Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-20
BRUTAL ROBBERS
ATTACK OLD MAN
LEAVE VICTIM UNCONSCIOUS
FROM BLOWS
THINK GROCER POSSESSES HID
DEN TREASURE
J. u. GreenIy Left Near Death by
Highwaymen, Who Enter Room
and Assault Him - Jaw
Broken by Thieves

Attacked In the dark while sound
asleep, brutally beaten by a robber, who
struck him repeatedly over the heao
with an iron bar, j. II. Greenly, ageo
s5, received injuries yesterday nornine
at / o'clock in the rear or his little
\grocery store. 435 Molino street. from
which he probably will die
The robber, or robbers. gained en-
trance to the sleeping rom at the rear
of the grocery by means or an lror
clawbar with which they pried open the
window. Greenly had no realization o.
iron bar in the hands OF a powerful
thing descended across his face with q
terrific blow, smashing his jawbone to
a pulp.
The blow rendered Greenly uncon-
scious, but the robber did not cease In
his efforts to kill him, and several times
brought the heavy instrument down or
the old mans head. Finally leaving
him for dead, the highwaymen Their
ransacked the premises, prying open the
door that led from the sleeping room
to the grocery and securing for theil
nights work $40.
Summons Assistance
Greeflly lay unconscious on the bed
until $3.50 Tuesday morning, when he
gradually recovered sufficiently to
realize what had happened. He found
with the contents of the room terribly
disarranged.
Dragging himself instinctively, and
but vaguely conscious of his condition
Greenly managed to get across the
street to the home of Mrs. c. Y. Shep'
pard. 432 Moiino street, where he
crawled up the steps and was able
finally to ring the door bell. Mrs Shep'
pard opened the door and found him
sitting on the steps. His face was sc
badly cut and swollen she did not recog-
nize him. but realizing he had been as
saulted cried out for help.
Mrs. T. Macelroy came to her assist
ance. Together they did what they
could to relieve the old mans suffering
and Mrs. Sheppard telephoned imme-
diately to the police. Officers responded
quickly, and an investigation was made
of the looted grocery store and bed
room.
The latter resembled shambles, and
the bed was found literally covered
with blood. the furniture scattered
about the room showing that the rob-
bers had searched everywhere for what
ever money was supposed to have been
boarded away in hiding by the aged
storekeeper. 1t is not believed any hid
den treasure was discovered, however
as his property Is said to have afforded
the old man Il bare living.
Window Pried Open
1t was found that the back window
had been pried open. as stated. and
that. after supposedly killing the old
man, the robber or robbers had pried
open the door to the grocery. The cash
drawer was found empty on the floor
and near by was an empty sack In
which Greenly is said to have kept his
scanty extra cash. There were. SO far
as known, no ciews as to the identity OF
the thugs. The clawbar with which
the crime had been committed was
lying on the floor near the bed covered
with blood.
Greenly was removed Immediately to
the receiving hospital. where It was
stated by the police surgeons he had
only the slightest chance for recovery.
His age. considered with the compound
fracture so close to his brain. eliminate
nearly all hopes OF recovery.
c. johnson. who lives next door to
the grocery store. says he was aroused
about l O'Clock yesterday morning by
the lowing of a COW. He chased the
animal away, and says that while re-
turning he heard footsteps I'm the
grocery He thought at that time it
was Greenly, but says now he be.
leyeS Ii was the robbers, as the old
man, was seldom out of bed so late.
Greenly has not uttered a word since
he staggered from his bed to the Shep-
pard house, and detectives have no way
F. of ascertaining the appearance or num-
Der of the robbers.
The victim of the crime came to Los
Angeles January 1, 1908, with $4,000
which he invested in four small gro
ceries and two rooming houses. The
location of these places or the town
from which he came cannot yet be
learned by the officers.