The Portland daily press., 1869-11-13
Burglary.
THE DESPERATE CAPTURED AFTER DEsPER-
ATE STRUGGLE

THE DESPERATE CAPTURED AFTER DEspER-
ATE STRUGGLE.
On Friday morning about / o'clock Mr..
Henry A. Brown who resides on Lincoln street
W is awakened by his little son who said that
was certain there was some one in the pro-
Vision store of MIR Robert Pencil, which is
situated on the corner of Smith and Lincoln
streets, about ten feet from Mr.. Browns. Mr..
Brown arose and, without stopping to put on
his clothes, took the lamp in his hand and
went out doors to Pencils store, where he
discovered butcher knife sticking in the top
of the window shutter, and daub, as of mo-
lasses, on the door handle. Thinking that cir
cumstances looked suspicious he returned to
his dwelling and dressed himself and then
aroused Mr.. James Hatch, who occupies
the upper part of his house. Mr.. Hatch
came down stairs armed with a short club,
while Mr.. Brown equipped himself with the
butcher knife and lamp. Both of them went
to the store door, and on trying the latch found
it was unfastened, SO they went into the store.
On getting inside no one was to be seen. They
explored behind the counter but no one was
visible. On looking towards the opposite side
of the shop Mr.. Brown spied piece of a mans
coat sticking out from behind barrel, on
which box was placed, and turning to Hatch
he said "There's the man, we must take him."
At these words the burglar sprang up, saying:
"fll be id if you shall, and made jump
for them AT the same moment out went
Browns lamp leaving them all in total dark
ness, and therefore Brown made spring out
of the door into the street, followed by Hatch,
I'D no c1o 4Io hob
while Hatch thrust his club through the ham
die, thus fastening il securely. Finding that
he was trapped the burglar determined to es-
cape if he could. He secured large piece of
heavy planking, to serve as a battering ram,
and placed Ratchet close by the door, evil
IDENTIFY with tie purpose of clearing way
with it as soon as he had forced an out
LET. He however must have been consider
ably excited tor he would first make ire
mendous attack on the door and then change
his tactics to the window, making loud noise
in his endeavOrs. In the mean time Brown
held on to the sash of the door and Hatch to
the window shutters. While this was going
ON Mr.. Murphy, who lives near, joined the
party. and Immediately after Officer Gribben
arrived on the spot AS soon as Gribben came
he ordered the door to be opened and drew his
revolver. As quick as the door opened the
burglar gave Gribben q tremendous kick IN
tle stomach driving him backward INTO
Hatch's arms but Gribben recovered hlmseif
instantly and fred, the shot evidently dis-
concerning the burglar for moment, but ne
rallied and made another fierce attack on
Gribben who avoided the blow fired a second
shot, and then cinched him. The others then
sprang forward to assist the officer bat al
though all four of them had him down he
fought aud bit so that they could not turn him
on his back to pinion him till Hatch hit him
over the head with the billy, stunning him
slightly, when they got on the handouts and
carried him to the station house. The mans
name is George Pierce. He is quite young,
we should not think more than twenty years
of age, but very tough and wiry. and has just
finished term of Imprisonment at Thomaston
The officers say he is an old and experienced
burglar and desperate character, but one
would hardly think so to look at him. III
showed good plnck in this affair however
worthy of better cause. We think our clti
Gems will heartily thank those engaged in Tho
CAPTURE for our city of late has been the scene
OF several lawless affairs. The man wa:
brought to the station about 2 o'clock.
We have since learned that Pierce had DELHI
erately collected goods together and was en-
joying cigar when disturbed by Messrs Hatch
and Brown He blew out his candle and at
tempted to hide himself, and then the contest
took place as stated.