The New York herald., 1871-01-02
BOLD BURGLARS I'm BROOKLYN.


lice Msmnnaaement the Probable Cause
One Of Them Shot Fatally.
Water street was the scene OF q daring, burglari
Gus raid OF housebreakers, which was made as the
chimes or st. Anne's-on-the Heights, Brooklyn were
commlngling their harmonious strains with
those OF Trinity church. OF this city,, be-
tween midnight OF the last OF the Old
year and the first hours Of 1871. The nerarious
deed, which was only partly frustrated by the
guardians OF the peace, who acted in most pecu-
narly bungling manner, it would appear from their
own records, involves the probable sacrifice or
the life OF one OF the gang OF bur-
glars engaged In the adventure. The CIR
cumstances, as far as can be ELECTED from
the statements Of the officers interested OF the Sec
ond police precinct are az subjOined:--Shorty be-
fore one O'Clock yesterday morning Angus McCa-
Tough, trusty night watchman, who is employed
on the premises Nos. 10 and 20 Water street, was
STARTLED INTO ACTIVITY
and nearly out OF his wits by noise as of men try
Ing to pry open the front door OF the establishment
in which he was SOLITARY and alone" Listening
attentively for moment he made up his
mind that his uhtimey visitors were OF
vertable flesh and blood, and all the mere
to be dreaded because Of that fact Retreat the
only plan which suggested Itself, and he 'stood
not upon the order of going, but went at once.n
Possibly 1t was as well for him that he did so. He
made his exit Dy the rear door and cambered the
fence OF the yard and got into the street. Hurryng
with all speed to the station house of the Second
precinct corner Of York and Jay Streets and breath
less from running and excitement, ne related the
circumstance to Sergeant Cain, who was on duty at
the desk. The latter official at once despatched
officers McCarty, Cowen and Quevedo TO
THE SCENE OF ACTION.
u1,afh haoa or naa,
police returns do not state. McCarty ana Cowen.
however. cautiously approached the place, ana
climbing up so as to peer into the office made up
their minds that there were good grounds for fear
Ing to "tacke'' the gang who were at work within.
There were no less than
SIX sTALwORTH ROGUES
engaged in filing, boring and prying open the
doorplate OF the heavy iron safe. Their tools were
formidable, and the "cracksmen" worked with all
the ingenuity and avidlty OF professionals. IL would
be folly, the two officers agreed, to venture such
unequal encounter. Discretion was the better part
OF valor with them and thus deciding it was
deemed best TO procure assistance before ven-
turing to arrest the safe-breakers. Patrol
man Cowen, who recently shot an escaping
prisoner, went of on the "doable quicky to the Full
ton ferry to summon the assistance Of the ocer on
that post. While he absent OF the gang,
an give IN case
discovery got his eye on the lonely police sentinel,
onlcer McCarty, on the sidewalk beneath. Hastily
communicating the fact to his comrades
THE RETREAT WAS SOUNDED,
and away, spell me,n out or the building tumbed
the burglars, revovers In hand, ready to do execu-
fired at McCarty, by way OF q "New Years gift.n
None OF the shots, however, did any damage. The
onicer puCkily closed In on the hindmOst individual
ana
STRUGGLE ENsUED,
for the mastery The officer In the meantime dis
charged two shots after the retreating runlans. He
struck his antagonist the head with the butt end
confedcrates OF the captured burglars
SHOT THEB COMRApE
unntentionally OF course, the ball being Intended
for McCarty. The lcaden missile entered Just be-
meath the left shoulder blade ana penetrated down.
wards, lodging In the spine,. In the meantime the
assistance sent for arri~ed In time to be too
late, and the wounded man was carried to
Drs. Barry and Kissam, and the wound
probed, but the ball was not extracted. He
gave his name as John Erwin, and resides at No. 90
Adams street, where his wife and two children live
Erwin has only been out OF the State Prison eighteen
months, he having served term of five years for
Nothing which could tend TO further crlminate
the unfortunate man was found, though his
house was thoroughly searched. The impe-
mcnts used by the burglars are OF various
and curious patterns, and are now at the
station house on York street. Had sufficient force
or police gone to the place instead or two officers
the probabilities are that the six evldoers would
now be snugy Gagged and out OF harms way.
Coroner Jones was notified early in the day by
Captain Mcconnell to take the ante-mortem state
ment OF the wounded prisoner, but to late hour In
the evening had not done So