Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-24
Unknown Thug Strikes George
Smith Vicious Blow With Gas
Pipe and Escapes.
VICTIM LEADS IN PURSUIT.
Recurrence of RobherieS Causes
Police TO Believe Vanguard of
Criminals Has Arrived.
Police and Sherin's Force Will Proscs
cute Vigorous Search for This
Mornings Bold Robber.

An attempt at murder and robbery
was committed by an unknown man at
Smiths grocery store on Eleventh
South and state street shortly after
o'clock this morning.
George Smith, u young man who
works in the store, opened the PLACES
as usual this morning and was putting
down the awning when a stranger ap-
preached and stated that he had a
camp near the railway tracks and
wanted to purchase some supplies
Smith became suspicious OF the fellow
aud questioned him at some length but
finally concluded that the man wanted
to buy some supplies. The two entered
the store and while Smith was reach
ing for something on one of the
shelves, the stranger drew from under
his coat piece of pipe and dealt young
Smith vicious blow on the head. The
blow glanced, inhictlng painful
scalp wound aud stunned Smith for q
moment The young man proved 10
be plucky, however, and kept his feet.
He backed toward the wall and faced
the murderous stranger for moment
until he could gather his scattered
senses. A. soon as Smith partly re-
covered himself his fighting blood was
M and he started after the would-be
rubber The fellow ran down Eleventh
South To Main street with Smith close
behind him. The man turned north
on Main and did his best to establish a
sprinting record. In spite of the pain
and his dazed condition, Smith bravely
kept after the man, but the wound
and the loss of blood weakened him
hg 70
for help. When he again took up the
chase the thug had disappeared.
POLICE ARE CALLED.
While the injured man was chasing
the thug word had been sent to polic,
headquarters and Driver George Moore
with Patrolmen Betz and Doty made a
fast run to the scene in the patrol wa
gon They made a careful search of the
ne1ghborhood but could find no trace
OF the would-be robber. Later Serst.
Roberts and Patrolman Pierce took up
the chase ana they were joined by
Deputy Sheriff Joe Sharp.
Smith returned to his home, where
physician dressed the wound in his
head. Smith says that the man struck
him with a blunt instrument and be-
lieves 1t was piece Of gas pipe. Had
the blow fallen squarely upon his head
the young man would undoubtedly
glanced and cut deep scalp wound.
Smith reeled ana nearly fell to the
floor, but realizing, though dazed, that
To fall would mean death. he struggled
TO keep his feet and succeeded in doing
so. The vicious stranger was ready
to strike again when Smith backed
against the wall for a moment and then
started for the intruder. The latter
became frightened and ran down tha
road, still Clinging to his weapon.
The police and sheriffs force were
given a description of the man and n.
once began thorough and systematic
search FOR him. They are confident OF
capturing the fellow as officers
throughout the county have been noti-
fled and asked TO keep a sharp lookout
for him, The fellow is probably in hid
ing among willows along the railroad
tracks but the officers propose to keep
up the search until he is captured.
The rapid succession of robberies dur
Ing the last week convinces the peacs
officers that the vanguard OF criminals
is here, the riff-raff from colder climes
and the disordcrlv clement which has
abandoned the mining camps.