The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-01-23
. HE man was in reminiscent
mood He was Touched with


mood. He was touched with
gray, and his eventful life was
filled with strange happenings
that afforded many an interesting tale
to those he honored with his retiec-
tions and condolences.
We were seated i'm the sitting room
waiting for the cnll to dinner. The
occasion was family reunion, or, at
least, a gathering OF as many relatives
as could be present. All the family
news had been told and discussed,
and a silence prevailed. 1t was then
that the man of "reminiscences related
one of his many unusual experiences.
81 do not believe much in justice" :"
he began, cynlcally. AT least l have
never seen II throughout my life. The
law is on the side OF the biggest pocket
book, and the poor, often ignorant, man
who has the misfortune to have any
thing to do with either lawyers or the
law pretty generally becomes the
worse off for the connection. How
ever. a case Of the pcrverslon Of jus
tice. In which l was mixed up has
just occurred 10 me.
The time was about twenty years
ago, the place was the village near
New York where | had my farm. A
heavy fall OF snow had covered the
roads. making them in some localities
impossible. We had finished our
weeks work and were preparing for
Sunday. Chris Johnson, an ilitcratc
German, who could not speak English,
my farmland. was told TO go To the
village, about n mile and half away,
for some supplies. He received two
dollars from me and set forth on his
errand 1t was about half-past nine
when he left the house.
'He trudged along the middle of the
road, where travel had packed the
snow so that walking was not very
difficult. He carried an old cane, n
keepsake from his father When some
distance down the road he heard sleigh
bells behind him, and sldC-stepped into
deep snow for the vehicle to pass with.
out turning aside. AS the sleigh drew
near Chris. the driver swerved the
horse toward him, and before he was
aware OF danger, the fellow in the
front snatched the cane from my mans
hand, grabbed him by the lapels OF
his overcOat, and bclabored him about
the head. He was stunned as a result
OF the assault and his assailants went
through his pockets, taking the two
dollars and few cents which were
therein. They also took his hat and
cane, and drove off. leaving him lying
In the snow. Chris. however. got a
good look at the wiedcr of the weap-
on. But ii did not stand him in very
good service. when It should have
been Of the greatest assistance in send
ing the fellows to Jail.
MY man soon recovered conscious
ness sufficiently to grope his way
home. He stumbled into the house
with blood streaming down his face.
and with Jumps on his head almost MS
big as ones fist. 1t was with some
difficulty that | got him to relate just
what had hcfallen him. He told mo
that the sleigh had large runners. and
that the horse was white. That was
good clew, as | had noticed such
vehicle, containing three men bent OH
having hilarious time, travelling about
the vicinity for the past three days.
Moreover. | had recognized these men.
and my suspicion was directed against
them. But my man was positive that
there were only two men engaged i'm
the assault upon him.
Securing a revolver apiece. we went
over the trail made 10y the runners OF
the sleigh They left a very wide
track which we had no difficulty in
following. We saw where the men
turned in, where the horse stopped,
where the scuflle occurred. where one
got out and went through my mans
clothes. where they threw his body.
and where they continued their jour.
ney. We then returned home. when
j cleansed Chris's wounds and dressed
his head. cautloning him TO remain ms
silent rs the Sphinx about the assault
promised to do what could for him
on the morrow.
Early on Sunday morning. a clear
crisp day, | began the search for i'm
eliminating clcws. The trail was a,
fresh rs though It had been just made
While half way TO the village | met ar
old acquaintance who facetiously com
mented upon my being out so early.
told him the story Of the assault, whicl
brought from him the remark that he
too. had noticed the trail left by tn,
wide runners of the sleigh. We com
pared notes and reached the conclusion
that the two assailants were no les
than the son OF a nearby village hote
proprietor and the son of a local hos
telry keeper. They were on a pro
tracted. vicious skylark. and. II seemed
stopped at doing nothing that woui,
supply them the wherewithal to keel
Il up. Ny friend. who was In a sleigh