The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-19
STRUCK DOWN BY NEGRO'SAXE
DRUGGIST KEYSER rs ATTACKED
ny MAN VINO CAME TO ROB.

Crime OF diamond Dick" Local Charao-
ter StIrs oyster lsaJ-prisOner Rushed
Away TO Escape Violcnce-Nictim
Is Badly Injured, but VIII Recover.
OYSTER BAY, l.. l., Feb. lS.-Ths village IS
greatly excited over murderous assault
committed carly this morning on DR.. Louis
Reyser who has drug store on East MAN
street. by negro known as Diamond
Dick" whose real name Is Henry johnson
The negro was arrested and hustled TO the
Nassau county Jail in Mineola.
IL Yves feared that II he was kept in tho
Jail hero an attempt would be made to lynch
him. As it was. threats we're made by some
Of the first persons to hear Of the assault
and the man wa closely guarded until no
was out OF reach OF the villagers.
DIR. Kcynar sleeps in "a room behind his
store. He il widower and has no family
AT about 1880 o'clock this morning he was
aroused by the ringing Of his night bell
He went 70 the door and asked who was
there
"Diamond Dick" was the reply.
what do you want?' asked the doctor.
Il want to get some pills, responded
the negro.
The doctor reluctantly opened tho door
and went behind the counter to get the
pills. A ho started to take down the bottle,
the negro drew an axe from under his coat
md struck the doctor on the back OF the
head
DR. Keyser turned quickly and hurled
the heavy bottle Of pills at his assailant,
but missed him. Tho negro then struck
tho doctor several blows upon the head
a 81. 1af fnll IN
floor johnson struck Or heyser another
blow on the head and then ran toward the
rear Of the store
DR. Keyscr staggered to his feet and
made his way to the street shouting ior
help Several persons heard his erica
and one went for Dr. Faller and another for
Constable John McQuade. When they
feached the store they started to searoh
for the negro and found him under stair
way in the rear of the store. de was or
dered TO come out and at first refused 10
obey. but the sight Of McQuade's revolver
uuickly brought him to submission ana he
was taken into custody.
johnson was rushed at once 20 the little
lock up in the basement Of the town halland
Justice of the Peace Walter Franklin soon
committed the negro to the county jail
TO awnit the. result Of his victims injuries;
BY ! ocldDl good many persons had
heard OF the assault and small group
Of men gathered in front OF the town hall.
6Dine OF tlltln UldAt uf4N tllit+'te AiA WV
or three started TO enter the building, say
ing that they we're going to bring the PTS
oner out, but they we're kept back by Con-
stable McQuade 4 few minutes before
O'Clock the negro was taken to the railroad
station hy McQuade and some citizeas.
and put aboard the g O'Clock train, No
attempt at violence was made on the way
10 the station Tho negro was taken to
Mineola and locked up there.
DR. Keyser believes that the negro
4 !. ssWrNe.
ago lie says that the man has called at
the store at late hours on several occa--
sions, once at midnight, and that he seemed
10 act in u peculiar manner.
Diamond Dick" Is known TO every. ono
I'm the village, and that he should have
committed such an act is a surprise 70 every
body. He got his nickname because OF
his wearing on Sundays big stone, which
he said was a real diamond. He Is 40 years
old.
DR.. Kevser is as years Of age and for
merry had drug stores in Manhattan and
Brooklyn. DR.. Faller, who Is attending
the injured man. says he found seven
wounds on his head. all Of which had evil
IDENTIFY been inflicted with the hatohet>
He says that while some OF the wounds arc
severn. there seems TO I've no danger Of q
fatal result.
Whom johnson was asked in jail why he
had committed the crime. he said:
Something made me do IT, | had a
feeling that | must rob Dr. Keyser. Three
days ago | meant to do the job and went
10 tho doctors store with pistol. / meant
10 shoot him. Ii was midnight when l
went there When the doctor let me In
my courage failed me, and instead OF shoot
ing him bought headache powder and
went home.
"Aftrrward | threw away the revolver
and bought the Ratchet, which used this
morning ! attacked the doctor because
wanted some new clothes and had. TO have
money 70 buy them"
The negro seems TO be partly dazed and
not TO realize the seriousness of his offence.