Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-11-07
FR|GHTFUL WOUNDS
INFLICTED BY
SAVAGE THIEF
PRESCOTT NAME FACE
SlASHED INTO RIBBONS
Most Remarkable Burglar on
Record Called One of His
Victims a Piker and Promised
a Donation,

Further details Of the work of the
murderous burglar who recently raid
ed the city OF Prescott and made a
frightful assault on a carpenter Of
hat place show that the thief was one
of the most desperate and brutal
criminals that ever operated in the
southwest. The Prescott Journal Min
er thus tells the story of the afro
city:
Robert Ludley, a carpenter. aged 81,
feriously. and perhaps fatally, wound
ed. a score of other lodging house
tenants robbed of money n valua-
lies, the fatal Of which will not
amount to over $40. and the police Of
ficidls securing the country for the
ROLLER. without effect. so far, are the
net results Of a series of lodging house
robbie, les, at an early our yesterday
morning by one of the boldest and
most desperates burglars that ever OPP
Grated IN northern Arizona.
Ludley lies in a ward at the Sisters
hospital. suffering from four knife
wounds inflicted by the burglar, and
is in a very precarious condition. He
has a cash, liagonally, from forehead
TO chin, which almost severed the nose
from his face. a cut extends across
the Jaws and moIth. almost from ear
TO ear, which severed every tendon in
his face, allowing his chin to hang
limp upon his chess. before being OPP
Grated upon. In addition, his left lung
was pierced by the robbers knife, and
he received q deep abdominal wound
that may yet prove fatal.
A few minutes before 2 o'clock yes
terday morning Ludley, who was
occupying room 90 at the Schuerman
hatrEn rnrau "a t0FalynnAI hxF fhA nRagnnan
of someone in his room. He sprang
from the bed and grappled with the
intruder. who was in the act of ri
fling the pockets of his trousers. The
thief turned upon Ludley, with a vi
cious oath, n slashed at him with
a long k~een-bladed knife, inflicting
the wounds mentioned above. before
Ludley would release his hold of the
burglar, who, breaking from his grasp
fed down the back stairway of the
hotel. and escaped through the alley
before the other mates Of the house,
aroused by the sounds of the desper-
ate struggle, came to Ludley's assist
anoe.
They found the latter In the hall
way. bleeding profusely from his gap
Ing wounds. He was carried into his
room and medical assistance sum
moncd. George Schuerman. proprie-
tor of the hotel. at once called in the
RWllCff VIM dTtlNfu WlNilH a. lew MINI
utes after the robber had escaped.
The physician dressed Ludley's
wounds, and he was later removed to
the hospital, where he now lies. with
but small hope held out TO him for re-
Covery.
Within twenty minutes after his es-
cape from Ludley, the murderous bur
glar entered the lower floor of the
B"rinkmever hotel. where he proceeded
to ransack several rooms. the doors OF
which he found unlocked. He first en-
tered the room occupied by Bob Epp,
a waiter at the hotel. The latter.
awakened by the noise made by the
intruder. asked what was wanted. and
was assured by the thief bending over
him as he lay in bed. and telling him
that he was a highwayman and want
ed money. and that unless Epp di-
vulgcd the whereabouts OF his coin,
he would cut his throat.
The same knife that had just cut
poOe Ludley's face into ribbons. was
pressed against Epp's side and the
latter promptly told the robber that
all the money he had was In the pook-
cts OF lis trousers. The thief secured
this them turned to Epp and de-
manded:
Where Is your watch2"
Epp responded that he had none.
w%hereupon tho burglar replied:
well. it doesn't matter; I've al
ready got about al ! want" AT The
same time displaying 20 Epp's gazc
two watches. which he oOk from his
trousers pocket.
After making Epp his head
with the bed clothes. the rubber backed
to the door. warning Epp not to move,
as he had a partner In the hall WAC
would plug him II he made a move"
As the robber stepped into the han
Epp declares she heard him say. In a
loud whisper: "All right, Bill. I'll
be with YOU in a minute. Keep on
guard" Epp Is Of the opinion this
was but a blum Of the robber. who. /
after leaving Epp's room. entered that
occupied by a guest named Miller,
who was relieved Of $40 and his
watch. according to his statement TO
The police. Two dollars WAS all the
robber secured from a third room, ar
ter which he left the building and
disappeared down the alley.
Previous to this II Is believed the
same thief entered the room occupied
by Fred Thompson. at the Globe lodg-
ing house. about / a. m. Thompson
WAS awakened at the opening Of his
door. He started to rise in bed when
he was commanded 10y the intruder to
LAY down. and cover up. or III blow
your block on" Thompson replied
that h. had nothing 10 cover up for.
and struck a match. BY It's light he
saw ne was confronted uA a man OF
medium size. broad shouldered. and
strongly built. with a heavy. dark
moustache. which he judged TO be
false. The intruder asked Thompson
where his trousers were. aud after he
had secured and ransa,ked them.
Ending only so cents. looked al the
coin. and contemptuously said.
You fcllers are a lot OF paupers
GOWN here I'm going up among the
aristocrats. and 90 I make a raise IN
come back and and YOU a dollar or
two"
The thief then departed. md. iudg-"l
ing rom reports TO the police which
came IN yesterday, must next have
tackled the Clih house. a. M
there stated they heard someone try
ing the doors about 1915 or 100
O'Clock The same reports were made
by roomcrs in the Head house. Who
placed the time az about 1850 or $40
O'Clock. A. nothing was taken from
any II the rpoms. al these places u g.
presumed the thief f0und an the doors
locked.
The burglar then probably made his
way % the Schuerman house. a. DO was
Just before 9 O'Clock when the encouu- |
ter between the robber and Ludicy I
took aftrc Rrem 90. Whtfcin Ludley |
. A. LHL # a.. a-MHM. .