Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-13
FLORIST BEATEN
AND SUCCEED IN
FRONT OF HOME
Henry Gaethje Brutally Assault
ed by Two Robbers-In
Serious Condition.
HAMMERED WITH REVOLVER
OVereoat, Hat. Gloves and Ear Muffs
Torn of OefenseIess Citizen
Have No Clues.

Henry c. Gaethje, the we'll known
South Rock Island florist. was attack
ed. brutality beaten ami robbed at the
very doorstep of his home at Center
Station at II o'clock last night. Mr..
Gaethje is in a serious condition to-
day from the beating.
Last night he attended the monthly
meeting OF the Florist club in Daven-
port. He boarded a Watch Tower car
about 1880 at Seventeenth street and
arrived at Center Station about 1I:45.
During the cold spell he always made
il habit to go TO the boiler room to
give the fireman orders before retir-
ing. The door OF the boiler room IS
about 80 feet from the house. Mr..
Gaethje was just about to enter, when
two men sprang upon him from the
darkness.
Seized Around Neck.
One OF the thugs seized him around
the neck, choking him, twisting his
head backwards. The other robber
then started to beat him about the
head and face with a butt end of a
revolver. The attack was entirely I'M
expected and MIR. Gaethje was unable
To defend himself. While he was in
a semi-conscious condition they tore
off his overcoat. then taking his hat,
gloves. ear muffs, Elk book and key
and about 75c in small change, dropped
him and ran toward the cemetery.
Axel Hokinson. son-in-law of Mr.
Gaethje. who was on duty as fireman
at the time. heard him groaning out
side the door. and ran to his assist
ance. As he came out he noticed two
men running in the direction of the
cemetery. The injured man was car
ried into the house, and a physician
called. As the result of the beating
Mr.. Gaethje sustained two badly
blackened eyes, with a long bruise
running across the forehead right
above the eyes. deep cut about an
inch long under the right eye. and a
bad bruise on the left cheek. His right
hand was also bruised, when he at
tempted to defend himself by raising
II. His throat is bruised, making it
hard for him TO swallow. He was
stunned from the attack for several
hours after IL occurred and was unable
to talk plainly. He could only give
vague description OF the assailants
and about the only thing he could re-
member was that the thugs were short |
OF stature. The police were notified as !
quickly as possible. but owing to the /,
meagre description of the men and the !
time lost in coming there. were unable |
TO find the slightest clue. as to who |
the guilty parties we're. |
Robbery Motive.
II is very evident that the purpose /
OF the attack was robbery. as the as
sailants took everything OF value that I
could be carried away. Mr.. Gaethje l
has no enemies that he knows or and !
is well liked and popular among his |
many friends in the city.
The physician in attendance stated 1
today that Mr.. Gaethje will suffer no
serious effects but that he is badly 4
bruised from the attack. and will be
confined to his home for some time.
The injured man is IS years OF age but
is rugged and in good health. which
will go long way toward a speedy re-
covery.
Dog Hears Men.
George Burns. who lives on Ninth
street. north OF Brashsr. reported that
someone was proving about his house
last night. lie keeps an English bull
dog, and the mongrel evidently heard
about the place as he began
barking furiously. Mr.. Burns got up
and noticed by the timepiece that il
was about ] O'Clock. He dressed and
went ont and looked all around the
place. but could see no one. He stated
today that he was positive that some.
one must have been in the yard as
The dog was not in the habit of howl
Ing without cause.