Daily Republican., 1880-08-11
BAGGING A BURGLAR.

A House Breaker Gets his Dues-
He Enters o West Wilmington
Residence for BOOTY and Comes
out with o Pistol Ball i'm His
Back.
The sharp report Of Q pistol, follow
ed by wild scream Of agony and
fright. startled the people living on
Eighth street, between franklin and
Broome, last night about 1880 O'clock,
and brought them to their windows,
fearful that some terrible tragedy had
been committed. And an investigation
showed that one of the most startling
events which ever occurred in that 10
cality had just transpired. The facts
Of the affair are as follows:
For some time past Mr.. W. L. g..
Thomas, residing at No. 1917, West
Eighth street, and family have been
out of town, and Mr.. Frank Thomas, a
younger brother, has been sleeping in
the house Of nights. Last night he
vent out to the house about 1918
o'clock as usual. Ha noticed nothing
unusual about the place, but had no
matches with him to strike light. He
concluded to ascend to his room in the
dark and procure match. Taking his
revolver in his hand, though not ex-
pecting to have any use for 1t, he went
up the staircase. Just as he reached
the door of his room he looked inside
and was surprised to notice the figure
Of man fit suddenly past the window
in the dim light that shone from dis.
tant street lamp outside through the
half closed blind. Feeling no timidity
whatever, he entered the room and
called sharply. "who is there!" At that
moment Mr.. Thomas was determined
to give the fellow q warm reception II
he turned ont to be burglar, but he
called, thinking possibly it might be
his brother who had returned unex-
psctedly.
No answer came to the interrogation
Mr.. Thomas could only see q dim out
| line, which he supposed to be the
burglar, crouching beside the window,
and at this shadowy something took
| Tightening aim and fired. The suppo-
sition Of young Thomas turned out to
be correct. As the trigger was pressed
the vague substance leaped into the
air, and simultaneously with the crack
0fths Smith & Wesson came such yell
OF pain and terror that Frank oonfesses
he still hears it ringing in his ears; he
had hit his man. SIT Is the first man l
ever shot, said Frank, telling about it,,
and hope it will be the last one."
Then he realized what he had done,
and with . feeling that was not un-
usual under the circumstances he hur-
ried down the stairs and out into the
street. At that time he thought there
might be more Of the rsscals hiding in
the house, and IL was his intention to
get help and capture the whole gang.
He went to Mr.. Frank Pyle's house
few doors below and getting his COM
panionship returned 10 the house. They
entered 1t, searched it completely but
found it deserted. The bird had flown
but had left his traces behind. In one
of the rooms was found his shoes, which
he had taken off in order that his
movements might not be attended with
any noise. An examination was made
to see how the fellow had effected an
entrance. 1t was found that he had
broken open the side window of the
cellar, and, after he had gotten inside,
had replaced it 80 as to conceal all
evidence Of his entrance. He had then
pried open the kitchen door, with q
jimmy, breaking the wood work and
forcing of the bolts, bat further than
this nething had been disturbed.
About the time that Messrs. Thomas
and Pyle had completed their examina-
ton of the house, Samuel Buck, the
watchman Of J. T. Cause, coming in
Eighth street, came upon the wounded
burglar. He was sitting by the way
side, shoeless and hatless, and the
groans which he constantly uttered at
tractsd the mans attention. In answer
to q question he said he had been
grievously wounded. This man took
the fellow to the City Hall, where he
was taken in charge by special officer
Robinson, ana Dr: howard ogle sum
moned' Ine physician maoe an eAaml-
shot in the left shoulder, a short dis
lance from the arm pit ana about three
inones from 'ne nippie: ne Prooeo 10,
the oall, Dut ialleo 70 nne IL, ana ioun9
that the course nao Deen doWnwaIo ana
back ward, ana that the pal! nad lodged
is accounted Tor by the crouohing posi-
tion OF the man when the shot was
hred. Ihe DOCTOR was satisned that the