Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-23
HEARS WOMAN CRY
FOR HELP; FINDS A
MAN CHOKING WIFE
ROCK ISLAND GATEMAN RuSHES
TO AID WOMAN STRUGGLING
WITH HUMAN FlEND-VICTIM
WAS HIS HELPMEET.

( Mrs Joseph tIoey, aged about 80
who resides just off La Sale street
near The Kenney elevator, was the vic
tim Of a tiendish assault last evening
about J:45 O'Clock, when she wa.
grabbed choked a.i dragged seyera
feet down the railroad track by Pat
rick Houihan, aged AZ, laborer re
siding in Marseilles.
Mrs. HOey managed to loosen the
hold the assailant had upon her neck
while she screamed to arouse her hus
band, who is the night watchman al
the Ia Sale stree crossing. He
rushed to the rescue, not knowinl
The unfortunate woman was his wife
and HoUlihan disappeared, runnin'
down the tracks Hoey fired five
shots after the fleeing figure withou
avail.
Al II O'Clock last night Houlihal
was picked UP as suspect in the
Creedon saloon by Officer Hart. Ht
eenied his guilt. but was taken TO the
city hall and kept overnight. Thi
morning he was pm through the thirC
degree by Chief Zurich and confessed
he was the guilty man. Had the con
fessiCn not been made il would have
been almost impossible to convic
Hculihan, as neither Mr. or Mrs. H3e
were able TO identify him.
Mrs. Hoey was returning home afte
spending the evening with her moth
er-in-law. Mrs. Alice Hoey, 1916 l.;
Sale street. AS she crossed the cana
bridge she noticed Houlihan on tht
opposite side Of the street She die
not feel afraid as she noticed moth
ing in the appearance Of the man tt
create suspicion. Quickening hen
pace, she crossed to the west side 0
the street, thinking she would stop il
the flaeman's shanty to see her hus
band.
She walked along in front of HoWi
han, and as. she reached the railroad
crossing was grabbed by the neck
short struggle ensued Mrs tIoey try
ing to break the fiendish grip 50 tha
she might scream and summon help
He dragged her to the west side o
the shanty and was pulling her int
The darkness when she managed f
loosen his grip enough TO scream.
MIR lioey. hearing the scream, raj
ont and, thinking he was witnessing ;
family row, demanded to know wha
was the cause of the trouble -HOuli |
han dropped his victim and ran. an6
Mrs. Hoey, while still on the grount
where she had fallen, cried out to he
husband, For Gods sake, shoot tina
man" 1t was not unti she spoke tha'
Mr.. Hoey recognized her as his wife
He ran down the tracks, following
HOuiihan past the King & Hamilton |
factory, and fired five shots after him |
but was unable to hit him. The mar |
in the darkness. an,
fIoey returned to his wife and imme |
liately summoned the police
The entire force turned out to as
'ist in the search, and Jackson's |
were summoned The |
logs caught the trail and followed |
iown the railroad tracks for about |
i've blocks where they apparently |
ost al. scent of the criminal
The only description the police
we're able TO obtain of Houlihan was |
hat he wore a cap When Officer |
Hart arrested the man it was purely |
IN suspicion and with very little evi |
lence leading to the fact that he was
he guilty man.
Houlihan was tried this Afternoon
n Judge Koenig's court and bound
'ver to the grand jury under a
2,G0G bond.