, 1888-12-27
DARING ROBB ERY.
A Thief Makes q Bold Grab for Gems Il
New York,


A THIEF Makes u bold Grab for Gems In
New York.
NEW Yo2K, Dec. 22.-John Kirkpat-
rick's jcwelry store, on Broadway, near
Twenty -second street, was brilliantly
lighted up at 8 O'Clock last evening, num-
bers OF customers were being waited on In.
side and crowd on,the sidewalk was look.
ing into the show window which Mr..
Kirkpatrick s1ys contained 900 worth
of gems. Among those who 9azed covet.
ously at the gems was short young man
of q dark complexion.
Some of Mr.. Kirkpatrick clerks noticed
this young mans nose aattened against the
thick plate glass window and saw his eyes
riveted on the gems inside. Very little at
tention was paid to him. however, In the
rush Of business incidental to the coming
Of the holiday season. ~.
.r A BOLD GRAB. .-.
Suddenly the sound of breaking eass
startled every body in the store, and q
clerk standing near the window saw the
dark.complexioned young man stick his
hand through an aperture IN the big. plate
glass window and grab magnificent
necklace containing twsnty.seven stones
and valued at $500. 4ttr3 Eer5
Several of the clerks and customers inn
mediately made dash for the door, but
they found it fastened on the outside. A
stick had been placed through the handle
of the lock aud acted like bolt, frustrat.
ing the efforts Of those inside to get out
and pursue the heein9 thief.
IN HOT PURSUIT.
The latter's deed, no owever, had been
witnessed by several passers by. and the
bravest among them immediately gave
chase. .c -i-t Ha .ta ef4t
They were quickly reinforced by John
DonneIly, the private wstchman OF the
store, and lustily shouting "Police" and
stop thief they rau after the bold rob.
Der. ....
The thief dashed down Broadway to-
ward Twenty. .Grst street. and finding that
his pursuers were gaining uoon him, he
drew seven barreled self.cocking re-
volver, and pointing it at them shouted:
Damn your souls. 1t you don't turn
back ] II blow holes in you. .
This caused many of the big crowd of
followers to stop. and the thief turned
into Twenty.Rrst street aud headed tor
Lexington avenue. ~. ..,...., -r.,... --.
r.t+a- COOL POLICEMAN.
On the corner 10 the shadow of a big
building stood Poiceman Fitzsi IN mons. of
tue Twenty.second street police station
He saw the young mau turned into Twenty.
first street and saw the CLEAN of tue thief
revolver as it was waived in the air
Fitzsimmons drew himself further into
the shadow of the building, grabbed his
club stoutly and " ,tched. q, H. .,..s,I
2 When the thief came abreast OF him the
policeman darted from his hiding place,
knocked the revolver ont of the Young
man a hand. and throwing his rms around
him. held on like wise. Several other
policemen now came up and tine fugitive
was handcutfed and followed by nn im-
mense crowd, was taken to the Twenty.
second street statiou-house.
There he gave his name as William
johnson, and his age as 10. He
looks much older. At first he refused to
give his residence. bat finally said it was
at No. 425 West Fifty-second street.
When searched the necklace was found
upon his person, but one of the gems was
faI- 4ef r.lF f'f.f. i
This gem was subsequently found in the
show window and had become loosened by
the tuVging of johnson in his efforts to
pull the necklace out of its case. A dollar
in money was found in his possession and
also some keys. 'ia eat ,ia oi .rfif
pREBERs To ROB THE RICH.
When asked what prompted him to
the deed John aon said that so
much wealth displayed in the window daz.
zled him and be determined several days
ago to possess some of it,. i-lil 7...st
.'l'd rather rob rich man than poor
one any day, =" he said. ',and youse bokes |
were pretty fresh in nabbing me. "-n0n
The brick with which the window was
broken was wrapped first in flannel and
then in black muslin, all of which tended
to deaden the sound of the crashing glass.
Added to this the fire engine had just
turned into Broad way and the noise Of the
bell also served to deaden the
sound. aT 3ii'f@ nl't "ni1 n-
The young man evidently had no ac-
completes and the police saw his attempt
was one of the most daring In years.
Killed Hts Father. 1' 0i