Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1908 — FRANK E. LEWIS WAS BEATEN AND ROBBED [ARTICLE]

FRANK E. LEWIS WAS BEATEN AND ROBBED

Superintendent of Gifford Railroad Slugged by Two Men and Robbed of Almost SIOO.

Frank E. Lewis, of Kersey, superintendent of the Gifford railroad, was knocked down and robbed Friday night at about 9 o’clock as he was leaving the railroad office. The details of the assault as gathered by the Republican are as follows: Mr, Lewis ‘had just completed his work at the railroad office, and had blown out the light and started for his home. Just as he reached the door of the office he was encountered by two men, one large and the other small and the small man flashed a dark lantern ino his face and at. the same time covered him with a revolver and commanded him not to give any outcry. Almost instantly be saw the large man swing somehtlng in his arm and he was conscious that he had been slugged and that he fell. He did not remember anything more until he regained consciousness s~>me hours later. Although Mr. Lewis has no recollection of what happened after he was slugged he did, nevertheless, crawl over to the telephone and call up Whited’s general store, which is only about a block away and call for help. There were seven men in the store and all of them hastened to the railroad office and there found Mr. Lewis prostrated on the floor and entirely unconscious. Both of his .pants pockets had been cut open and their contents taken by the highwaymen and his watch had been takei out of his vest pocket but evidently the thieves had become alarmed and

had run away before they could detach the watch from the chain. ' The men who had answeied Mr. Lewis’ call for aid made a careful survey of the premises and of the country around there, and then tele- ' phoned to all surrounding towns and I farm houses, but there was absolute y no clue and it is probable that the thieves will never be caught. | Dr. Wells, of DeMotte, was summoned and remained with Mr. Lewis for some time. He found that he had a bad bump on the side of his head, but it is thought by his doctor and others that this was caused by him falling down and striking his head on a chair after he had telephoned for help. Mr. Lewis is not certain just how much money he had with him but believes it was in the neighborhood of 1100. One time several months ago as Mr. Lewis was leaving his office he saw two men prowling about and thought'their conduct boded evil, and now he is of the opinion tha it was the same two men. It is regraded as quite probable that the job was done by some one that lived in this county and that knew something of Mr. Lewis’ business affairs. Saturday he felt quite well but he was unable to leave his home, and the shock will probably lay him up for several days. Sheriff O’Connor was notified of the robbery and left for Kersey early Saturday morning to try to discover some clue to the thieves.