The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-14
A MAN IN THE CHIMNEY.
[London Telegraph. April 12.l

London Telegraph. April 12.l
AT Sheffield yesterday burglar met his
death under circumstances OF q most painful
nature. Several attempts have recently been
made to effect robbery at the premises OF
Mr.. Fieldsend pawnbroker, Broad street
Park. Yesterday morning @ member OIL the
gang who have been planted in the spot went
down Mr.. Fieldsend's chimney. The flue
measured about twelve to fifteen inches In
side, and having dropped some fifteen feet or
SO the burglar stuck last. The shaft Is stop
ped by q large stone which has been built
across 1t, and Immediately above the stone
the fireplace OF Mr.. Fieldsend's kitchen,
and the other from that OF q neigh
Dor. 1t was impossible for the man to
get down either OF these, and he could
tightly in Though little fellow, he had no
room to vet his arms down, 30 that he might
extricate or raise himself, and he consequent
ly had to remain until assistance came or he
was discovered. Mr.. Fiedsend and family
reside on the premises, and before daylight
some curious noises were heard, but they
were not sufficiently loud to create any alarm.
Mr.. Hunter, a neighbor, thought 1t was the
sweeps. About 80 o'clock Mrs. Hunter got
up and lighted the fire in her kitchen, and
when she did SO she thought she heard some
moaning up the chimney, but was not quite
sure ais to the fact. Shortly after o'clock
she went up stairs, and thought again that
she heard noises in the chimney. She was
then certain there was moaning within 1t,
and running down stairs she FASTENED to Mr.
Fieldsend and acquainted him with the fact
| that there was some one up In tho chimney.
| That gentleman regarded the an
nouncement as Incredible He partook
| OF breakfast, and while reading the newspaper
his wife poked the fire. Immediately after
wards she also heard groans and told him Of
| it. Mr.. Fieldsend went into the upper ware
house, and could then hear distinctly sounds
as though some one was in the chimney. He
communicated with the police. and Detective
Superintendent Battersby. with detectives
Jackson, Moody and Smith were soon upon
the scene. 1t was evident that there was
some one in the tlue, and Battersby sent for
Mr., BALKAN, police surgeon. Mr. Thomas
popon o he ch@nez IN and a par
where 1t passed through the upper ware
house. An aperture sufficiently large having
been made, detectives Moody and Smith ex-
amined the interior, and considerable dis
his arms tightly compressed In front Of his
face, and who appeared to be almost buried In
SCOT. He was grooming very much. but
the detectives attempted to cheer him up
by. saying that they would have him
from the two fiues was overpowering, and the
poor fellow must have been in great agony.
After using all their strength, the officers
succeeded In drawing him up to the aperture.
and from thence to the floor OF the ware
OF them emptied his mouth OF SCOT, while the
other attempted to give him some brandy
and water; but he died Immediately on being
released from his dreadful position. Mr..
Hallam arrived in few minutes afterward,
but Of course medical service was Of nc avail.
The body was removed to the Old Harrow
public-house, and placed In stable at the
back. 1t was evidently that of a man twenty
four or twenty-five years Of age, slightly
built, about four feet five inches in height.
His clothing was very shabby. In his peck
cts were found IS. 41sd, but nothing which
could then lead to his identification. The
body was afterward identified as that of
Robert Albert johnson, who had lived with
his mother at No. Navigation-hill, Blast
lane one Of the lowest localities In Sheffield.