Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-23
A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE.
How Brooklyn Grocer was Murdered
 by Burglar-A FaeaI Coatest.

How a Brooklyn Grocer was Murdered
 by Burglar-A Fasal Contest.
 NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-Christian W. .Luca, the grocer at the northeast corner of High and Jay streets, Brooklyn, was murdered last night. In cell in the Second precinct sta tion, on Fulton street, is 19-year-old Charles w. McIlvane of 143 High street, charged with the awful deed. He is calm and uncon- cerned, and has admitted his connection with the terrible work in unfaltering voice.
 Mir. Luca has kept the corner grocery for over eight years, and during that time has lived with his family in the second-story apartment. The one other apartment on the floor above has been occupied by family by the name of Fisher. Mir. Lucas family con- sisted of his wife Mary, and three young chill dren. A German servant girl and two young men clerks in MT. Lucas employ also slept in the house.
 MT. Lucs and his family occupied two beds last night in bedroom opening out of the kitchen. At 3:s0 g: m: Luca heard someone opening window in his store. He waited until he heard the intruder step inside, and then, without awakening his wife, got out of bed, stole down on tiptoe and grappled the burglar. A fierce struggle ensued. Over and over rolled the men on the floor. Now Luca was on top and then the burglar seemed to have the best of it. There were no words between the men. They fought all over the room for several minutes before Mrs. Luca was awakened. When the brave woman heard the struggle she hesitated not an in stant. but rushed out into the kitchen and clutched the burglar around the waist.
 Her husband was on his knees and the burglar was over him with gleaming knife, but she held on. While the man struggled to break away he pushed the blade deep into her husbands shoulder five times in rapid succession. Then he sank down ex- hausted.
 Just before Mrs. Luca gave up the struggle Meta Preus, the servant girl, came down from her room on the third floor. She gained access to the kitchen by going around through the parlor, which is on Jay street, and then through the bedroom. She was mortified at the sight which met her gaze and almost tainted. But when Mrs. Luoa called her to assist in holding the burglar the leg. Mrs. Luea meanwhile had not loosened her hold about the young mans waist.
 The burglar saw that he must now act quickly or all would be up with him. The household was alarmed and any moment he might be taken. His grip on the blood stained knife had not been loosened, and as he held it dripping with the warm blood of his victim he shouted:
 "I stabbed him, and if yees don't let me alone I will stab yees, too"
 "Then let him go," said Mrs. Luca, "and Meta, she let go of his leg, and he stepped out of the window and went down the ladder carrying the knife."
 When the man got to the foot of the lad der he picked up his shoes, opened the yard gate, and started on 8 run for his lodging house at 143 High street, where a bride of two weeks awaited him.
 Officer James Kennedy, who was on duty at that time, saw the man leave the yard, and when he ran he suspected something was wrong and gave chase. He caught up with the young man just as he was about entering his boarding house and arrested ! him.
 He was taken to the Second precinct sta tion and searched. The blood-covered knife ! was found in his hip pocket. He gave hii ! name as Charles w. McElvane and his resi- | dence as 143 High street. He said he wa, ! nineteen years old and had worked for Cort land Brothers. ice dealers of New York. As soon as Mrs. Luca could collect he l thoughts she went to her husbands assist ance, while Meta started out to find Mrs Lucas father, Henry Deill. Drs. Stone ant
 
 ! if possible, the dying man.
 He was beyond all hope, however, and al they could do for him was to give him brand
 to prolong his life few minutes. Just be
 fore he breathed his last McElvane wa
 brought into his presence for Identification
 The dying man had not power enough left { speak, but the look in his eyes betokene
 that he recognized in McElvane his assailant
 Mrs. Luca doesn't know exactly when he
 husband did die, but she thinks it was abou
 four o'clock. MT. Luca was forty years (
 age.
 Besides the five stab wounds on the lei
 arm piece of flesh about three inches lon
 and two wide was cut out just below tt
 muscle and another stab wound just und' the heart.
 ! Inspector Byrnes has in custody at hea, ! quarters Martin Dennin, noted thief, he
 on the suspicion that he was concerned in u
 killing of Luca.
 Tonight Tom Quinlan, the third of Il
 murderers, surrendered himself to the poll, ] in Brooklyn. At first he denie
 being with McElvane at the houi
 of LucaI this morning, but said he pal McElvane @ visit in Brooklyn an 7 that McElvane accompanied him to the fer, when he came to New York, but on beir ) confronted with McElvane's confession ! gave in and admitted that McElvan's sto, was correct. An autopsy on Lucas boo showed that he had twelve wounds, four ! which would have proved fatal, and that
 death was due to hemorrhage.