New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-26
sUFFOCATED IN A GARRETT.
SOLITARY LIFE OF A ONCE PROSPEROUS MAS-SL
ING FIRE TO PILE Of RAGS

SOLITARY LIFE OF ONCE PROSPEROUS MAN-SLl-
ING FIRE TO PILE OF RAGS.
An eccentric old man named Patrick j. Houston
hos lived for three wears in n garret in the tenement
in the rear of No. 303 Mulbcrry-st., opposite Police
Headquarters. His small room was nearly filled
with worthless articles picked up from the street.
He avoided the other inmates OF the house. dressed
himself in rags and his neighbors said he oiIen
drank to excess. His only companion was a cat,
which shared his food and his bed. The life OF
soualor which he led was in marked contrast with
his life at middle age, when he was n
business man, in comfortable circumstances,
at Bridgeport Conn., The death Of his wife is said TO
have caused the change IN his habits His children
and grandchildren live in this city, and they have
often implOred HIM in vain to give up his cherries
attic aud enjoy their pleasant homes. Only vester-
day some OF his grandchildren wished him aud
begged HIM to share their Christmas dinner, but he
refused.
Last evening the other inmates of the tenement
were alarmed by clouds of smoke which came from
his ROOM His door was broken i'll but the smoke
in the room was thick that no one could enter IT,
The Fire Department was summoned, ana aiier tne
place had been drenched with water and ventilated
the old man was discovered lying un-
conscious on q half,burned heap OF rags
hn was s SUPPOSED thar he had fallen asleep while
smoking and that the fire In the pipe had Ignited
the heap of rubbish. His cat had been suffocatcd
by the smoke and its body lay its master. The
exerted themselves TO resusctate him.
Their efforts were SUGGEST full in part, and when an
ambulance from the Chambers Street Hospital ar
rived the man was breathing heavily hut he was
still unconscious He died at y. IN The damage
caused by the fire was trifling
A PICKPOCKETS EFFORT TO ESCAPE.
ARRESTED AT THE WALKING MATCH, HE BUSHES
FROM srREET-CAR.
Marco Lala, a wealthy Italian gentleman. arrived
from Italy yesterday morning and after breakfast
ing at the Metropolitan Hotel he went to the Madi-
son Square Garden to witness tue walking match.
He had not been there long before his gold watch
was stolen The thief dextrously severed the
heavy chain with pair of nippers, slipped the
watch out Of Mr.. Lala's pocket. and was
i'm the act of transferring the stolen property
to his own pocket when be fonnd him
self IN the grasp of Detective Dusenbury
recognized the man as Thomas alias - Deaf. Price,
notorious pickpocket. who has spent several years
of his life in prison for various offences lie was
quietly watching Price at the moment the robbery
was ATTEMPTED. Mr.. Lala was Informed of the tact
that he had been robbed. and lie consented 10 ac
company the officer and his prisoner to Police Head
quarters - A., .,,.
having been seated between ms captor and MI
Lala feigned ntoxcation and drowsiness. Sudden
IL at Eghecntll-st. he sprang from his seat and
dashed out of the car. Detective Dusenbnry pur-
sued but tho thief tripped him by throwing an
umbrella between his legs. An uptown car was
passing at the time and one of the horses ran
against Price and Knocked him down. lie re-
gained his feet but was Immediately Knocked
down again by a wcll-dircctcd blow from the fist
rear platform of the car and had noticed the at
tempt to escape. Price was then secured and
taken TO Police Headquarters. where he was locked
up. lie Will be taken to court to-day.