The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-12
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Assault With Intent
to Rob John j.
Wiley.
STRUCK DOWN IN HIS STORE.
Frank Richards Is Sought
by the Po-
lice.
STRUCK DOWN IN HIS STORE.

John j. Wiley, a grocer at 10 North
Ashland street, was feloniously as
saulted Thursday night in his store,
and an attempt made to rob him of
about 5000, which he had in his trous-
ers' pocket at the time. The police are
looking for man named Frank Rich
ards. whom Mr.. Wiley thinks is his as
sailant
The matter was reported to Lieut..
James T. Johnson, at station 1, last
night, about 5 o'clock, by Mr.. Wiley.
and shortly afterwards Chief of Police
James NJ. brennan was notified. To-
day warrant will be sworn out for
Richards arrest.
The attempted robbery happened
about o'clock Thursday evening, as
Mr.. Wiley was about to close his store
for the night. The man whom he sup
poses to be Richards entered his store
about is minutes before and asked him
10 change IS bill Mr.. Wiley took
the roll of money from his pocket to
make the change, and after counting
1t OFF passed 1t to the man and then re-
turned his money to his pocket.
The man then asked if he could pur-
chase some paraf1ne. and on being in
formed that he could, asked for a bot
tie to take it home in. Mr.. Wiley told
him he could take it in kerosene can,
as he had no empty bottles in the store,
and being agreeable the grocer filled
out two quarts Of the liquid into the
can. He turned around and asked him
II he wanted two quarts or a gallon,
and the man asked him to wait mo-
ment until he spoke to his wife, who
was waiting outside.
He went outside for a few seconds
and then returned, telling Mr.. Wiley
he would take a gallon. The grocer
turned around to fill out the other two
quarts, when the man struck him in
the back of the head with what he sup
posed was q black jack.
The blow stunned the grocer for a
second. and he fell to the floor. In an
instant the man was on top of him and
MADE an attempt to get his hand into
Mr. Wtlley's pocket. The blow had not
done Its work as well as the assailant
intended 1t should. and Wiley was able
10 put up fight for his money He
called for help, called for . the police.
and cried murder, but no one showed
up. The asailant got scared at the out
cries and left the store in a hurry with
out getting the money.
He had not got out of the door be-
lore the grocer was after him and gave
chase for short distance, but nothing
IN the way of help showed UP. and Mr.,
Wiley abandoned the pursuit.
For several days past, Mr. Wiley has
notlced a man answering Richards de-
scriptlon hanging around his place, and
on TWO occasions on previous days the
man has been in the store purchasing
cheese and cookies. Both times he ate
them in the store and impressed the
grocer as being an honest, upright
man.
When he asked for the parrafine the
grocer noticed he didn't have a can
with him, and offered the use of one
with the understanding the man would
return it, which he agreed to do.
He also told the grocer that he had
recently moved into the neighbornood.
and, being stranger, was not very
zen acquainted. When he left the
store Thursday evening, under the pre-
tense OF consulting his wife, Mr.. WILEY
old not have suspicion as to his pur
pose, but thinks now he did so to see if
he had clear road.
Az the time the assault occurred, Mr.,
whey had put out adj but two of the
HEhts IN his store, and last night fold
The Spy man he felt he made a mis-
take in taking out the wad of money
In front Of the man.
he did not report the matter to the
police until last night, but sent two of
MS friends to look the man up yes-
terday, and found that he was stopping
az the Worcester House, and had oc-
cupled room 8 there for a week mast
He is native OF Armenia, but talks
remarkably good English, and is of a
preposssessing appearance. He is
ABOUT 80 years old, dark complexioned
smootn shaven, and stands about feet
inches high.
In sending his friends out on the case.
MT. Wiley said he felt they would be
able to accomplish as much as the no.
lice If the man was in town. and tbev
succeeded in establishing the mans
identity to Mr.. Willeys satisfaction.
Ihey secured his name, and last night
II was handed to the police
The Spy reporter called at the Wor-
cester House last night and found that
hichards had occupied room at the
mouse Tor the week past, and left yes
teroay morning, stating he intended to
go to Clinton to work He engaged
the room for week, and his week was
up yesterday morning His trunk is
still at the house, but he told the land
lady he intended to leave Worcester for
ing. ''o- -
He was employed at the Common
-ACN0A CtA II AOllb 6lTetl IOr over a
year as porter, and got through of his
own accord, about three weeks ago
AS yet the police have not made an
attempt to get him, other than to
look him up in Worcester, but a thor
ough search will be started for him
today.
After the assailant had got away. Mr..
Wiley lighted all the lights in the
store, and found on the floor SO 32-cali-
bre revolver cartridges, and these he
brought to the police last night. He
now thinks that the man must have
struck him with the box, or else had
them In a stocking, and the stocking
burst at the first blow. He has a
large bruise on the back of his head
about the size of a hens egg, but is con-
money.
WORCESTER PEOPLE IN NEW YORK
@. A. Nation. T. A. Callahan. AZ the
1mperial; 1 G. Blake. at the Aston
House; H; Colmans, at the Grand Union:
Mss Mss g. " oNsill, at, the Murray Hill Hill;
Miss K Y. ONeill. at the Vendome. q r
HARDY, A. E. Carleton M tba 60,