The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-01-03
TRIED TO CUT THROAT
Albert SearCy Attacked by a Des
M0ines Tough who tried to Cut
His Throat with a Razor.

His Throat with a Razor.
Albert Searcy, the nineteen year old
son OF Mr.. and Mrs. Will Searcy, who
live four miles east of Leon, came near.
being murdered by Des Moines tough
named Louis Hopper in that city last
Thursday evening. Albert has been
employed the pastyear as elevat or boy
in the Chamberlain hotel in Des MOines,
and is young man of good reputation.
1t seems that in company with his older
brother Will he was on his way to call
on lady friend when they were attack
ed and while trying to board street
car to get away from his assailant AL
bert was caught by Hopper just as he
was boarding the car. Hopper had a
razor in his hand and catching young
Searcy drew back his head and tried
to cut his throat, but just as the cut
was made Albert threw his head for
ward trif1e and the razor struck him
on the cheek cutting cash which ex-
tends from his ear to his mouth. Had
the wound been a half inch lower it
would have caused instant death. AL
bert's father went to Des Moines Fri
day and found he was not as seriously
injured as the newspaper account
reported, and Albert was able to come
to Leon in company with his brother
| Monday, and is now at the home of his
parents near this city. Young Hopper
who did the cutting was arrested the
same evening and is now in Jail in Des
Moines charged with attempted murder.
Fridays Des Moines Register and
Leader gives the following account of
the affair:
| Jerked backwards from the steps of
Scott street car last evening by his
assailant as he attempted to escape, AL
bert Searcy, we'll known East Des
Moines young man received slash from
a razor in the hands of Louis Hopper,
an Agar packing house employe. The
cutting atfray was the sequel to fight
just south OF the G. B. s. Q. tracks on
Scott street, in which four men partici-
pated.
City Physician Miller, who attended
Searcy last night, stated that if the cut
had been an inch lower the mans wind
| pipe would have been severed. The
razor entered the cheek near the tip of
the left ear and laid open the flesh OH
the jaw to the point of the chin, several
inches OF bone being exposed by the
great gaping wound.
Hopper was arrested later in the even
ing by Patrolman kuehner. He was
locked up in cell and will be held on
charge of attempted murder.
When Searcy was taken into thepolice
station under arrest he was so weak
from loss of blood that he could scarce
lily stand. He vas later sent to Mercy
hospital. Searcy's brother, who had
taken part in the earlier fight, nor the
man who was with Hopper at the time
he used the razor, could not be located
last night.
! The affair, it is said grew out of neigh
borhood clannishness, which forbade
residents of other sections of the city
to venture south of the C. B. 81 o.
tracks.
| At about o'clock last evening Searcy
and his brother strolled otf into South
Des Moines to visit some girl. They
crossed the tracks and started toward
the east when they were accosted by
Hopper and friend, who has not vet
been identified.
You fellows had better turn your
faces around and get out of this neigh
borhood,' Hopper is alleged to have
said.
The Searcy brothers resented the
brusque command and answered in kind.
Words lead to blows and the quartette
were soon rolling in the dust, striking
and biteing and kicking. Searcy said
last night that he aad his brother man
aged to get the best of their assailants,
and acting under common impulse, Jump
ed to their feet and started to run.
Searcy's brother caught onto the tail of
a passing buggy and escaped from the
neighborhood.
Albert Scarcy jumped to his feet and
| sprlnted to the cornec, where he hailed
passing Scott street ear, followed by
Hopper. The car came to a stop when
pursuer and pursued were but a few
his razor and barred the blade when he
began the chase, reached out and grabb-
ed his enemy by the coat collar. The
latter attempted to break loose, but
lost his balance and fell backwards.
| With deliberation it is said, Hopper
turned Searcy's head back and slashed
at him with the razor, employing all his
strength in making the cut. Madden
ed with pain the wounded man tore him
self loose and ran northward He
walked all the way to Walnut street
with blood streaming from his wound.
He refused to talk concerning his
trouble with Hopper last night.
| When Hopper was arrested the razor
was found on his person. He had wash
ed the blade. While he was riding to
the station in the patrol wagon he at
tempted to get rid of the weapon, but
was caught in the act. He resisted the
officers when he was placed in his cell
and became abusive in his language.
~:
Attorneys c. w. Hoffman and Ed n.
Sharp were the envy of all the Leon