The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-12
BY GRIZZLIES
They Severely Beat a Manin Charlotte
for Refusing to Give Them Money

About 1890 O'Clock yesterday after
noon. Mr.. j. II. Overcast, a carpenter
in this city, came near losing his life
as the result of a bloodthirsty assault
by four crippled white men.
Mr.. Overcast had been working for
Colonel j. 7 Anthony and was going
along the railroad track to Lewis
lumber yard. When he had come with
in a short distance of the cotton COM
press, he was accosted by four men,
who asked for money. One of h men
had both legs off below the knee and
carried crutches, another had lost one
leg below the knee and also had
crutches, a third, who affected general
physical f~eebleness, also walked on
crutches, and the fourth carried an
arm in a sling.
I'VE want 80 certs,' said one Of the
men to Mr.. Overcast.
II haven't got it," he replied. He had
started to walk on when the cripples
hobbled around him in a threatening
attitude.
you ave got to give US a quarter
apiece TO get our dinner" said the
man who had lost both legs.
Overcast did not like the looks on
the faces of the men, and, though he
is a powerful man. he felt that the
odds were against him. He turned with
the intention of going for policemen,
when the man who had lost a single
leg struck him across the bridge of the
nose with his crutch and felled him to
the ground.
In a flash the four cripples covered
the PROSTATE man. The man whose
arm was in a sling choked him violent
ly. The single Legged man bit off near
ly all Of Overcash's left ear, and when
Overcast jerked his head away, leav-
ing his mangled ear in the mout Of
his assailant, the crippled mouthed at
him again like a bull dog n fastened
on Overcash's cheek. His teeth went
through. the cheek to the bone and
when the cripple pulled his head back
the second time he had in his mouth
a round piece of flesh that came from
Overcash's left cheek.
simultaneously with this fierce at
tack the other cripples acted. They bit
and beat Overcast until finally by a
self loose from his assailants and ran
for help.
After the departure of Overcast the
men made small effort to escape, and
in a defiant manner awaited the ap~
preach of Policeman Yandle. When
Yandle told them to consider them
selves under arrest they laughed and
stated that they did not intend to be ar
rested. Before a second policeman
came up to the scene one of the men
produced a pint flask and the four fir
ished the bottle before the second Off
Ger arrived. The criples then submit
ted to arrest and were taken to the
station.
The man with both legs missing gave
his name as H. L.. Boyt; the single
legged man gave. his name as John
Perry; Ed. Smith was the name given
by the man with his arm in the sling;
and the fourth man. who carried
crutches and feigned sickness, refused
to give his name. AL the men declined
to tell where they came from.
The character of the men is we'll
known to the police here. They are
hoboes, who travel together and work
towns separately. Each one, of course,
asks aims because of his affiction. The
ability and strength of the cripples are
astonishing. The man with both legs
missing moves almost as rapidly as
one with both limbs uninjured; he HAS
broad, powerful shoulders and arms,
and his face is evil and malignant. The
other three, also, have bad faces.
They take their imprisonment surlily,
talk little and seem utterly Indifferent
as to consequences. They will be tried
before the recorder this morning. The
manning of Overcast is a penltent1ary
offenSe. and it is almost certain that
John Perry. who did the biting, will
suffer the full penalty of the law.
Overcast is marked for life. The
loss of his ear is an irreparable multi
alton and his cheek will be SCARED for
life. He was very weak from the vio-
lence of the assault and from loss Of
blood.-Charlotte Observer.