The Washington herald., 1907-05-05

New York, May because he was
unable TO tell them where the yaluables
they were looking for were hidden, arthur
Clarke, a deaf mute, was numerically
beaten by two burglars last night at go
East 18th street. the home Of his brother
in-law. David Boylen.
Not content with that. the thieves after
they had bound the helpless man hand
and foot administered the water cure
Filling an empty milk bottle with water.
they poured the contents Of it down his
throat until he was almost strangIed.
When he was rescued and an ambu-
lance was sent for the surgeon was COM
PEELED to use stomach pump to save
CIarke's life. The deaf mute is now in a
serious condition, due 10 shock.
Clarke, who lives al as West 124th
street, went 10 visit his sister early last
evening, bat found that she had gone TO
the theater. HIS brother-in-law was at
home, and the two men nov and then
exchanged observations through the
medium of the deaf-mute digitai code.
which BOylen slightly understands, and
sat together until IL o'clock Then Boylen
grew restless and went down stairs 10 the
street to get some air and TO await his
wife's arrival.
In about twenty minutes Boylen re-
turned TO the apartment. Then ~ re-
membered that he had left his keys in
side. and the difficulty presented itself Of
making a deaf man hear his knocking
/ He pounded and pounded on the door 50
/ loudly that he could not understand how
/ Clarke, in spite of his infirmity, could
! help hearing him. But there was no re-
Spouse from within, Then B0ylen, grow
! ing worried put his eye 20 the keyhOle-
He saw that the room was dark, al
though the light had been burning
/ brightly when he left it. He thought
/ he could detect the sound of water run
ming in the kitchen.
His alarm grew. and he determined to
wait no longer. He put his shoulder 10
| the door, the lock gave way and he tum-
/ bled over the doorsin.
Bound and Gagged.
He struck match at once and gazed
about him. Under the table lay Clarke.
| His feet and hands were trussed up, and
there was gag in his mouth. He seemed
dazed and almost unconscious. The floor
was flooded with water, and near Clarke
stood an empty bucket
It was some time before Clarke was
! sufficiently revived to give an account Of
what had happened The story that at
| last he spelled out upon his fingers was,
| in substance. this:
He had fallen asleep and knew nothing
until he felt himself seized from behind
and held in "a tight grip. At the same
time some one set about rihing his
| pockets. After that he was bound so
securely that he could not move. His
captors confronted him and he could see
from the motions Of their lips that they
were plying him with questions, 10 which,
of course. he could make no reply
His failure to suswer seemed to infuri-
ate the burglars-there We're two of them
and they started 10 beat him cruelty
about the face and body. Then they went
to the kitchen sink and filled with water
an empty milk bottle which they discov-
cred there After tortuTing him by means
of the water cure" until he could hard
ly breathe. they proceeded to gag him
with dish towel. The ends of the
towel they knotted around his neck so
closely that they almost strangled him.
DOused with Water.
Even then his assafIants Were. not salts
fed over his head they doused a bucket
of water several times Leaving him "
ing in big pool of water. they set about
ransackng the apartment Every drawer
was torn open and its contents tumbled
ont upon the floor. The thieves however.
found but little that was worth carrying
away From their search of Clarke
pockets they secured only $ bill and the
deaf mutes watch.
There is a vacant apartment next to the
Boylens. It is surmised that the thieves
gained access to this and then made their
way along the FIRE escape to the rooms
which the B0ylens occupy.
Clarke is a piano mover by trade The
police say that yesterday he displayed
roll Of bills while in Third avenue sa-
loon, and they believe that the robbery
was planned by some persons who were