Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-07-10
FIGHT EOR LIBERTY.
The Desperate Conflict of Detective
With Il Murderer on High Roof-A
Marvellous Escape
New York truth

miguel CnacOn, the murderer of
Maria Williams, the colored women.
at No. 129 West twenty eight street.
was captured yesterday morning, and
the attendant incidents were as soul
thrilling as any ever embodied in the
widest creation Of the Iomancist's
brain.
Immediately subsequent to the
shooting, Detective Price of the
THIRTEEN street police station was
assigned to the case, and, in company
with friend of Chacon, he made
thorough search of the Eight ward,
and a number of saloons the Cuban
was known to frequent was searched.
When the detective reached the h .use
No. 70 Spring street, occupied by a
Cuban family-friends of the man
sought-he sent his companion in to
inquire if there were any tidings of
Chacon, and while awaiting his re
turn crossed the street The man
came out of the house shortly and in
formed Price that the murderer had
been there and had told his friend
that he had shot a person, but he was
ignorant how serious was the wound
he had inflicted, and he neglected to
tell them whom he had shot He
stated, on leaving the house, that he
was going to his uncle's saloon at No
128 Bleecher street, and from there
intended to go straight to the house of
the murdered woman.
Acting upon this clew the detective
proceeded to the house where the
shooting took place, and on entering
found lying on the table photograph
Of the murderer. A thorough search
Of the apartments was made, but
without resulting in anything of mo-
ment, and after making arrangements
to have the house we'll watched, he
started downtown again to No 70
Spring street, having concluded that
sooner or later the murderer would
return there.
He took up his position under the
stoop of the next dwelling and waited
for fully three-quarters of an hour be-
fore his vigil was rewarded. At last
IN the neighborhood of $50. he heard
the sound of rapid footsteps approach
ing, and q man appeared, gazing up
and down the street, apparently on
the lookout for danger. His face was
partially concealed, bat sufficient was
seen by the aid Of a nearby lamp to
enable the detective to make him out
a negro. The suspected person SEEM
ed satisfied that the coast was clear,
and he FASTENED hsi steps, knocked
very softly GA q panel, and a moment
later disappeared within the half
opened door.
The detective was now satisfied
from the strangers suspicious actions
that he was the man for whom he was
looking, and waking up a friend who
opportunity resided near by, he dis
patched him to the station-house for
officers, who soon arrived upon the
scene. He stationed his assistants in
the front and rear of the house, to pre-
vent an escape, and accompanied by
ap officer, he entered and mounted to
the top floor, where lived the friends
OF the murderer. There he found
party of Cubans playing cards, but
vigilant search revealed no trace of
his man, nor could he extract any in
formation from the inmates of the
room. The window, an old-fashioned
dOrmer one, was in the rear, and from
it Price peered into the outer darkness.
For time he saw nothing, but at last
his attention was attracted by white
object just behind the chimney, and
perceiv1ng that a fire-escape projected
from undcr the window, leaving but
the space of few feet between it and
the roof, he imagined that Chacon
might possibly have made his escape
in that way. Calling upon Policeman
O'Brien to follow, he stepped out and
gained the gutter.
The roof was peaked and high pitch
ed, and it was with difficulty that
Price maintained his footing. The
darkness was intense, and as the de-
tective made his way upward on his
hands and knees he kept hiseyes fixed
upon the speck of white. At last he
noticed that it moved and then paus-
ed. The detective still moved noise
lessly upwards and when within an
arms length his arm shot out, and
with the grip of death he clutched
Chacsn, the sought-for murderer.
The hunted man was in his white I'M
derclothes, and the detective had
grasped his foot. Unavailing strug
giles to release the captured member
followed. but Prices grip was of iron.
Come down quietly" said he,
"there's no use in making trouble.
You're wanted. I've got you, and [
swear I'll hold you" With the words
the detective began retrograde move
ment, still clutchjng the foot.
At that instant his foot slipped, be
rolled rapidly downward, and would
have been dashed to instant death had
he not been clutched by Policeman
O'Brien, who caught him only in the
nick of time. The prisoner was taken
to the Twenty-ninth precinct station
house and locked up in cell No. -.
In speaking of his thrilling escape,
Detective Price said to our reporter.
''How did feel? Why, thought
[ was gone, sure. But made up my
mind if one of us went the other
would follow. I held on to him like
grim death to niger. He told me
N 10 To hn c+o+io@o 1o,,eo lo4