The Morning News

HELD UP BY FOOTPADS.

W. C. Smith's Tale of an Ugly Assault Upon Him.

W. C. Smith of No. 23 Bay street was held up on Broughton street, between Abercorn and Lincoln streets, at 2 o'clock yesterday morning, and his money taken from him by three white men.

Smith says that he had been out early in the night and paid some bills, after which he had $90 left in his pocketbook, which was an old-fashioned clasp book. While on his way home, after spending a considerable portion of the night with friends, he was accosted by three men, one of whom asked him what time it was. Smith answered 2 o'clock. The stranger replied: "You are a liar; it is not."

Smith, to be obliging, swallowed the compliment and pulled out his watch to bear out his statement as to the time, when one of the footpads made a thrust at him with a knife which cut down his shirt front. His vest was cut across on the left side. While this was going on another of the men struck Smith a stinging blow in the face, at the same time throwing his arms across his neck, holding him until they succeeded in getting his pocket book. All three broke away and ran in different directions.

During the struggle Smith says he held on to his watch and chain and made considerable outcry. A fireman, Jim Murphy, came where he was, but the thieves had vanished. Smith says he would recognize the party who was striking at him with the knife if he should come across him again.

He says he does not regret the loss of the money as much as he does the pocketbook, which he values highly on account of being an old family heirloom.

Smith claims that his family will give $200 reward for the apprehension of any or all of the thieves, with the pocketbook. He says that he has lived many years in Savannah, and has been in many and dangerous places, but had never had an experience before like that of yesterday morning.