New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-11
A SIXTH-AVE. TRAGEDY.
MURDEROUs SNEAK THIEvES-A JEWELER SHOT
AND MORTALLY WOUNDED IN HIS OWN
HOUSE-EsCAPE OF THE AsSASSINS.

MURDEROUs SNEAK THIEvEs-A JEWELER SHOT
AND MORTALITY WOUNDED IN HIS OWN
HOUsE-EsCAPE OF THE AssAssINs.
One of the boldest crimes that has shocked
this city since the assassination Of Benjamin Ma
than two years ago, was perpetrated early
last evening in one OF the most ire
Guented thoroughfares Of New-York, the victim in
this instance being wealthy and we[known jeweler
At 81 o'clock Charles H. Phelps proprietor OF the Jewey
establishment the southwest corner OF Ihrtynnth-
st. and Sixtb-aye., was conversing In his store
with A. M. Coffin OF Broadway and Thirty -hrstst.,
when he heard sound as OF some one
moving in the hallway. He opened the
door leading from the store into the hail. and stand
ing in the doorway Of the side entrance Thirty
John Z. Palmer young man having room In the
house. Phelps mentioned the fact Of hearing noise in
the hallway, and Palmer replied that he had but just
come in, and had observed two suspicious
looking men standing in the entrance Of the
adjoining house, No. 102. On seeing him the men came
in front Of where he standing, and. looking up at
the number on the door, said, mo- 100, 1922 104" and
walked away Mr. Phelps proposed TO search the upper
part OF the house. Palmer assened and together they
went up stairs, Phelps starting toward his stngroom
in the front Of the second floor and Palmer going TO his
room in the front of the third floor.
The lodger had reached the landing on the third floor
when he heard the sound of struggle, followed almost
instantly by pistol shot, and this again by second
Palmer turned and down stairs in time to see two
men running down ahead Of him. The first one man
OF small SIZE succeeded in getting away. The
second one q man above the medium hight and
of heavy build, was overtaken by Palmer, and ripped
at the foot Of the stairs He FELL and Palmer threw him
self ON him and endeayOred to detan him. The villain
who had kept the pistol in his hand as he ran down
stairs, evidently anticipated that those in the store
would intercept him, freed his right arm,
and fred at Palmer. The latter lodged, and
the ball whstled harmlessly past his
tba hfaffo IN faaf
Palmer again advanced toward him, and Mr. Coffin and
julius Bendix clerk in the store to his assist
ance AS the thief reached the pavement he was over
taken and tripped by Palmer and fell on
the stones He scrambled to his feet and hur-
redy fired another shot at the group In
the doorway. This also missed those at whom 1t was
aimed The thief then dashed off bareheaded across the
avenue through Thirty nnth-st., followed by officer
Morgan of the Mounted Squad who was passing at the
time and heard the cry OF stop thief The officer pnr
ave. and up TO Forty-second-st., where he lost all
trace of him, and finally abandoned the search; s
exeamng am Shot am dy1g sank stn into the
s s1preo on WE'RE sent for without delay In few MIN
utes, Police Surgeon Henry Drs. Fisher Blackmer and
room and examined The ball was found to have en-:
tered his left breast Just below the heart ana
probe In the opinion of the surgeons the wound
almost certain to cause death ina few hours. Under
the effect Of stmuiants Mr.. Phelps rallied somewhat
and gave Capt. Burden of the Twentynnth Precinct
clear account his with the thieves He stated
that as he passing along the narrow hallway leading
from the head Of the stairs TO the door OF the front room
small stepped out from alcove beneath the flight
OF stairs leading to the floor above He was AT once
seized by Mr. Phelps when the second and larger man
made his appearance. Dropping the smaller
man Mr.. Phelps seized the last conner, who at
once drew a pistol and fired, and almost Immediately
Feeling himself wounded Mr.. Phelps cried for help, and
started down stairs In time TO witness the struggle be-
tween Palmer and the assassin Mr. Phelps said he could
not identity either OF the thieves Paine, however
whom he had the struggle the hall. This left be-
hind him his haan old black one, with stin orin and
round crown Coffin and Bendx can also identity him.
The smaller got awgy without any one having OBJ
tanned a full Of his face. The assassin Is about 1ye
feet nine inches In hight, has dark hair and whskers
and wore black coat and vest and gray pantaoons
Mr. Phelps is native OF Bristol. r. l., age 49, He Is
one of the best known IN the trade, having been
in business for over years. He formerly kept store
In sxth-aye between Thirteenth and FOurteenth-ss |
cation, remained there for eight years. |
and two years ago moved into his present |
store lie reported to be quite wealthy and doing
large and paying business. He has wife and child
daughter Of Is years Mrs. Phelps who is visiting
some friends in Syracuse MY, teegaphed for last
in this city, sent for and was overwhelmed with
grief at her fathers condition.
Late last night Coroner Young attended and took the
ante morem statement OF the wounded man, who could
give however little information that would lead
the Identification OF his assassin At midnight he
still conscious, and had dictated the terms OF |
his WILL but IL evident that ne was fast sinking
The attendant surgeons thought he might possibly live
until morning Capt. Burdens officers engaged |
during the night In searching the city for traces VI the
assassin aud his accomplish
|