Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-03
ATTEMPTED BURGLARY.
A PLUCKY WATCHMAN.x capruvr

A PLUckY wATcHMANy CAPTURE
sharp shooting ON North Duke s,reet-,,es-
perate struggle With n Thief
About II O'Clock last night an attempt
at burglary was made at the residence Of
c. A. FOn Dsrsmitb, North Duke street
near Frederick, and the "enterprisino
burglar" was arrested and locked up
after adesperate struggle between Private
burglar, who gave his name rs ''Peter
Williams"
Tho circumstances of tho affair as de-
TALLY as follows: He was walking his beat
ON North Duke street and on approaching
the residences of F. A. FOn Dersmith
and F. r. Diffenderffer, which nd
join, and stand q short distance
back from the street with little yards
in front of them. ShubroOks entered tho
Diifenderffer yard, stepped upon the front
porch and tried the door. Hearing foot
step he looked along the side porch, and
seeing nobody, stepped over to Mr.. Fon
Dersmith's, when he again heard foot
step, apparently Oh the kitchen porch. The
officer walked back to the kitchen dnSr.
and seeing no one, moved towards the
privy. instantly the privy door was opened
a little and three pistol shots were fired
from tho inside, ono Of which took effect
in MIR. ShubroOks' left hand, making a
slight wound between tho thumb and fore
finger. Shut rocks drew his revolver and
blazed away at his concealed foe, sending
"bull-dOzer bullet through the left
coat sleeve of the burglar, between tho wrist
and elbow, barely grazing the skin. The bur-
glar then sprang out of the privy and at
tempted to jump over a low pale fence de-
viding the main yard form the chicken
yard. In doing so he fell, and cried out
that he was shot. In moment Shubrooks
was over the fence and on top of him,
seized him by the throat and called for
help. Then followed severe tusslc, the
burglar gripping Shubrooks' right wrist to
prevent him from firing and ShubrOoks
struggling to prevent the burglar from
getting away. The firing Of the pistol and
the calls for help were heard by Charles
Green, who lives on Christian street in the
rear of FonDersmith's lot. Green sprang
out of bed and without taking time to dress
himself. jumped over six-feet-high fence
and ran to tho officers assistance. That
settled it. Green held the burglar down
while Shubrooks put the nippers on
him and disarmed him. As he
arose from the gound gold watch al d
chain fell from his hand. The officer dis
covered it and picked it up, and as he did
so tho burglar asked him if he had lost his
watch. Then turning to Mr.. Green he
said: "Young man, you had better put
Green threw her husbands clothes over thu
fence to him, and as soon as he was at
tired, he assisted the officer to take his
prisoner to the lookup.
Arrived at the lookup he gave his name
as Peter Williams, but would give no
further information. He was searched
carefully and his effects were taken from
him. These consisted of small shooter
pistol, brace and inch bit. broke n
three -cornered file, il pair Of burglars nip
pcrs for turning door keys. S24.SS in
money among which was p 20 cent Canada
piece, three IS bills, two 81 bills and
seven silver dollars :; also three watches
"a fire gold hunting -cased watch,
the case of which is numbered
6,363; No. of WORKS, 39,21G. and marked
VIM. Crinkshank, Harrisburg, Pa, at
tached to it is a gold chain of small links
and a round seal with rcd back and a
mariners compass, also a large silver watch,
the case of which is numbered II, 240 No.
of works, 4O6, $50, with name of p. S.
Bartlett, Waltham, Mass" Attached to
it is a brown mOhair gold mounted guard,
small silver hunting case watch, No. of
case 63S, on cap is engraved I" Emporium
watch company was also found. 1t is a
cylinder escapemcnt.
These watches arc in the hands Of Chief
Of Police Deichler, whero the owners will
have an opportunity Of identifying them.
When interviewed this morning by the
reporters, the burglar refused to say much,
except that he was not burglar, and
that he was the victim of circumstances,
adding that the reporters ought to know
better than to interview him, and when
asked where he lived he answered with a
leer cat Squedunk." Later in the day
he became more communicative. He said
he was born In Ireland on the 10th of
October, 1885, and is therefore in his 47th
year. He came to this country when
five years old, was in the navy
for some time, has been living
in the east, but he declined to
of his arrest is that he was walking out
North Duke street about midnight, and
saw Shubrooks coming towards him when
he was considerable distance away. Not
knowing who he was and fearing that he
might be an officer who would pick him
up, he stepped into FOnDersmith's yard
and concealed himself. When ShubrOOks
clme into Dif1enderffer's yard, he thought
he lived there, and when he tried the door
and afterwards stepped over to FonDer-
smiths premises, he thought he might be
drunk, and wishing to avoid him he
stepped into the privy. When ShubroOks
approached tho privy, he fired his pistol to
scare him, aiming above his head, and
when Shubrooks returned the fire, he ran
out with a view of escaping. He says
Shubrooks fired three shots, the last one
being when he (Wil'iams) fell over tho
fence and hurt his leg. ;" Thinking that
Shubrooks had shot him in the leg, he
called to him not to shoot again, and then
he was arrested and locked up as has
been above stated. He denies that Shu-
brooks was wounded by him, bu. prob
ably got his scratch in the scuflie that en-
sued after the firing ceased.
Williams does not appear to be as old as
he says he is. He is feet inches in
height, has sandy hair and smooth face,
slightly pitted with smallpox which he
says lie had when two years of age. He
says his weight is only 1873 pounds though
with very scant and very light colored eye
brows and lashes. Several of his side teeth
Ire missing, as can be plainly seen as he
holds his pipe stem between his front teeth
md smokes placidly inside his cell door. Hc
IS dressed in dark clothes and black
'louch hat. and wears light colOred knit
Jacket under his coat. He is very cool
and composed, showing not tho slightest