The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1904-03-23
SENSATIONAL OUTBREAKS.
Heechurst Sees Attempted Rob
berry and Murder.

Four People try to Break into HART
mans's Store-Charies Axiom Nearly
Killed. One Suspect in JaiI-Posi-
lively fdentified-stsry Of the
Grimes.
r Beechnrst had at attempted store
robbery and an attempted murder, In
addition to other festivities on Satur-
day night. Four burglars, three men
and a woman, were seen trying 10
break into the store about three O'Clock
on Sunday morning. Charles Axton
is the one who firstsaw them and call
ed the police.
Axton is employed at the w. r.
Jones Window Glass factory and ON
going along the Avenue at about three
O'Clock he saw two people tinkeiihg
with the front door. Slipping arouBd
he found two more at the side door.
He got good locks at all of them and
then went to call the police.
Chief Price and Policeman Garrison
responded. In the meantime Axton
had gone to his room and obtained a
gut. He Joined the police and with
them went to the scene Of the at
tempted robbery.
No one was 10 sight. The officers
separated and Garrison and Axton
went TO the rear of the store TO see II
they could find the thieves. Garrison
came back Ia moment with the in
formation that they could see nothing
He was then directed to go to the
factory and call John Hartman who
owns the store and who lives 10 rooms
over it. While be was gone Axten
was assaulted aud almost killed by the
thieves.
Suddenly three shots rang out and
Chief Price ran to the rear of the
store. There was DO one in sight.
Hunting around be found Axton ly-
ing on the ground apparently dead
He was taken to DR.. Hartigan who
succeeded after working an hour in
bringing him back to bis senses. Then
he told OF the assault.
He said that he had gone 10 the
back Of the store and hunting around
had seen no one. Then he started to
look down the railroad when all at
once he felt seine one behind him.
He turned sharply pulling bis pistol
at the same time.
Just as he turned he was struck in
the back with something which be-
numbed him and almost knocked him
down. As he was falling another
blow vas sent crashing into bis head.
AS he was being struck he fred
point blank at one OF the two fellows
whom he saw plainly and who were
-assaulting him. He did not remem.
Der shooting hut oBce yet when his
revolver was examined it was found
that he had fred three times. As
far as kBbwn none of the bullets took
effect.
The thieves then beat a hasty re.
treat aid the officers did not see any,
thing Of them.
When Axton revived be gave de-
scription Of the men who bad struck
him and On Sunday morning at eight
o'clock Edward Harris, colorod, was
arrested on High street. Harris is
one OF those who struck Axton accord
ing to statement made by him. He
says that he is positive that Harris is
the man.
Harris declared that he had teen at
home all night but it was found that
be had spent the night until after
| midnight at the house Of friend on
Beechurst. He arrived at Davidsens
stable at four O'Clock and he bad a
lot of mud ON his shoes when arrested.
He made contradictory statements
about his movements and the police
believe they have the right man.
Harris has been in trouble frequent
ly and is said to be dope flend. He
has refused to confess to any impliea-
tion Ia the robbery or to indicate those
who are alleged 70 have been with.
Descriptions of the Others in the
crowd have been given the police by
Axton. The strange feature OF the
case is thaten Of the party was a
woman. Anton could not tell whether
she was white or black as she had a
shawl over her head concealing her
features but he gave good description
Of her figure and her clothing. Two
Of the men were negroes and the other
man was white.
None of them are known by name
to Axton. Several people who have
been looked at by him and the police
are declared by him not to be the par
| ties wanted.
a peculiar feature of the robbery
which shows that the bunch was thor
oughly amateur was shown in the fact
that they were trying to pick the lock
of the side door when it was not locked
land would have opened If they had
turned the knob.