Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-10
FIGHT WITH M4SKED BURGLARS
Two Of Them Shot, One Fatally.
PLOT TO ROB THE METROPOLITAN CAR CON-
PANY FOILED BY THE POLICE-A LIVELY
TIME LAST NIGHT.


About $50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
Lieut.. Vernon. in charge of the detective
force, received information that burglars were
going to rob the office of the Metropolitan
street railroad, situated beyond the P-street
bridge: that their plans were to make the
attempt between and o'clock, at least after
midnight, after the last car had been turned
instructed Detectives .McDevitt, McElfresh.
Miller and Voss to take care of the case. The
detectives at once communicated with the
had been received, and they expressed their
great surprise that so bold an act was contem-
plated, and at once made arrangements to
for working the case in their own way.
THE DETECTIVES ON GUARD.
The detectives proceeded to the office of the
company between II and II O'clock. Detective
Yoss was stationed in the room where all the
money is turned in and counted. 1t is the
custom OF the treasurer, Mr.. Moore, to leave
the office at o'clock for his home, and the
receives the money boxes of the conductors.
At the present season, where there are so
many night entertainments gven-the schuet.
cars is considerably increased, as well as the
receipts of the company and it is presumed
that their knowledge of these facts led the
amount Of booty Private watchman mn I Jones', ones
Superintendent Lloyd Emmert and Detective
McDevitt took a stand in the treaSurer's
room adjoining, and Detective McElfresh and
Mr.. Charles Flinders, who accompanied the
officers, took their places in car in the shed,
where it was supposed they would pass
through.
APPROACH OF FIVE MASKED BURGLARS.
five men-three white and two cOOred-all
masked, were seen sneaking their way along
the line OF the track, which was occupied by
empty cars under the shed The leader Of the
others circled about the car occupied by
McElfresh and Flinders, for the purpose, ap-
Rarently OF taking an observation; The
others, and reported that it was too light to
cross over an open space between them and
the office they wished to enter.
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
Their conversation was distinctly overheard
by McElfresh and Flinders. They concluded
to hold consultation before commencing
operations: and went into an empty car ad-
for all to rush over this open space together,
they SuppOSing the watchman was in the
yard. The leader thought the best way was
for one to go at time, and in case the watch
TO KNOCK him ON THE HEAD.
This plan, after some discussion, was agreed
to- Unfortunately for Messrs. McElfresn and
Flinders, the villains had to pass the car Oc-
cupied by them, and one Of the robbers acci-.
dentally looked in and discovered Mr.. McEl-
fresh, and supposing it some one placed there
to his confederateS, when they returned to
their car to consult upon this circumstance.
In the meantime the officers remained per
tectly quiet, not showing that they had been
MELFREsH IN DANGER.
The majority appeared to be in favor of re-
the car McE1fres6j, but the % leader H sncceeded @
in convincing them that it might break up the
job. as the report of pistol might alarm the
police outside; that after they had finished the
nj fIaxy
and If this man in the car gave them away
they would settle him. Fortunately for Me
Elfresh and Mr.. Flinders.
THE TINKLING OF A CAR BELL
was heard, some late cars being on the return
to the stable from the schuetzenfest The
burglars laid down low in their car to screen
taking advantage OF this, jumped out quietly
and ran to better position: After these late
cars had been put away the burglars all ap
preached the office, and bursting the door
open entered one at time.
DETECTIVE vOsS IN TIGHT PLACE
After they had entered and closed the door
they discovered the hiding place of Detective
ons msSs tSe rssrk st Mai ths
same time covering him with his pistol: {" Come
down from there, yo99Lof a, or I'll blow
your brains out" Mr. McDeyltt concealed in
door of the treasurer's room and blew
distress whistle. This confused the burglars,
and MI S N9ss taking tai advantage Of it, com:
purpose of blowing this whistle was to notify
the police outside, as they had been previously
requested to be near this depot, and to signal
Mr.: McElfresh, who was in another part OF the
building
FLIGHT OF THE BURGLARS
When the burglars found that there were
they attempted to escape, and as they were
making their fight from the office they re-
ceived vOlley after volley from Night watch
man Jones, superintendent EWmert and De-
t6Ctiyo VOSS. Some of them were Soan to
stumble, as ii hit.
ONE OF THE BURGLARS FATALLY SHOT.
One of the men was badly, and it is sup.
above the hip and was Secured and md; after. es.
wards brought to this city and taken to PROV
idence hospital, where Dr.. Townshend and
others pronounced him fatally injured. de is
formerly been In the employ of the company.
His brother was also in the party, and IS BE-
Ieyed to have been shot, but made his escape.
They live on ,1319 street, in the Division, and
both are well known to the police as ''bad
men" During the shooting scene in the Office
Officer VosS was in great danger of his life,
and at least fifteen shots were fred many OF
escaping without scratch, and at the same
time gave them as good as they sent. 1t was
a short, sharp and
DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
with Mr. VOSs, and he was entirely alone until
McDevitt and McElfresh rushed in to his res
cue, and all poured it into them together. The
wounded, as they were seen to fall during the
a1ring. The white men wore masks of blue
flannel, made like a bag, drawn over their
heads, with holes cut for the eyes, One of the
masks was dropped in the office; also a long
domestic cotton bag, intended to carry of
their swag in, with three or four linen ropes,
about three yards long, intended. it is thought,
to gag or tie any one they might find neceS.
sary. Another white man, whose name is not
known, was
SHOT IN THE ANKLE
IN the caSh-rOOm, and was secured and brought
to the city and locked up. He will not tax
any. All of the burglars were armed with
large revOlvers. A heavy oak billy, loaded in
the end with lead, was dropped in the cash.
room and secured. These things are ali at
police headquarters. The whole affair lasted
for about four hours, the fight not occupying
above a few minutes; but the burglars were
taken by surprise, and showed cowardice
when they found whom they had to deal with,
as they Sneaked off in different ways, not
caring for their two comrades who were left
on the ground. After things became quiet
Mr.. Emmert rugged up car, and the officers
returned with the two wounded men, getting
to police headquarters about o'clock this
morning.
A LAW BADLY WANTED TO PUNISH ATTEMPT
ED CRIME
This is probably the first bold attempt of this
kind by masked burglars to fight their Way
through a job Of this kind in this District.
Had the detectives been properly suppOl led
in the commencement, when the five desper.
ADDE'S entered the premises, they might DOSSj.