Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
POLICIAL INCIDENTS.
CoOky Roberts SIugs Copper With
a Hatchet.
DESPERATE FIGHT BRAVEIY WON
Christmas ShOpIifters Working the Big
EmpOriums.
THIEF WHO HAS A CONSCIENCE

The number of people on the streets last
night was unprecedented even for q Sat
urday, which is explained by the police
authorities by the fact that business has
been good all the year and work plenty, so
the general public has money to spend in
presents, which will be numerous this holi-
day season.
The crowds, have, Of course, attracted
large numbers of crooks, but Inspector Nc
Aleese has made a counter move by increas-
ing the detail of officers in plain clothes and
issuing special injunctionso Of vigilance upon
the entire force.
SOME SPECIMEN CRIMINALS.
Dripping with blood and incrusted with
the fifth of Second avenue, Officer John
Roach last night led in man to Central
station who was in a somewhat similar con-
dition. The prisoner gave his name as John
Cairns, from Chicago. ILL.,, but was recog-
nized as John, alias "Cooky," Roberts, who
has often figured in the police station, and
who was supposed to be more or less impli-
Gated in the shooting of Mrs. Jones at Tur-
ner Hall, for which ex-Oficer Jones is now
serving term in the penitentiary.
Roberts, about 7:30 P. M, got into a
quarrel with colored man near 251 Second
avenue, and chased him into the alley in
the rear Of the house with hatchet. Officer
Roach, hearing the disturbance, went into
the alley to arrest both men, but Roberts
turned on the officer and attacked him with
the hatchet. The officer defended him
self, and taking the hatchet from
Roberts, threw it away. The latter
then drew a knife and attempted
to stab Roach, who knocked him down
several times with his mace, and notwIth-
standing a reinforcement of some $50 toughs
from the neighborhood, took his man to the
wagon and the station house.
The officers clothes we're badly torn and
his shield and whistle lost in the fight
which he so gallantly made against long
odds, but luckily retained his mace, of
which he made good use. Once the
prisoner escaped and ran for Britton's
house, from the porch Of which he jumped,
the officer in close pursuit. Roberts turned
down Brewery street and swore he would
kill the officer if he followed, but the threat
did not prevent the arrest. Information
will be made against Roberts tomorrow on
several charges.
THE SHoPLIFTERS.
Mary Holmes, aged "a, and Lizzie Finn,
80, were sampling goods in Danziger's store
yesterday afternoon when Officer Nick
Bender took hand in the proceedings and
both ladies were landed in the Central sta
tion. They were laden with doll babies,
small children's wear and a little reticule.
The officers were surprised at the juvenile
tastes displayed by ladies of so mature an
age, and they will have an opportunity of
explaining the same this morning.
Daniel Connors, who halls from New
York, has a taste for bullion which he
gratifed at the expense OF j. r. Reid, the |
Market street optician on Friday night. |
He took several pairs of gold-rimmed eye |
glasses, and spectacles, with the chains |
attached to the former, subjected them to |
the same treatment Hubert was ordered to |
subject the little prince in the tower-put |
out their eyes-and mangled their remains, |
which were deliberately sold as old gold for |
some $4. Officer Robert Robinson made |
de arrest, and Mr.. Connors will probably /
remember his visit to Mr.. Reid, during his |
visit to the penitentiary.
CONSCIENTIOUS THIEF.
!. West Virginia furnishes one Of its anoma-
lies to the Diamond Street Museum, pre-
sided over by Inspector McAleese His /
name is Henry DuebeF, and he states that he
stole watch from roommate in Wheeling
a few weeks ago, but, aetuated by remorse,
he wished to give himself up, when he was
kindly accommodated by Officer James Null
vehill. He is now expecting to expiate his
offense by several years in some place Of
but may get off easier.
Another gentleman whose conscience has
not yet troubled him to any large extent,
walked into Joseph Eichbaum's stationery
store on Friday afternoon, with COM
panion. The one started to chat with the
bookkeeper about an unpaid bill, while the
other sampled bills of more inviting de-
scription to the extent of 1886. The police
are waiting for the consciences of the two
gentlemen to prompt their surrender.
james Lane, who has been lying at his
home on Soho street, for the past two weeks,
in critical condition from being stabbed N
the right side by man named Hugh Doyle,
in a Soho "speak-easy," is improving, and
his physician said last night he was on the
road to recovery.
Inspector McKelvev and Special Officer
Carrigan last evening arrested four men
charged with being the persons who robbed
the grocery store OF Adam Appel, in the
5outhside Diamond, yesterday morning.
The men were found in a stable in the act
Of transferring eggs from crates to barrels.
When taken to the stationheuse, they gave
The names of Edward Woods, Pat McTIghe,
Joseph Grabe and Dennis Powers.