The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-10
THE BURGLARS FATE.

Watchman's struggle for Life and n Burg
lars for Liberty-The Latter Probably Nor
tally Wounded.
On Monday night a burglar, named Carl Braun.
while In the act OF robblng No. II EAST Ffty-ourth
street, was disco vered by private watchman
named John Hays, who arrested him. After cross
ing the fence OF the yard attached to- the premises
No. Is OF the same street, Hays. who had hold OF
the burglar by the coat collar, slipped down an en-
bankment and fell with the burglar top. The
latter, seeing his advantage, determined
to make good use OF 1t, and sud-
denly struck Hays powerful blow
on the top or the head with some blunt instrument.
Hays who Is a powerfully built man OF about i've
feet nine inches In height. was almost stunned
by the blow, but ontinued the desperate sirug
gle which then followed, Tor pery on the one side
and for existence on the other. Hays tried 10 use
his club, but tue prisoner soon had tnat In ms pos
1t was OF little use TO either though for
they had now grappied with each other and
rolled the ground. The Waterman made
several Intellectual attempts TO get out his
revolver; but wnen he did at length the burglar,
who seemed 10 have been the most active OF the
Two, took 1t from him, and endeavOred TO re II at
Hays. Failing 10 get an opportunity OF doing he
wished, he aimed terrible blow with the butt end
OF IL At the watcnman's head and II ne had hit him
Instead OF striking NAYS however, he struck the
brick wall that was close at hand, making pieces
Of I tne pistol, HAYS succeeded IN wrestling
commenced the deadly, desperate struggle, which
had been somewhat less fierce during the last few
seconds. The Waterman was now fast recovering
from the effects oil toe severe blow given MN while
down by the burglar who was Just as fast wearJlng
OF the long sti ugge. Finally Hays, who, as he him.
self tells H. rendered desperate by the thought
OF leaving his children fatherless and their mother
without protector, gathered all his strength
last effort 10 become master Of the situation ProDa
bly,, though the true cause OF this determination on
his part was owing to the TACT that the thumb OF his
lett nand was Just then undergoing the process OF
mastication In the burglars mouth. HAYS at any
rate put forth one supreme ek0rt 10 cast his adver
sary away from him, which he did, anu then he laid
HIM insensibie at his feet with crushing blow
the head with the stock OF the revolver, which ne
had all along held In his right nand since It's
covery from the thief. This ended the contest, and
then for the first time the Waterman got an
opportunity Of summ0nlnQ tn his assistance a pO-
llceman the person OF officer Wilson, OF the Nine
teentn precinct lie took Hays and the burglar to
officers When ne got TO the station house the bur-
gar still lnseDsble, and DIR. swan (pollce sur
geon) was sent Tor, who said he was mortally
injured and ordered hlm TO be removed to Belle
vue Hospital. Ofllcers Wilson ana Hays then
returned to the scene OF the conflict and fC und
some,skeleton keys, which Braun had dropped and
buntle 0f clothes IN the water coset Of house No.
To- which Is owned and occupied by Mr.. Ecker.
These clothes belonged to Mr.. OppenneImer, the
proprietor Of Ma. IL, next door. Hays was
was arraigned at the Yorkvllle Police
Court. His left arm was In sling,
while his right was badly swollen, and his appear
anco generally was that OF person who had gone
through a severe hghL He was committed 70 await
the result OF Braun's injuries, though he thinks 1t
his employers and the city generally. lie thinks he
ought 10 have the same privilege OF not being sent
TO prison that policeman In the same predlca-
ment would nave.