Chase Doggett Gives Couple a Ride; They Beat Him and Steal His Car, Oct. 4, 1926

Rutherford Man Is Cruelly Beaten. . . Gives Pair Ride; They Attack Him and Take Car—Captured

Rutherfordton, Oct. 3—Chase Doggett, well known farmer of Gilkey, Rutherford county, was returning from Marion late Saturday afternoon n a touring car alone when he was held up and beaten by a man and woman to whom he gave a ride and who then rode off in his car, leaving him in a badly battered condition. The couple was later arrested.

When hailed by the man and woman and asked for a ride, Mr. Doggett readily took them in. After he had traveled about four miles, they requested to be allowed to get out. As he slowed the car, the man hit Doggett on the back of the head with a piece of steel buggy spring, used to change tires. Doggett got out of the car, somehow, he knows not how. The man ordered him to “throw up his hands.” In his dazed condition he failed to respond and was shot at three times, one bullet burning the cloth of his shirt above his arm. The woman struck Doggett with a rock. The man and woman took the car and made their escape, going towards Dysartsville and Morganton.

Brought to Hospital

Doggett ran a mile with his bleeding to a store at Vein Mountain and gave the alarm. He was brought to the Rutherford hospital and is improving. He suffered much Saturday night. He will recover unless complications set in. It took several stitches to sew up the wounds on the back of his head.

In Secluded Spot

The assault took place in a secluded part of highway No. 19 in a narrow gorge away from any house. The woman occupied the front seat while the man was in the rear. Mr. Doggett had taken a load of molasses and other things to Marion and did not have the cushion in the rear.

The assault took place about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. By 6 o’clock Doggett was at Rutherfordton and related the facts to Sheriff W. C. Hardin, who got busy and telephoned all nearby towns and officers to watch out for the man and woman. They were captured between Morganton and Valdese. They jumped from the car while it was going about 30 miles per hours. Officers came near running over the woman. The man first made his escape but was latter captured with the aid of bloodhounds.

Confess to Assault

The man confessed to the assault. His name is Eugene Davis, an escaped convict from Henderson county. The woman’s name is Buckner. They were lodged in jail at Morganton.

The assault stirred citizens of the upper portion of the county as nothing has since the World War.

From page 3 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, Oct. 4, 1926

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