Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-27
VICTIM OF Thu GS
Pearl Stevens, Burlington Brake
man, Assaulted and Robbed.
sUSTAINS SEVERAL SEVERE WOUNDS
Says He Does Not Know Who Struck
Einl-Affair Took Place While He
Was on His Way Home EARLY This
Morning
From N.andny.s Only.

t'rom Manday.s Daily.
Weak and trembling, and with
blood streaming down his face from
q dozen wounds upon his head, Pearl
Stevens, Burlington brakeman who
resides in this city, stumbled into
James Pecks livery barn on West
Second street, about 1880 o'clock this
morning and appealed for help, saying
that he was bleeding to death as the
result of beating he had received
from unknown men. The ruffians, he
claimed, had robbed him OF about 500
after they had rendered him
almost unconscious. While Mr.
Peck was on his way
to the police station for aid, the
injured man, hardly knowing what he
was doing, left the barn and started
east on Second street, turning to Main
at Washington street, then west
on Main street. He finally stop.
ped at the grocery store of j. F. Dings
at the corner of Second and Wapello
streets, where he was found short
time afterwards by Ed Hahn, young
man residing on West Second street
Stevens was taken to the police sta
ton, where his wounds were dressed,
and he was then sent to the residence
of Mrs. e. j. Sullivan, 413 South Ben
ton street, where he resides when in
the city. He can give no explanation
of the attack made upon him, but
says that it took place near the corner
of Second and Marion streets, while
he was on his way home He does
not know who or how many were in
the gang that he claims waylaid and
robbed him.
Stevens Story.
Stevens says that he was alone and
was on his way to the Sullivan home
where he occupies room, about mid
night, and that when he was near the
corner of Second and Marion streets
he was suddenly attacked from be-
hind. He remembers nothing of what
happened then, he says, until he
found himself alone in the streets, his
hat and money gone and his head cut
and bleeding. How many people at
tackled him, or where they came from
he cannot say The blows upon the
head evidently affected his reason, for
while he was in the livery barn where
he had gone for aid, sudden fear
seemed to strike him and he left the
place, not needing the advice of Got
tlieb Myers, young man who had
been in the barn when Stevens made
his appearance and who had been left
in charge of the place by Mr.. Peck,
who went to sumomn the police and
a surgeon
Lost Much Strength.
After Stevens left the barn Myers
followed him to the corner of Second
an9 Washington streets, where he
met Ed Hahn, a young man residing
on West Second street, who was on
his way home at the time. Myers
told him of the trouble that had be
fallen Stevens, who was unknown to
Myers. Learning that Stevens had
gone to Main street Hahn followed
that way and turned north on Wapello
street. When opposite j. F. Dings
grocery store he noticed man stand.
ing in the rear doorway and called to
him. In reply to the question ''What
are you doing there?" Stevens an
swered that he was bleeding to death.
He came out of the doorway and
crossed the street to where Hahn was
standing and the two men recognized
each other. Stevens mind seemed tc
be wandering as result of the blows
he had received and the consequent
loss of blood, and when Hahn propos
ed to take him to the police station
he objected, but finally he was Undue
ed to go along, and when he reached
the city hall a telephone message was
sent to DIR. A. o. Williams, who came
to the station and examined the mans
injuries.
Meanwhile Stevens had tried to tel
of his accident, but no connected story
could be secured from him. His in
juries were found to consist entirely
of severe scalp wounds, from which
the blood flowed freely, but which
Will probably not result seriously
Twenty or more stitches were requir
ed to close the many cuts, but finally
the man was able to be taken home
Money Was Gone.
Stevens was searched at the police
station and his pocket book, empty
was found in his coat pocket. Twenty
five cents in silver was in a vest peck
ct, no trace could be found of the mon
ey he said he had been carrying il
his pocket book, to the amount of abou
$40 He owns a fine watch, and a
first said that this had been taken also
but later he remembered that he hat
left it for repairs with a jeweler a
Creston.
Worked at Thayer.
Stevens is unmarried and a youns
man, probably Is or 26 years of age
He is strong and heavily built, and ha
been employed as brakeman in the ser
vice of the Burlington for four years
He has been braking on the pile driv
er train, now working at Thayer nea
Creston. He expected to go to Thaye
last night to go to work, but is, O
course, compelled to remain at HON,
on account of his accident.
c10n RanfsrH g1On