Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-13
CITIZEN SLUGGED
AND LEFT TO DIE.
Travelling Freight Agent for
Northwestern S, ok Down
BY HighWayman.
HAS SEVERE SCALP WOUND.
Uoldup Occurred Monday Night ana
Man Spent all OF Tuesday In Semi
Conscious Condition.

sensible condition for 30 hours, II. w,
Edgertou, travelling frcigh, agent for
the Chicago d Northwestern mere me-
chanically made his way to the office OF
the railroad company this morning to
report for work,
As he entered the office he presented
n horrible condition. His oyercoat,
ket and vest were caked with dry
blood, his hat was smashed and his
eye and left ear were BACKED Above
the ear was a wound crusted with
blood.
General Agent G. A. Walker prompts
~ went to his assistance and took him
to a seat. On removing Mr.. Edgerton's
hat Mr.. Walker observed a scalp
wound on the top Of his head that ex-
tended from the crown well over 10
the forehead.
on questioning Mr., Edgerton all he
got was a CLASSY stare and few dis
jointed sentences to the effect that he
had been slugged last night by a couple
of holdups
ROBBED OF ys5.
Investigation however, proves that
Mr. Edgerton was struck down at the
entrance to the alley east of the board
OF Trade building on Monday night at
1890 and had been robbed of s35. The
thug did not complete his work and
overlooked a pocketbook containing
annual passes on railroads, papers and
a bunch of keys.
Mr. Edgerton with great effort stated
to the News" this morning that he
was nit by two men, and then two
more men came and took him to his
room.
WHAT POLICE SAY.
The police tell different story. They
say that a young man saw Edgerton
lying on the sidewalk with a tall man
STOPPING over him. lie ran across to
zee what was the matter when the tall
fellow took 10 his heels. He asked Mr.
Edgerton what was the matter. when
the latter sald, For Gods sake don't
hit me again, take my money and let
Inc be-" AT this the young fellow be-
came frightened. and not wishing TO
be mixed up In the case he went TO the
nearest telephone and called up the DO
lice. When the police arrived on the
scene Mr.. Edgerton was nowhere 10 be
seen,
The theory is that he mechanically
walked to his room just half block
distant without assistance.
Mt Edgerton rooms at 2ls Shaw ter
race. where until week ago he shared
room with Mr.. Beardsley, travelling
agent for the Northwestern. who was
transferred to Boise some days ago.
LANDLADY's STORY.
In explaining how It was possible for
a sorely wounded man TO lie in The
house for IS hours without anyone
knowing 1t the landlady this morning
made the following statement: mir
Beardsley hired the room and I mad
nothing TO do with Mr.. Ed
gerton who since he has been
here has spent most Of the fine
out OF town. did not know him, neith-
er did / know any OF his friends I
LETT the front door unlocked for him on
Monday night and heard him 40 stag.
gerlng and stumbling upstairs |
thought under the circumstances that
he mad been out with some jolly COM
panions, although | had never seen him
the worse for liquor so | let him be.
Yesterday afternoon / knocked nj his
door but could get nothing from him
but incoherent talk. Towards evening
] knocked again and he told me he
did not want his room touched. | dbl
not like to report the affair to Mr..
Walker OF the Chicago Il Northwest.
ern. because really / believed that Mr..
Edgerton was sleeping of a drunk ana
he would not thank me for reporting
him"
NOT A DRINKING MAN.
All Mr.. Edgerton's friends assert that
he is not drinking man. DR.. w. d.
Hines, who said goodbye to Mr.. Edgar
ton at 1880 p. m, five minutes before
he was susged, states that when the
railroad man left the corner Of Main
and Second South TO walk the two
blocks to his room. he was perfectly
sober.
Detective Raleigh, who Interviewed
or at least tried to, Mr.. Edgerton this
morning, is of the opinion that the un-
fortunate man was hit from behind, and
that he never saw the thug who struck
him down, From the nature Of the
wounds everything points to this thee.
~.
BLOOD STAINED ROOM
How he ever reached his room Is d
mystery. This morning II looked like D
shambles. The pillows and beddinl
were soaked and the places where h,
rested his head against the wall ar,
splashed with blood. The carpets alsS
bore mute testimony to mis- presence
AS Mr. Edgerton was to have lef
town yesterday, he was not missed a
the office, and he might have died in his
room without any assistance bein,
available. As 1t was II was his ha
that saved him. This Is covered viii
blood and Is broken In two places, OF
the brtm at the back and on the sid
OF the crown
The same lone thug who was identi
fed with four other smuggling affair
within an hour In the same vicinity Il
believed to he responsible for the bru
tai assault Mr.. Edgerton Is now unde
the care OF doctor. but is still daze,
and complains Of the cold and pains II
his head,