The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
IN THE PRESENCE OF DEATH.
FINDING 4 THIEF IN 4 noon WHERE
4 CHILD LAY DEAD.
Henry Fishers struggle with John johnson.
who, IL thought, VI emit 10 Steal the Body,
bat was Hummnging In "a Hurenu Drawer.

Henry Fishers struggle with John johnson.
Who.itis thought, VI emit to steal the Body.
bat was Rummneina IN IA nurenu Drawer.
Henry Fishers eghtccn-months-old son
Charlie did on Monday morning Fisher Is u
tailor. living in the sccond-stJry front rooms OF
the tenement at AS Second avenue. On Tues
day the body Of tho child lay on lounge in the
front room near the door II was covered with
n white cloth. Onabed in the room lay wreath
OF artificial flowers intended to be placed in tho
coffin with the body after the undertaken should
bring 1t. The blinds were closed. but the room
was lighted by a candle which stood on the
mantol. Since no fire could be kept In the room
where tho body was the father and the mother
stayed In the adjoining rooms Of Otto Herman.
In the second story. front. right hand door At
1 \ o'clock the father stopped out into the mar
row hall to get some water. He saw stranger
beside him. but could not tell whether he had
been standing at his door. or whether he had
Just come down stairs from the third story. The
stranger asked him whether he was acquainted
with man named Stebbins in the building.
He told him that he was not. and hurried away
to get the water Notwithstanding tho excite
mont he was in. for he was expecting the under
taker every minute. Fisher noticed something in
the mans manner that he did not like. 30 ho
stepped back and listened a minute after the
making some inquiry. but did not understand
what 1t was He then got his water and re-
turned TO Herman's room. He had not been In
there more than five minutes whom Herman
remarked that he was obliged to go to MS WORK.
funeral he would like to take last look at little
Charlie. The father took the key OF his rooms
and leading tho way Into the entry tried to un.
lock his door. IL was unlocked and he pushed
It open and glanced down at tho body, some
body had turned the white cloth down from its
face. In the furtnpgt corner OF tho
through the dim candle light ho saw the stran-
ger runmaging In the drawer OF bureau. A
heavy wagon was ruinbling in tho street. and as
he stood near the window the stranger did not
hear the door open. He continued TO rummage
after minute Of asionishment. cried out in an
angry tone: Hellol What are you doing
The stranger turned. Fishor saw that It WAS
going to bo a fight Fisher Is n very small man.
scarcely moro than five feot high and he knew
that II he advanced the fight would be in the
middle Of tho room, where the stranger. who
was Of medium height. would have tho advnn-
tage. lie therefore bracod his back against the
dOorpost. Herman stood behind him in the
ontry. The stranger ran to the doorway ana
struck Fishers extended hands, ana ms own
RS it stood open. Then Herman sprang at him.
but receiyed a blow under his left ear which
he lay no caught hold Of the man again and
there was a sharp struggle IN the doorway;
| During its continuance Mrs Fisher coniriyed
10 make her way past tho throo men and 70
! stand between them and the body OF her child
/ Inc head OF the lounge on Wnlch II lay was not
more than a foot from tho odgo Of the open
| door. The stranger was able by main strength
! To drag Fisher and Herman away from the
! door and through the long hall TO the head OF
| the stairway. There the noise which had been
/ made Brought out other tenants. and his escape
was successfully barred. Then Mrs. Herman
! ran for n police officer. While she was gone
| Fisher noticed that the man had silver witch
aud gold chain. Ho nervously unfGstened the
! chain from the watch.
| While Officer Moral was taking him to tho
police station. the stranger offered Fisher the
! gold chain. whlch he said was worth $50. II he
| would not make charge against him. At the
station II was discovered that tho prisoner. who
| said thut his name was John johnson, had no
watch Fisher is Of opinion that one OF the two
| or three unknown men who ran into the entry
| 20 help hold tho stranger was his confederate.
! and that the watch being stolen was given up to
| him TO prevent lis being recognized by the
| police. Before Justice Blxby Yesterday John
son. who said that he lived o. i2l Goerck street.
was committed under $4,000 bail.
| Mr.. Fisher thinks that the mans object was
10 stual the body VI his child. not from the hope
OF reward for its recovery, because lie Is a
! poor man, but for the purposes Of dissection.
! His ronsons for thinking 40 are that on Mon
| whether there was not some person dead there.
| and that he might have known that a person in
! Mr.. Fishers condition would not have money
| or other valuable articles worth stealing. He
| his purpose was 10 find "a cloth In which TO wrap
up the body.
- lie was a fool" Mrs Fisher said. argumen-
| tativcy, yesterday. lie might have known
! when he found the body Of u child tho mother
johnson is Is years old He has a gray beard
| ana a long gray moustache. He wore hand
some long black overcoat and was Otherwise
! well dressed. Mr. Fisher and his friends. who
helped 10 capture him. say that he has bad