Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-05-03
ASSAULTED AND ROBBED.
Mr.. onkrust. or Newton. This County Is
knocked down and gsgged-Rohbed in
his own rooms S235 In bills taken.


knocked down and gsgged-Robbed In
his own rooms-S235 In bills taken.
Vernon county has again been the
scene Of one of those assault and robbery
outrages, whert, the offsnS ns seem to
vanish, leaving no evidence behind them
to lead TO their discovery and apprehen-
sion.
On Friday morning about one o'clock,
MIR. T. Il. Oukrust, merchant of the
town OF Newton, this COUNTY, was
knocked down in his rooms by two
masked men, pounded into insensibility,
and, after being robbed of 1926 in bills,
was left lying on the floor with hand
kerchief over his mouth. de was found
that morning about o'clock by Gus
toner, who suspected from the quietness
within tie building and from the fact of
the door remaining locked SO lase in the
morning, that something was wrong.
lie had recovered consciousness when
found aud was able to give an account OF
the affair.
All the facts IN relation to the matter
as told by him, are recounted below by
the CENSOR. We are indebted to the
courtesy OF Undersheriff White for our
information, he having made a thor
ouPh investigation Of the matter.
Mr.. Oukrust is single man, aud
occupies rooms over his store, bed
room and sitting room, where he fire.
quently keeps considerable sums OF
money that have accumulated in the
way of his business. He sometimes
spends tiae evsning visiting with
neighbor, and on last Thursdsy, after
business hours, he went over to friends
leaving the on sids door of his rooms
locked as usual. While he was absent
two unknown men climbed in through
window at the head of the outside
ct airway and secreted themselves, one
IN closet of the bedroom, and the
other under the bed. The man ip the
closet whitfield peep hole below the
hinge OF the door 80 that he could OBJ. /!
serve what was going on 10 the bed |
room while the door was shut. 1t is |
necessary to understand that the closet |
has two doors, one communicating with |
the bedroom and the other with the |
sitting room.
About IL o'clock Mr.. Oukrust re-
turned to his rooms, lighted lantern
and sat down and -sad an hour, he
thinks. He then prepared for bed and, |
as was his custom, took down his revolt |
yer from the wall where it usually
hung dyring the day. He noticed it
seemed lighter than usual an. an exami-
nation revealed the fact that the cart
ridges had been extracted. This
alarmed him somewhat, and ne ;.nuae-
diately started for the other room where
he kept cartridges. He had taken but
q few steps when voice behind cried,
"Haltw The command was followed
by shot, the bullet passing through
Oukrust's nightshirt under his arm
he darted through the sitting room
door and was met and knocked down by
robber No. 2, who had lodged through
from the closet The two men then
pounded Onkrust over the head until
he was insensible, and with strong
cord, tied handkerchief over his mouth.
The cord was 80 tightly drawn that it
afterward left deep crease across the
neck. He recovered consciousness dur
ing the night, but was unable to extri-
cate himself or call for assistance and
was compelled to lie on the hard floor
in cramped position until relieved at s
o'clock in the morning. At the present
writing he is recovering from bis rough
treatment and except from the bruises
about his head is suffering no incon-
venience. The bullet from the revolver
shot scorched the skin on his side,
passed through the sitting room door
where it was afterwards picked mp. II
was a very narrow escape from death
for Mr.. Onkrust.
No clue has yet been discovered as to
the perpetrators of the deed. A fevI
foot marks in some soft earth outside
the building near the stairway were
found and may have some value here
after in establishing the identity of the 9
criminal. Owing to the dimness OF the
light at the time he was assaulted Mr.. I
Onkrust was unable to make out more !,
than the outlines OF the men. He says 7
thew both wore masks made of sacking, q
and that one was stoutly built the 9th ar r
being simmer. d
Certain parties living over in that 5
section have been suspected but there is Il
not evidence enough to warrant their a
arrest. 1t was evidently some one who | 4
was well acquainted with the premises, Z
and also with Mr.. Oukrust's habits. a
The matteris being investigated further, d
as we go to press, and some fresh facts
nay come to light. These sand bag y
ying and robbing affairs are becoming
10 common that few convictions would {
lave a good effect on that class of our
citizens who are unwilling to labor for b
heir daily bread. III
>>-s--- 1t
1. o. O. F. Meeting At La Large. q