The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-23
STABBED TO TIE HEART.
CHASTITY WORK OF A SUR
PRISED BURGLAR.
Details of a Horrible Crime Conn
mitted in BROOKLYN Early YeSter-
day MOrninK-The Murderer Is
Captured and COnfeSSeS.

Captured ana COufeSSeS.
NEW YORK, August 22.-At an early
hour this morning three thieves broke
into the grocery store of Chris. W.
Luca, at Jay and High streets, Brook
| lyn. They were surprised at their work
| by the proprietor and a hand-to hand
conflict took place, during which the
grocer was stabbed to the heart. The
police cnught one Of the men, who said
that his name was McElwainc, and gave
a description Of his companions who had
escaped. He said their names were
Hawthorn Benson and Thos. Quinlan.
An alarm was at once sent to this city
with Il request to watch for tlIc men. In
less than an hour detective Barry had
captured Benson, who, on being taken
before Inspector Bvrncs was recognized
as Martin Denim, professional thief and
CX-COnvict. He was surrendered to the
Brooklyn officers, and the other man is
being hOtly pursued. Before Denim had
been taken to Brooklyn he sent for In
Spcctor ByrneS to whom he said he
wanted to confess. He said that neither
he nor Quinlan knew what had hap
pcned i'll the store; they were both on
the outside watching while McElwainc
was in the store; suddenly McElwainc
came rushing out of the store; he was
covered with blood, and the prisoner
and Quinlan then fled
Further details show that the burglars
entered the yard i'll rear of the house and
put a ladder up to the middle second
story window, and McI;lwainc was the
one selected to go in. He is slightly
built young man and only nineteen years
old. He opened the window easily,
crawled i'll and was making his way to
the front room where ii was supposed
that Mr.. LuCa kept his money box. 1t
was quite dark at the time, and Nc
Elwainc had reached the passage
way leading through the bedroom
when Mr.. Luca was awakened
by the noise, and got up to see what was
the matter. He did not wake his wife,
and, ns he entered the dining room, he
saw the figure of a man making for the
window. He grapplcd him at once. Me
Ewainc was so frightened that he drop
ped his hat near the bed room door where
it was picked up afterwards. He was in
his stocking feet. Luca was big, power
full man weighing over 200 pounds, and
he would have made short work with the
intruder had not the latter been armed
with a knife, an ugly looking weapon
with a blade fully six inches long, As
soon as LuCa seized him near the window
they began tussle, knocking the furni-
ture about, and making a great noise
which woke all the rest of the family.
Mrs. Luca rushed out of the bed room
followed by Harry her nine year old son,
and the servant came out of another
door. Luca was down on one knee, i'll
front of tie window, and his assailant
stood over him, striking him repeatedly.
"Hclp, murder, police" shouted Luca at
the top of his voice. "IIelp; I'm being
murdered"
Mrs. Luca jumped forward and caught
the murderer by the arm, and he servant
grabbed him by the coat, while Luca tried
to get up. "Stand back" cried Nc
Elwainc to the two women, fourishng
his knife, which they now SAW for the
first time. Stand back and let me go,
or I'll cut you open as | did him. he
yelled.
Both women shrank back in horror,
and McElwainc jumped out of the Win
dow, and grabbing up his shoes ran ont
Of the yard down High street. Lucu,
meanwhile, had struggled to his feet,
and had staggered to the sink in
corner of the room. For Gods
sake, Mary, get me some help,
he groancd. al believe am killed." and
with that he sank down in a heap in the
corner of the room. The shrickS of the
woman aroused the whole ncighbor
hood, and few seconds afterwards DR..
Stone, who lives on the opposite side OF
Jay street, came running i'll. 1t was too
late, however, to do anything for the
wounded man as he was fast dying.
There were three or four deep gashcs i'll
his right shoulder and arm and a horri-
bic cut i'll the breast right under the
heart, from which his life blood was
pouring in stream. Within ten min
utes he had brcathcd his last.
McElwainc waScapturcd by policeman
Kennedy, who says that he heard shouts
of murder" d" police" and a few second"
later saw a man running toward him
with his shoes in his hand. lie grabbed
him and took him to the station. Me
EIwainc had in his possession big,
wicked looking knife, the blade of which
was covered with blood. Mc&lwainc
confessed that it was he who had
stabbed Luca.