The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-06-08
IS SLUCGED
and ROBBED
ON STREET
JOHN BEHRENDT is IN
A Sc RIOUS
CONDITION.
Is Assaulted While En-
Route to His
Home.

Using the old. but terribly et.
fceiiye. 'ftrong.arm method, two
thugs set upon John Behfeudt, Of
2tl Z. Boston st., and robbed him
OF a considerable sum Of money
shortly after 4 O'Clock last night.
Alter choking and beating their
victim Into insenslbllity, tho rob.
beers dratged Behrendt into an al
ley and took every penny from the
unconscious mans pocket
Today Behrehdt lies at his home
IN a stale Of semlconsclousnesa
and his condition Is regarded a. So
rious by DR.. /. b. Greene, inferno
OF the city hospital
Tells Of Assault
During his conscious periods,
BehreHdt told the story Of the as
saul to his wife and the police.
Behrendt attended a lodge meet
Ing OF the Red Men last night. and
shortly before Il O'Clock boarded
an Eaftiake ay. street car for
home. He left the car al Z. Bos-
ton St. and started for his home
block distant
Just as be reached the alley on
= Boston st.. between Eastlake
and Franklin avs. Bohrcndt heard
stealihy footsteps from behind. He
was about TO turn when a stout
forearm clutohod his throat from
behind with q yice'like grip. At
the same instant the thug thrust
bis knee with great force to the
small Of Behrendt's back.
Saw Second Thug.
Although dAEed, Behrendt re-
members seeing q second thug
emerge from the alley The vic
tim aimed n vicious kick at the
second rohber. but the later avoid
ed Il and struck Bchrendt a crush
ing blow In the pit Of the stomach
vita cllnohed fist
All but unconscious Behrendt re-
members being dragged into the
alley and thrown to the ground.
As he lay helpless the thugs kicked
him repeatedly about the head and
chest and Behrendt lost his senses.
The victim lay In the alley for
fully half an hour before regain
ing bis senses. Slowly crawling
to his home, Behrendt aroused his
wife by feebly scratching al the
door. Mrs. Behrendt Immediately
notified the police and plain
clothes Patrolmen Humphrey and
Christensen, together with Dr. |.
3. Greene, FASTENED to Behrendt's
home In the police auto.
Behrendt was In such pain that
the patrolmen were unable TO learn
what sum Of money was taken.
Suffers Terribly.
For several hours after the as.
sault Behrendt was seized with
violent fits OF vomiting. and this
morning he passed into state OF
coma He has occasional rational
periods, but his condition is still
serious.
Behrendt says the thug who
struck him IN the stomach wore
black mask. The assault upon
Behrerdt was very similar to that
upon Hugh Mcmahon. manager OF
the American cafe. who was
"etrong-armed" aud murdered sew.
eral months ago in the same neigh.
borhood. McMahon's body was
stripped Of diamonds and oash 10
the value Of several hundred dol
lars.
Behrendt formerly was manager
OF the City Messenger Co. at 1929
Third av., but sold his interest In
tie business a year ago because Of
III health.
Captain of Detectives Charles
Tenant has detailed several mem.
bers Of his force to use every pos
sible means TO run nehrendts as
sallauts to earth. Behrendt says
the assault was so sudden that he
could give no description Of tho
thugs