The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-05-06
Fred Oswin is Found in Room
With Skull fractured
Money Stolen From Him BY Whoever
Beat Him Unconscious With
Blunt Instrument.
MYSTERY ON THIRD STREET.

With his skull fractured from a
blow with a heavy instrument, Fred
IOswin, 80 years old, was found
this morning at 1880 o'clock in his
room over the Glad Hand saloon, ITO
South Third street, by John Mitchell,
the colored porter. Robbery is the
only theory of the affair, as Oswin
had about 500 with him Sunday
might. 1t is thought that he was
lslugged and robbed somewhere out
in the city and that he wandered
back to his room in a dazed condi-
Ition.
Oswin was to have opened the
saloon for business early this morn
ing, but when Edgar Harvick, the
proprietor, arrived at Z o'clock, the
saloon had not been opened. He
Thought Oswin had spent the
might at his old rooming place over
the Wagner saloon on South Second
street. Movements as of some one
stirring upstairs caused Harvick to
send the porter up to investigate.
Mitchell, the porter, found Oswin
sitting on the edge of the bed and
he asked Mitchell several incoherent
questions and in endeavoring to rise,
fell back on the bed. Harvey then
went upstairs and saw Oswin fall
back unconscious from a standing
position.
On the floor near the door was a
pool of blood. indicating that Os-
win either had fallen there on en-
tering the room, or had been struck
at the door bv the robber. His clothes
were placed around the room in or
der and as if with care, which gives
substance to the theory that he was
struck after he was in his room.
Drs. B. L. Bradley was summoned
and foond Oswin had received two
blows, one on the forehead and one
on the cheek, apparently with a
blunt instrument.
Examination failed to find any
trace of the 800. OF this amount $50
was money of the saloon. and the
remainder was Oswin's money.
Oswin was to keep the money on
til this morning to use in the early
mornln~ trade.
Alice Lilies, who rooms across the
hall from Oswin. said that she
was in her room all night, not hav-
ing gone out at supper. and does not
remember of hearing anyone go In
and out. To get to his room Os-
win would have to pass her room
Nothing was disarranged in the room
to indicate struggle Oswin
murmured when found this morning.
'Its gone. presumably speaking
about the money. When DR.. Bradley
reached him at 1880 o'clock. he was
Isemi-conscious. Harvick. proprietor.
does not know anything of Os-
wins movements after leaving him
Sunday afternoon.
At 1880 o'clock Oswin was re-
moved to the Riverside hospital.
His Room Searched.
A later search Of Oswins room
this morning discovered s19.61 I'M
der the mattess of the bed. Nine dol
lars and forty-fve cents were in a
sack and the rest was in a pocket
book in bills. His watch was lying on
the washstand with his key to the
door. This leaves $50 unaccounted
for The police are working on the
case.
Fred Oswin has lived In Pa
duoah OFF and on for several years.
1t was reported several months ago
that he came into a large sum Of
money from European relations and
for months he Travelled over the
country extensively Edwar Harvick
had employed him few days ago to
work in the saloon while he took
trip.
After an operation at Riverside
hospital surgeons stated that Oswin
win recover. He could speak, but
does not remember about the assault.
oswin figured in the newspapers
some time ago. by falling heir to a
legacy In England. and being robbed
in Philadelphia while on his way to
claim 1t.