New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-28
THROW VICTIM FROM AUTO
Truckmen in West Street Wit
ness MurdeFOus Act at Dawn
ROBBERY POSSIBLE MOTIVE
Joseph Richards, Unconscious N
Hospital, Beaten and Robbed,
Police Assert.

The deepest mystery still saror1ds tho
identity Of the persons who were IN the
automobile with Joseph Richards early
yesterday morning. when he was hurled 20
the street from the speeding car and picked
Up in a dying condition by two truck
drivers who lad Witnessed the act
All day AR Richards remained practical
" unconscious. and though he was able
early In the afternoon to utter a few
words. they were nor coherent. For a short
time it seemed that the diving man would
recover sufficiently TO make a statement.
but his mind remained cIouded and all hs
could say was. II don't remember
Mr. Richards's wife and his oldest son
Arthur were with him at St viucents
Hospital ali day. and from hour 20 hour
they hoped that II the patient should nor
gain strength 70 give him chance for
recovery he would a. least regain conscious
ness to recognize them and 20 tell the story
% his fatal meeting the night before
Neither Mrs Richards nor her children
knew that Mr.. Richards had been out in an
automobile until they were told by the
police yesterday morning that he had been
taken to the hospital IN a diving condition
It was shortly after o'clock yesterday
morning when Frank Cassidy truczna1-
OF No. III Greenwich street. called PATROL
man Rodgers. OF the Charles street station
and led him 10 an unconscious man az
Barrow and West streets.
Cassidy told the policeman that he ard
another truck driver. whose name he did
not know. had seen an AUTOMOBILES coming
through West street IN the direction OF the
Jersey ferries at a speed which both ot
them thought must have approached sixty
miles an hour
Saw Man Hurled from Autonobile-
Al the moment the autonobHe passet
their trucks. Cassidy said. both drivers saw
a man lifted from the floor in the rear part
/ of the machine and hurled 20 the street
The body. which seemed rigid, turned over
, several times until il rolled into the gutter
Cassidy could not give. a description or
the occupants Of the automobile. and in the
darkness he had been unable 70 get even a
glimpse OF the number But though the
machine passed him az a very high speed
he saw that there were three or four per-
sons in it. all OF whom wore autOmObils
caps and coats. Whether there were any
women in the car Cassidy could not tell
A casual glance at the unconscious man
showed Patrolman Rodgers that he had
been terribly beaten and robbed Every
pocket Of the mans clothing was turned
/ inside out with the exception OF a waist
I coat pocket. IN which the patrOlr1an found
50 and a printed card with the following
directions.
Joseph Richards No. as West I'D
street. In case Of accident notify MCGEE <
Richards. No. - Grand street
I An ambulance was called and Mr. Rich
ards was taken to St vincent's Hospital
where il was said that he had no chance TO
recover. His skull was fractured and he
had many severe cuts and bruises on his
body
Whether the fracture was the result OF
I his fail 70 the street or was caused Dy oioWS
OF the men who robbed him IN the auJoLno-
bile Il was impossible TO establish The
same uncertainty confronted the PHYSICIANS
when they tried 70 ind traces OF drugs OF
alcohol in the injured man