Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-14
ASSAULTED BY FooTPADS
Dastardly Outrage Committed Near the
Soldiers Home Grounds.
Mr.. Charles r. sheldon and Miss Beha
Attacked Last Night by Col
ored Rufiians.

Charles R. Sheldon, forty-six years old
who holds position in the government
printing office, and Miss Gussie Beha, who
keeps a boarding house at No. 2 1 street
northwest, had an exciting experience
about o'clock last night, while enjoying
a moonlight outing near the Soldiers Home
grounds. They stopped to rest at a spot
about a square from the LIST street road
way, and while there they were attacked
by two colored men. Sheldon was painfully
cut and bruised about the head and face,
but Miss Beha escaped practically unhurt.
A report of the affair was made to the
police soon after it happened, and Sergeant
Elliott. who was in charge of the eighth
precinct station, ordered out the reserve.
He sent men out on bicycles and horses
while some footmen were placed where
they could guard the roads leading from
the county to the city. Descriptions of the
colored men were furnished, but the po-
lice did not succeed in catching them last
night. Between the time of the assault
and the time the police learned of the af-
fair the assailants had ample time to get
away.
Mr.. Sheldon and Miss Beha started from
the latter's home about o'clock on their
bicycles and went out for ride over the
county road. They passed out list street in
the direction of Soldiers Home, intending
to ride through the grounds, but they
reached there a few minutes after the gates
had been closed. They turned through
Everett street and rode east. Before reach
ing North Capitol street the couple stopped
to rest. They placed their wheels against a
tree and sat down. The lighted lamps on
their bicycles probably attracted the atten-
ton of the providers, who were no doubt
waiting for an opportunity to rob or assault
somebody.
The point designated is favorite resting
place for people who ride wheels, and 1t is
there that several bicycle parties have been
as tfoI nv fn ho
grass crawlers." By creeping through the
grass footpads are able to surprise their
victims and begin an assault before the
latter can prepare for resistance.
Crept Up steaIthiIy.
The assailants approached the couple
steelthily from the rear and made the at
tack suddenly. One of the men grabbed
Mr.. Sheldon and the other dealt him a
stunning blow on his face, knocking him
down. One of them devoted his entire at
tention to Mr.. Sheldon, while the other
proceeded to drag Miss Beha away in the
direction of clump Of bushes. She made
a desperate effort to escape, and Sheldon,
too was struggling with the other des-
perado. He was knocked down 8 second
time. however, and fell into ditch. Miss
Bella had meanwhile succeeded in getting
away from her assailant. She ran in the
direction Of the city and finally reached her
home.
When her escort succeeded in beating of
the ruffians he went to the house of Mr..
Brooke Amiss, son of Lieut.. Amiss, and
asked for assistance. Mr.. Amiss hurried
to the police station on his bicycle and gave
the alarm. Miss Behas hat was found by
the police near the scene Of the assault,
and the bicycles were also found where
they had been left
Mr.. Sheldon is certain he can Identify the
parties who assaulted him.
The police worked on the case until a late
hour last night and renewed the investi-
cation this morning. Mr.. Sheldon was at
the police station early today. anxious to
assist the police.