The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-05-10
THIEVES TORTURE MUTE.
Bind And Beat Him, And Give Him
The Water Cure.

New YORK. May 4.-Because he was
unable to tell them where the valuables
they were looking for were hidden, Arthur
Clarke. a deaf mute, was unmercliully
beaten by two burglars last night at 200
East One Hundred and Twenty fifth street,
the home of his brother-in law, David
Roylen. 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 1T down
his throat until he was almost strangled.
When rescue finally came and an ambu-
lance was sent for the surgeon was COM
pelled to use stomach pump to save
Clarke's life. The deaf mute is now in a
serious condition, due to shock.
Clarke, who lives at 41S West One
Hundred and Twenty fourth street, went
to visit his sister early last evening, but
found that she had gone to the theatre.
His brother in law was at home, and the
two men, now and then exchanging OBJ
servations through the medium Of the deaf
mute digital code, which Boylen slightly
understands, sat together until i o clock,
Then Boylen grew restless and went down
stairs to the street to get some air and to
await his wife S arrival.
In about 20 minutes Boylen returned to
the apartment Then he remembered that
he had left his keys inside, and the diff
Guilty presented itself of making a deaf
man hear his knocking. He pounded and
pounded on the door so loudly that he
could not understand how Clarke, in
spite of his inirmity, could help hearing
him. But there was no response from
within. Then Boylen, growing worried,
put his eye to the keyhole. He saw that
the room was dark, although the light had
been burning brightly when he had left it.
He thought he could detect the sound of
water running in the kitchen.
His alarm grew. and he determined to
wait no longer. He put his shoulder to
the door, the lock gave way, and he tum-
bled over the doorsill.
He struck a match at once and gazed
about him. Under the table lay Clarke.
His feet and hands were trussed up and
there was a gag in his mouth. He seem
ed dazed and almost unconscious. The
floor was flooded with water and neal
Clarke stood an empty bucket.
1t 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 tight grip. At the same time
someone 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 witt
questions, to which, of course, he coulc
make no reply.
His failure to answer seemed to infuriatt
the burglars-there were two of them
and they started to beat him cruelty about
the face and body. Then they went t.
the kitchen sink and filled with water al
empty milk bottle which they discovered
there. After torturing him by means o
the twater cure until he could hardly
breathe they proceeded to gag him with i
dish towel The ends of the towel they
knotted around his neck SO closely tina
they almost strangled him.
Even then his assailants were not salts
fed. Over his head they doused buckle
of water several times. Leaving him lying
in big pool of water, they set about ran
sacking the apartment. Every drawer wa
torn open and its contents tumbleL out OF
the floor The thieves, however, fount
but little that was worth carrying away
From their search of Clark pockets the,
secured only S. bill and the deafmute'
watch.
There is vacant apartment next to thu
Boylens. 1t is surmised that the thieve:
gained access to this and then made thei
way along the fire escape to the rooms
which the Boylens occupy.