The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-24
Highwaymen Enraged Be-
cause Victim Fights to
Save Her Purse.
GROUND TO DEATH
UNDER THE WHEELS
Murderers Escape After Being
Chased by Crew, Passengers,
and Police.

NEW YORK, Aug. 4-Two highway
men, bent on robbing a well-dressed
woman at Nineteenth street and Am
sterdam avenue. this morning became
so Infatuated when she screamed and
tried 10 fight that they dragged her from
the sidewalk and hurled her in the path
OF trolley car.
As the car crushed the life out OF her
they escaped
The woman. who appeared to be about
thirty-fve years old. was seen walking
lastly through Ninety-hTst street, ap-
parently coming from the subway sta
ton at Ninety-first street and Broad
way IN her right hand she carried a
reticule and she seemed to be hurryinR
home.
She turned south at Amsterdam ave-
nue., and was walking past a vacant lot
Enclosed by a fence ten feet high, AS
she reached the corner, the men sprang
out at her. One seized her handbag and
trtd TO wrest 1t from her grasp, while
his companion beat her IN the face
The woman fought the men of and
screamed until the man behind began
choking her. Still she fought with her
free hand. holding the bag with the
other
The woman was seen struggling and
heard screaming by rlen at Eighty
men and woman were engaged in horse
play.
Motorman Sees Struggle.
An Amsterdam avenue car came whiz-
Eing down the grade between Ninetieth
and Ninety-second street, in charge Of
Motorman Thomas King and John Nee
han. King saw the struggle on the side
walk and saw the men drag the woman
over the curbing. AS his car got al
most opposite them one OF the men
seized the woman by the shoulders while
the second man. having forced the
handbag from her, seized her wrist and
pulled her forward.
AS the car came upon the trio, the
two men lifted the woman from the
ground and hurled her across the tracks
The fender passed over the woman and
she was caught under the guard. The
car could not be stopped. such was its
momentum, until il had reached Eighty
ninth street. The woman was then fast
under the wheels.
Conductor Meehan and several pas
sengers had witnessed the murder. They
sprang from the car, and when the two
men began to run east through Nine
tieth street. the conductor and the pas
sengers followed.
One Man Enters Saloon.
rear door Of a saloon at the southeast
corner. When Meehan tried TO get into
the place the door was locked. The sec
ond man continued TO run. and was
seen to enter the stable of Phillip Wag
ner & Sons. between Amsterdam and
Columbus avenues. Several men ran
into the stable, and then waited the
rival Of the police.
When the woman was attacked, PO-
ucemen stanton, Ryan. Snyder, and
TOOhey, Of the West 1e0th street sta
ton ht ard her scream, and were run
ming toward Ninetieth street when the
car crushed out her life. They Hollow
ed the conductor and passengers, and
at the rear entrance Of the saloon they
beat in the door.
At the entrance they found the Wom-
ans retiCule. 1t contained $50 and
handkerchief, on which was the initial
H The handkerchief was not cheap
and the initial was hand embroidered.
No one was found in the saloon, and
when the police reserves came they sur
rounded the block.
or entering the stable the police found
several Of the passengers talking with
a man who later said he was John
Dunn, IWenty-seVen years old, of ola
West Twentieth street.
a policeman seized Dunn and demand
ed that he explain his presence in the
stable.
Says He Is Employe.
I'm employed here" said Dunn. II
have not left the stable tonight, and
have not seen a stranger enter"
Dunn had been told OF the murder on
Amsterdam avenue. He said.
7 know absolutely nothing about
this. ! only wish ] did"
The police took Dunn TO the station
house and locked him up on suspicion.
A search OF every house on the block
was then made No suspicious person
was found.
All this while the body OF the muir
dered woman was pinned under the car.
while men strained to lift 1t from the
trucks. A Wrecking car was called,
ana the body released after half an
hour. The police then arrested Motor
man King. who had collapsed. and
made a technical charge Of homicide
against hiua- Conductor Meehan was
also held as a witness.