The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-12
Unknown White Men Spring Upon
Mr.. W. A. Turner at Night
NEAR THE ORLEANS YARDS.
The Bandits Got Only Six Dollars, but
They Nearly Killed the Owner.
Police Have No Cluc-Ihe
Assailants Probably Be-
long To Camp of Tramps
i'm the East End.

Mr. W. A. Turner. up to several days
ago a private Of Company l., of the Third
Virginia Regiment the Fitz Lee Rides
while walking along the road leading 70
the Westwood brick yard, about s o'clock
last night, was murderously assaulted
and robbed by three unknown men.
Mr. Turner's home is in Lynchburg and
he enlisted at the beginning Of the Span
ish difficulty, being among those muster
ed out several days ago in this city.
He had remained in town for the few
days up to last night as a sort of vaca-
ton before carrying out his intention Of
seeking work in Norfolk.
At the end of his military service a sum
amounting to over ninety dollars was
paid him. but Of this he had only five or
six dollars upon his person last evening
when he decided to go to Norfolk.
lie is a railr0ader Of about ten years
experience and was before enlisting In
the employ of the Norfolk and western
railroad az Lynchburg This experience
would have stood him in good stead with
the trainmen of the Chesapeake and ohio
had not events prevented him from car
rying out his evident intention or riding
to Norfolk on a freight train.
TO BOARD THE TRAIN.
II was about s o'clock when the hospi-
table railrOaders whose duties took them
I'm the neighborhood of the orleans Sta
tion. welcomed a stranger 70 the office
hreside This stranger proved after
ward to be Mr.. Turner
lie had talked affaby with the men
and spoke of his military experiences 10
them He before leaving the group OF
conductors and brakemen, had asked one
OF the number when was the next train
% Newport News and was told that mo.
g. was due in a few minutes.
The genial stranger whSm the railroad
men noticed to be VERA well dressed
then took his way throusA the gloom In
the direction Of Osborn Turnpike which
marks the end Of the orleans yards.
Probably half an hour later, about
o'clock, the operator in the Orleans sta
tion received wire message from Ope-
rator r. d. Moore at the Osborn Turn
nike office asking that yard Watchman
L. G.. Mcclellan be summoned to the
Osborn Turnpike Office as n iaan had
been murdered 10y tramps at that point.
officer Mcclellan came into the office
about five minutes later and was told
that he was wanted at the south end OF
the yards.
II IS q well-known fact that IL is a
dangerous procedure 10 walk at night
through the Orleans yards, ana the
officer. being aware OF the tact, sensioiy
carried his two revolvers in his hands as
he hurried in response 10 the summons.
He did not see the sign OF human
being on his way, but on arriving at
the south end OF the yards began
search Immediately in the neighborhood
for the culDrts.
CHASTITY SPECTACLE.
While engaged in this search he was
hailed by Operator Moore. The watch
man then went into the station on the
second floor, Of which, pTopped up In
chair, was the ghastliest spectacle 1t had
ever been Mr. McLellans experience 10
see II was the figure Of well-dressed
man. whose features could hardly be
distinguished for the blood, which was
flowing profusely from dozen places
on hi- head.
Mr.. Mcclellan realized that quick work
was necessary 70 save the man from
bleeding 10 death. so he requested Ope-
ratOr Moore 10 call for switch engine.
This Mr. Moore did, and In ten or fifteen
minutes, after a painful lifting OF the
almost inanimate form into the cab OF
the engine. the unfortunate man. accom-
panied by the watchman, was taken 20
th- Orleans Station. from where tho city
ambulance was summoned
II was several times the fear OF the
railroad men i'm the station. during the
brief walt for the surgeons. that the man
would bleed 20 death before their ar
rival.
DR. Gwathmey was with the ambu-
lance, and when he saw the mans head
he appreciated the fact that one Of his
hardest nights work was before him.
The railroad employees had recognized
their erstwhile companion by this time.
lie was In condition bordering uncon-
sciousness. but he told in broken SEN
tences of how the assault occurred.
THE MANS STORY.
From his recounting it was possibly
the most brutal and hendish attempt al
murder combined with robbery that the
police have had come under their no
tice.
lie stated that he was making his way
quietly down the road when he was
without warning. confronted by three
men. IL was within a stones throw OF
the brick-yarl and the roadway was 50
dark that he could Just distinguish the
fact that his assailants were white men.
He has no idea as 10 their description
other than this.
He said that the men had uttered no
sound. not even to tell him to stop.
when one of them-he thinks the shorter
one-sprang at him with what the vic
tim took 10 be a slung-shot from i;s
weight as it crashed against his head.
DON'T KILL Me"
Don't kill me, boys he pleaded but |
the boys" replied by raining blow after
blow with the wicked "black jack" un- |
IN the poor fellow sank 10 the earth with |
the blood gushing from the knife-like
cuts OF the "black jack"
He did not remember having yelled for |
helm but II he did cry out he was not |
heard. and in about fifteen or twenty |
minutes he managed to stagger 10 his |
feet and creep toward the railroad sig |
nal station. where Operator Moore found |
him more dead than alive and ministered |
IN his wants in the best manner possi-
Bile
Dr. Gwathmey found ten cuts on Mr..
Turner's head. ranging from one Inch |
10 an inch and half In length. Some or |
these were the result OF the bursting or |
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