her relatives, the fam
lily of D. MAR, of East Tenth street.
She had not notified them of her
| coming, and, Of course, there was no
one at the train to meet her.
She looked about for policeman,
but there was none to be found. and
as she was an entire stranger in the
city, she was compelled to get some
one to show her to Mr.. Mair's home.
She instructed the express and hack
men at the depot and started out to
find some trustworthy person to guide
her.
At some point near the depot
SHE NET A YOUNG MAN,
whom she describes as dark complex
toned, probably colored, and rather
short, but stout built, and about TWEEN
ty-one years of age.
She asked him to take her to Mair's
and carry her baggage for her, va
lise. The fellow readily consented,
stating that he knew where they
lived and started, presumably, toward
the MAR residence.
Instead of going up Avery street, as
he should have done, he took the lady
up Clay street to the water tanks on
top Of Prospect Hill, at the head Oh
East Tenth street. He then put down
the grip, and told her he must be PAID
then, or he would not go any Iurlhei
with her. pay him
until he would take her to the house.
He pointed down over the hill, in the
opposite direction from the Mair resi-
dence, and said that was where they
lived.
When she refused to pay him until
l. @ol- no., To 1N 1nct
her, and started around the tank.
Mrs. Kirk started after him, but he
ran faster, and overlook her again on
the opposite side Of the tank. He
caught her by the throat, and she
struggled to get away from him, but
he was too strong, and soon cho,,ed
her
INTO INSENSIBILITY,
and her clothing was badly torn.
When she became conscious again
her asailant had fed, and she arose
and looked about for her valise and
glasses. When she found the valise,
| it had been broken open, and her
purse taken out. The latter con-
tanned about s65 or $40 in bills, she
! is not positive as to the amount, but
at any rate, it was gone.
She was terribly frightened and
nearly exhausted from the great
| shock. She was afraid to seek as
sistance, and sat down at the water
| tanks, where she waited for daylight
| to come. 1t was a lonesome and try
| ing vigil. When daylight came she
accosted a man who was passing
across the hill on his way to work
\ and he directed her to Mr.. Mair's
| home. where she arrived at 6 O'Clock
this morning She gave way under
the nervous shock and strain, and hel
condition is very bad
| The officers visited the scene of the
outrageous assault and robbery, and
the tracks of the two could be easily
| seen in the mud and at the tanks
Mrs. Kinks teeth were found, where
she had dropped them when she was
choked by the fend.
Mrs. Kirk is from Scotland, and is
the wife of former missionary in
| Africa. She had only been in this
country for limited time and was
not used to travelling alone.
SHE Is NOT POSITIVE
that it was a colored man that assaile6
her, for she has seen but very few and
they were full bloods and very dark
The police are inclined to think thai
it must have been done by a light
negro, who wanted her money, else hi
would not have demanded payment il
that lonely spot.
The fiend did not get a few silver
dollars she had in her handkerchie
as she held it in her hand.
|