, 1874-02-12
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE.
A Hotel-Thief Wishes to Oct Rid Of
His Troubles.
And Resorts to tho Expcdtent Of Shoot
Ing Himself.
Probability that the Wound Is Not Fatal.
S1kotch of the Life of tho Offender.

SkGlCRI OI tllG lAl1C OI EnC ONG1lSA0Is
Tuesday evening about O'Clock, MIR. Kirk
wood, Of tho fur house Of Kcith Brothers, board-
Ing ut tho Palmer House, went mp to his room
from tho rotunda OF tho hotel, anticipating d
pleasant evening in tho privacy Of his apart
mont. He WAS rather moro surprised than edl-
fed when, on reaching Ills quarters, ho discoy-
cred that q ntco young man had preceded him,
and WAS upon the point Of departing thorofrom.
MIR. X. laid violent hnnla on the intruder, with
view to ascertain tho object and result Of his
visit. But ho
BLIppED FROM Ills GRASP
With tie agility Of au norobat, mud darted for tho
stairway leading to tho Office like ball from (.
cannon. Ho had gono as far aa tho par1or,
whore ho was premature1y introduced 10 Col.
Sheridan, and that gentloman testified his apprc-
citation Of the honor BY obtaining md osoorting
him tu tho Office. Tho clerks Of tho hotel failed
to recognize bis inoamonts as belonging to
guoat Of tho house, and Watohmau Lull, who
was on the ground, identified tho stranger as
T. Y. Sheridan. He was taken to the Armory,
and upon searching his porson, innumerable
koys, two portmonuaies, and sundry " tricks +"
peculiar to the craft nore found in hiB possess
sion.
AMONG THE PLUMBER
taken from tho hidden pockets Of his garments,
was q eafe-koy numbered 1000. wallot, sup
posed to belong to Philip Davidson. and, On tic
property Of David Stern, Of Philadelphia, a re-
cent guost ut tho house; also, koy to room
ut tho Clifton Houso. Tho prisoner was locked
up preparatory to hia appearance before Boyden
lated themselves On tho capture Of 4 man who
had given thom so much trouble by hls dark
deeds about tho hotels Of tho city.
READY TO HAND Oven.
Whom tho day dawnod, tho prisoner, moved
other by romorao at his folonious conduct, or by
tho hope that the action might mitigate luis
crime, or by both, solicited an audience with
Capt. Lull. Whom Tint officer. in company with
Detective Gallagher, visited him in obedence to
his wishes, ho expressed his Willingness to &C.
company thom to his room on Congress street
and deliver tho fruits OF bis previous operations,
amounting, ~ was supposeat to about 900 in
value. The officers gladly accepted Ills PROPOSE
tiou, aud, Ao sandwiohed betwoen them, tho trio
went shither While On tue way, tho prisoner
manifested tho moat poignant grief at tho posi-
tion In which he had put himself by his unlaw-
FIJI aots, and expressed wish that he might die.
In d short time they arrived at hts domloil, and
ho led them up dark. narrow flight Of stairs,
and having reaohod tho secoud story, continued
plotting hia followers through d circuito US,
mcandering hall, until he roaoled room in tho
rear Of the house, into which he usl,ered them.
Once in, ho offered them the hospitallsies OF the
apartment, and in calm, cool, buslneas-like
manner set about accomplishing
TIE OBJECT OF TIE VISIT.
On ons side Of the room a vault Is brilt,
closed with door which can only be opened by
ono familiar with the combination. Ho ut once
began the operation Of unlookiug 1t, and called
tho combination aa the cylinder responded to his
minutes, elapsed before he completed tho work,
when he turned tho knob aud swung back tho
heavy iron door, disclosing tile interior
Of the = safe, stored with yatuables. Capt.
Lull requested Detective Gallagher to watch tho
prisoner while ho entered tho iron box, aud be-
gan search for personal property thereiu
stored. Olflcor Gallagher went to the bnrean
and, opening tho compartments, sought to mako
iii examination Of their contents, While thus
engaged, sherldan1lnterruptod him. md sprc-
Rented Gallagher With neat, delicate pcnlnite,
with request that ho would rstain it III token
OF respect. The officer thnuked the donor, and
returned to an investigation Of the bureau,
while Sheridan aauntered leisuroly across the
room to mantel-piece. The room was ueatiy
cravings ind Photographic. On tile mantel-pioco
was collection Of books Of a. character TINT
would be found In tho library Of gentleman of
refined taste and clasEioul inclinations. Sud-
denly the officers wore startlad bya
SHARP, QUICK REPORT
"a Of an explosion Of pistol, and D emnll pufr
Of blue smoke, curling upward toward tito coil
ing, indicated that tho report did como from o
weapon. Officer Gallaghor rushed to tho pris-
oner, md reached him in timo to catch hia fall
ing body before it struck tho loor Gallagher
laid him gently on bis back, and q wound in tho
right side OF tho head, from which tho bright
blood glahed forth, Ills trembling imbB and tho
convulsiye shuddor Of hia framo, showed him to
bo, apparently, in the agoniea of death. Tho
two men alone in the room with death, as they
thought, confronting them, maintained their
presence Of mind, aud while one sought . doc
tor, tho other tried to check tho tlow Of blood
and by such mcagre meauB aa Wero at his COM
mand, to royiVe the wounded criminal.
HELP SECURED.
A physician from tho neighboring corner waB
summoned, but defined to operate unalcd by
the services OF aocond doctor. Finally Dr.
Miller, who WAS passing tho vicinity, was called
III and examined tho wound. He pronounced it
not necessarily dangerous, and. after. dressing
it temporarily, directed hts removal to tho
County HospitaL He ia at present an occupant
Of Ward " B" in TINT institution, and receiving
such caro- as his case domunls.
THE WOUND
inalctcd ia fow inches back Of tho right temple,
and conBlsts Of q deep, ragged cash, Huch aH
would bc made by q muaket ball. Tile missile
went crashing through the muscular ltgamouts
that protect tho Bl1ull, aud, taking downward
courBo, clipped tho skull, nnd glancing of,
lodged at tho base Of the jaw. The wound Is not
Of neccBaity fatal, and unless meningitis sets in
his recovery is assured.
HIS HISTORY,
. This ia the end Of young man Of whom Bono-
thing fur diiEoront might hayo hcon oxpoctcd.
lie IL native OF New York City. from which
point he came to Chicago somo years ago, aud
until quite rocently hus occupied q desirable po-
pition hare. He claims TO be q graduate Of Yale
College In tho claBs Of 1901, and bis educational
requirements arc such as to warrant the boliof
that ho il col]egan. Immediately upon. oom-
plotting bis college course. bclnE prompted by
Hfirit Of adventure. ho Gntnraf1 thu nt11y and