Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-08-12

A Young WiImingtOnian Who Keeps
n Revolver Handy When He Goes
10 He'd and Knows How TO Use IL
When He Sees n burglar.

A Young WiImingtOnian Who Keeps
n Revolver Handy When He Goes
10 He'd and Knows How TO Use IL
When He Sees a Burglar.
Mr.. Frank Thomas, clerk at Pussy,
Scott d 90. Il establishment, is plucky and
a member of the burglarious fraternity
was made painfully aware OF the fact Tues
day night when hs skipped out of No. 1917
West Eighth street with bullet in his
anatomy.
MIR. W. L. g. Thomas lives at the
above mentioned place, but, with his
family, he is I ow in the West, and, during
hia abb eoce, his younger brother, Frnok,
hns been sleeping at the house, and NO 1t
WAS that Tuesday night hs demonstrated his
ability 10 guard il.
Tue d-yrighth be came in, for ne purpt SO
OF retiring ut 10. 10 o'clock, aud, on Gu
tering the house he found thst he had me-
elected to provide himself with match.
He therefore passed up to his bedroom, in
the second story, in the dark but, as
people often do things intuitvejy, without
exac'ly knowing the why or the wher' fore
he took his revolver opt of his pocket to
keep him company III tue Jnfkn ss.
On reaching the door of his he'd room
he saw something that made him grasp
his companion a little tighter o. the
opposite side of the room was bsy
window, aud in h line herewith street
lamp sending faint raj OF light dir city
through. Aud it was the shadow 'of a
man, fitting across this ray of light, that
brought the r, vrlver in the hands of Mr..
Thomas up to horizontal position. For
moment he hesitated. Could it be that his
brother had returned, uutxpectt dly, or
that for some reason friend had entered
the house2 he called to know who was
there. No reply But in another instant
a substance, and no shadow, WAS before
him-a man trying to dodge past the win
dow and escape. Then quick glance
along the Darrell and q sight pressure of
the trigger sent the ball into the body of
the burglar. Thomas is in doubt which
made the most noise, the report of the
pistol or the terrific yell which the
wounded man gave forth almost stimuli
taneously.
Then the maa disappeared and all was
dark again The shooter felt unconfort.
able. How many more burglars were
squatting around in the dark corners he
had no means of knowing, so no wisely
concluded that before cunning for any
more he would retire for achievements
and get a little light on the subject SO
he went down, out the front door and
Mr.. Frank Pyle. who lives at 1901.
The two started again for 1917, and
were joined by Officer Green. Then the
three men entered the house, lighted the
gas, ard made thorough search, but no
IL L.. 4
evidently passed out the front way, after
Mr.. Thomas Later, it was found that be
had gone on up the hill, and met q
gardener, in the employ of Taylor Cause.
to whom he complained that he had been
shot He appeared 70 be suffering greatly,
aud the man had him sent to the hall.
In their investigation, after entering
the building, the three men found that
the burglar had effected an entrance by
breaking in the side cellar window. After
getting in the cellar he had placed the
window IN position again, as nearly as
possible, and then piied open the door
leading to the kitchen. Nothing else in
the house was found to be disturbed, and
the man had evidently been merely recon-
noitering and had not yet gotten down to
solid work, when his operations were in.
terrupted by the appearances of Mr..
Thomas
After being taken to the Hall IL Q
wounded man was attended by DR.. Ogle,
who found that the ball had entered under
the left arm pit. He probed for the bail
for distance If about four inches, forward
and backward, but failed to reach it, The
man complained of great pain in his back,
from which it WIS supposed that the ball
bad taken that direction. Yesterday
morning he complained more of pain in
the heart and stomach. 1t ia not thought
that the lungs were touched. though the
man was splitting blood occasionally dur
the night.
And now, the inquiry naturally arises,
Who is he? When brought to the Hall he
at first gave fictitious name, but il soon
TRANSFERRED that his real name is Frederick
Creese, s0d that he belongs in Philadel-
phia, ard is house painter by trade. He
was recognized by Sergeant Dolan, who
knew him when he worked in this city for
Ford & Magee, in 1874. He has not be, II
seen here since that time. He il man
about 2S or 80 years of age,
When brought to the Hill Tuesday night
nothing whatever was found upon mis-
person hut his clothing, and very it'll of
that. He is looked upon as an amateur in
the burglary line.
The prisoner was given a hearing before
the Mayor ut 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. He was feable and suffering severely.
Sergeant LsRg testified that after the
arrest the prisoner Admitted that hi lad
entered the house for the purpose of rob,
berry. He was required to give $4,000
bail for court, uud, in default, was taken
to jail in the afternoon.