Constable Assaulted [Joseph W. Holman]

Phoenixville: An attempt was made to murder Constable Joseph W. Holman, of this place, about midnight. Holman was on the trail of the thieves who stole two teams from Chester Valley farmers the ngiht before, and while driving along a dark and lonely piece of road near Chester Springs, he was knocked from his wagon by a large stone thrown by someone in ambush. After he fell from his wogan by the roadside he was again struck by a furoius blow on the breast with another stone. After his assailants saw their intended vicitim lying in the road they rushed from their cover, intending to kill Holman where he lay, but the fallen man had strength enough to reach his revolver, and as soon as the man got within a few feet of him, he shot at them and drove them back. They then began another attack with stones, but Holman drove them back with his pistol until he was able to climb into his wagon and make his escape.

Officer Holman is the famous horse thief catcher of Chester County and in four years has succeeded in running down 64 stolen teams and in capturing 14 horse thieves. His life has often been threatened and the attack made on him was no doubt for the purpose of murder, as his assailants declared as they rushed upon him, that they "would put a stop to his catching any more horse thieves." Officer Holman succeeded, however, in getting the two stolen teams last evening and was after the thieves when assaulted. One of the buggies captured contained a complete kit of burglar tools.1

• 1. Reading Eagle, 10/31/1896