Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1905 — PROF. SANDERS SAND-BAGGED. [ARTICLE]

PROF. SANDERS SAND-BAGGED.

While going home from the musical entertainment at the M. £. church at about 10 o’clock last Friday night, Prof Sanders, Supt. of the city schools, was knocked down by a “sand-bag” or some other such weapon, the supposition being that robbery was the intention. When on the sidewalk just east of the jail, someone stepped from behind a tree and struck him over the head with something that felled him to the ground. As he was struck Mr. Sanders gave a yell which was heard by sheriff O’Connor, who was just preparing to retire. Be-, fore he could dress and get out of doors Mr. Sanders knocked at the door and was admitted. He was quite badly excited and told the story of the assault. A search was made of the locality where the assault occurred but no one was found.

It is the opinion that if the party who struck the blow intended robbery that Mr. Sanders’ crying out scared him away, for he made no search of his victim’s person for valuables. As Prof. Sanders was taking in the money at the school entertainment at the church it is thought by many that the object was robbery, the party thinking that he would have the sack of money on his person, but he had turned the money over to Mr. Long before leaving the church.* Others think the assault was made by some high school boy who might have had some fancied grievance against Prof. Sanders. In any event it is generally believed that it was committed by someone who knew him and knew that he would pass along that street. Prof. Sanders was not injured at all by the assault, merely slightly scratched where the “bag” had come in contact with his face. He says that he did not recognize his assailant. He was dazed somewhat by the blow and before he could get up he heard his assailant running east on Harrison street. A child’s stocking partly filled with wet saw dust was found in the gutter near the scene Sunday, and it is supposed that this was the used. The affair is to be greatly regretted, and the assailant, whether bent on robbery, vengeance or a joke, would be taught a lesson if bis identity could be learned.