The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-25
HOBOES SHOOT.
Wound Conductor of a Fast
Freight After Having Been
Put Off Train.


Webster, June 25.--Conductor John
Billings of the fast freight train that
runs between Hartford. Conn, and Bos-
ton, via the New York. New Haven
and Hartford railroad, was shot at five
times this morning, one OF the bullets
iniicting an ugly wound in his left hip.
by two of crowd OF eight hoboes that
were riding on his train.
The fracas occurred one mile from
the Thompson Comm railroad station,
about o'clock. Conductor Billings or
dered the men on, and they shot him.
He has been taken TO the Massachu-
setts general hospital, Boston, for treat
ment, and special train OF armed OF
ficers and railroad men was sent TO the
scene.
Conductor Billings train pulled out
of Putnam, Conn. at l0:3O o'clock last
night for Boston, but, on account OF nu-
merous breakdowns, it did not reach
Thompson until this forenoon. AS the
train left Putnam Ii was boarded by
nearly dozen-an unusually large
number-of tramps, and the brakeman
reported the same TO Conductor Bill
lings.
AS the train neared Thompson, ;Se
conductor started along the tops of the
time The brakemen were busy putting
off men they found In their sections.
Conductor Billings came upon two men
riding on the bumpers He ordered
them off, but they refused TO go.
AS the train commenced TO climb the
up grade near Thompson. they swung
off, however. No sooner had they
struck the ground than they both
whipped out revolvers, and, levelling
them at Billings. fired together. quick
ly following with three more shots.
One Of the bullets struck the conduc-
tor.
The shots were heard by the brake
men and seen by some OF the tramps
that were put off, and the train was
stopped as quickly as possible. BY this
time. however, the shooters had taken
to the dense woods, and were lost 10
view When the hoboes that had been
put of saw what had happened, they
also took to their heels.
Word was telegraphed TO headquar-
ters at Boston, and 10 Worcester. Web
ster. Putnam and the surrounding
towns. Before the special train could
be started the fugitives had a start of
about three hours.
The special left Putnam at 10:30 and
a quick run was made TO the scene.
Sheriffs from Putnam, East Douglas
and Webster, officers and others, all
armed with revolvers and clubs.
searched the country for miles around
the scene, and in a couple of hours six
of the crowd that were on the train at
the time of the shooting were cap
tured and brought back 10 the train.
A description OF the two men who did
the shooting was given the searchers by
the men who were captured. and the
party mentioned above learned at
farmhouse that two men answering the
description of the two wanted had
passed on before them. They followed
nearly TO Webster, and there lost the
trail.
The special train arrived at Webster
at 2 o'clock this afternoon with its load
of tired. hungry searchers and the six
captured hoboes. With Deputy Sher-
IFS Heath of Douglas. Parks of Put
nam and Clare of Webster. Detective
Warren and others, the woods sur
rounding Webster and Dudley were
searched. but with futile results. The
men arrested were taken TO Putnam
Jail to await developments in the case.