The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-24

aCtacked Dy a lone DaH0Ib ht
$3.50 O'Clock this morning in
the SeIIe Bros. store, 1880
Fourth avenue.
Walter ]. SeIle, aged 43, was shot
and seriously injured in an attack
made by a lone bandit upon him at
$50 o'clock this morning in the
Selle Bros. grocery, 1880 Fourth
avenue.
Mr.. Selle was shot in the right
side when he battled with the ban
dit, and was then dubbed about the
head with the revolver.
The police were called by Carl
J. Mucke, who conducts a tailor
shop and lives next door to the
grocery. II was after d second shot
had been fired in the grocery store
that Mr.. and Mrs. Mucke called
through the partition separating
the two places and frightened the
bandit. Hearing the call, the rob
Der ran out of the store and is be-
lieved by Mr.. and Mrs. Mucke to
have escaped in an automobile be-
fore the police arrived.
Dr. Joseph De Silva announced
at 80 o'clock this morning, after
performing an operation in an ef-
fort to save the life of Walter J.
Se1Ie, that his condition is most
critical and that only the slightest
hopes are held for his recovery.
The bullet had torn a laceratinS
path through the liver and had
carried away the major portion Of
the right kidney. 1t penetrated
the upper middle portion of the
abdomen a little to the right and
passed out at the back, lodging
in the clothing. The slug was
large one, but so mishapen that il
is difficult to identify the calibre
gun from which it was fired.
Mr.. Selle had been beaten son
severely about the head with the
revolver butt that several long
scalp decorations had to be
closed. There were also cuts and
abrasions about the face.
Mr.. Selle was found on the floor
before the safe. unconscious. How
ever, he regained his strength and
was able 10 tell the police the story
Of the attack.
He was hurried to St AnthOny's
hospital, where Dr. Joseph De Silva
performed an operation to locate
the bullet.
Had Suspected Pedestrian.
Mr.. Selle told the police that he
had come to the store early and
was sweeping the snow off the walk
when a man passed him. and fear
ing that the fellow contemplated
holding him up. he left his work
and reentered the store, where he
thought he was safe.
Mr.. Selle had not thought it nee
essary to lock the store door and
began busying himself in the in
terror
He went to the stove and shook
down the Goals, and while he was
starting the fire the front door was
opened. He turned and recognized
the man he had seen in the faint
light outside.
The robber pointed a gun at the
groceryman and commanded hands
up" Mr. Selle did not comply
quickly enough ard the bandit fred
into the floor The gTOcerymau
obeyed the robbers further com
mands until he was ordered TO open
the safe.
AS the bandit stopped down over
the safe Mr.. Selle pounced upon
him. The bandit fired up from be
meath his arm. the bullet striking
the groceryman in the left side
Mr.. Selle still retained strength
to continue the attack on his as
sailant, but after this soon weak
ened and was rolled to one side
He was brutaIly beaten about the
head with the gun. 1t was at about
this time that Mr.. and Mrs Mucke
called to Mr Selle and asked him
Continued on Page Fifteen