New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-23
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

BURGLAR SHOT BY THE LIGHT OF MAACh'
WILLIAM SMELLS MIDNIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH
THIEF IN HIS HOUSE.
William Smell, who keeps liQucr-store at No ~
Stapton-st is the owner of several buildings IN tho
same street and lives the first floor OF the french
fiat house ut No. %. He and his wife have spent
the greater part Of the Summer at Lake GEORGE
Saratoca and Long Branch, leaving their rooms I'M
occupicd. Occasionally Mr. Shell has made tnp
90 the city and remained for day or two at time
70 transact pressing business. lie came from Long
Branch alone on Thursday evening. and let
himself into his rooms by means of his
latch-key Several other families who live
in the same building were not aware that he had
returned Soon after entering his rooms Mr.. Smell
went TO bed aud fell asleep. HIS sleeping room is
in the rear of the building. door leads into
priyatc corridor which communicates on the right
hand with a sittngroom. and at the left with
kitchen end bathroom. In the rear of the sitting
room and opening from il, IS the bedroom In when
Mir Suoii slept Shortly after midnight he was aWah-
cuci hy noise in the kitchen, and after listening lo
n few minutes he satisfied himself that there was
burglar in that room. He got mp, drew on some OF
ms cothlcg aud went out mo me sItI,nstoV III
He saw a light glimmerlng family through me
transom lie had eXtinguished the lght IN the
kitchen before going 10 bed. Stepping to a mantei
Mr. Smell took M a large sized Colts revolver ana
one or two parlOr matches. In gong 10 the Lldhle
he accidenty stumbled over chair making
noise immediately he noticed that the light III tue
kitchen had been turned down. Gropng MS way
toward the door of the private corridor ne
cooked his revolver aud held 1t ready IN his
right hand. With the same hand he moved asl4e
n bolt aud with his left hand he struck one OF the
matches As the light OF the matcn nared up he
flung the door open. -.
Before him stood q medium sized man In shrt
sleeves and with light straw hat on The man
had his hand on the corridor door leading to the
main hall. lie turned ON Mr.; smell quickly ana
struck out with great force. MI smell dreW DaGh'
but not far enough to escape the blow cntreiN
The burglars fist was planted Gu the bridge OF MS
nose and over his night eye. Almost al
the, same moment Mr.. smell hdeQ' +t no r M%S
and ponting 1t toward the middle of hls body. me
match which Mr.. Smell had lIghted went out at the
same time and left the corridor and slttlng-roOm IN
daTkness Mr. Smell struck the burglar on { head
with the pistol with sufficient force to knock OH ms
hat which was found atterward III the CORRIDOR
door fearing that the burglar had companions WIN
him. When ne opened the door aJar and lighted
the gas the thief had disappeared. .,.
Tue police were summoned ana MADE scare
through the building without finding the bur
glar. IL was evident that he had entere1
and escaped through the, scuttIe IN the ro4l.
He had gained access TO Mr., SHELLS kitchen by
wrencbiag of "a lar from the window OF the pain
TOom which communicated with the Kitchen; Inc
police were unable to find any traces OF Dloou'
either i'm the building on the roof 1t was GER
tain, however, that the burglar was wounded, 9s
Mr. Smells revolver was close against ms DOu{
when it was fred and the most careful search
failed to discover any marks OF the bail IN the wall
Of the narrow corridor which Mr. Smell was facing.
The police learned that man had Deen hotctu III
the street at night Mr.. Smells house, ana appa-
rently watching the building. lie was OF mcdluh
height, and stout, with light hair ana mustache'
woman living IN ChTystle-St. near StantoD-St',
said Yesterday that she met a man without nat or
coat coming out of an alleyway about a. m. lie
was pale, and staggered as II intoxicated Inc pO-
lice were searching for the man yesterday, Dnt
without result After satisfying himself taat noth-
ing had been stolen from his house, Mr.. Smell re-
turned to Long Branch last evening.