Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-22
STABBED BY A BURGLAR.
A Brooklyn Groceryman's Encountel
With Three Thieves.


morning three thieves broke into the grocery
store Of Chris ". Luca, atJay and High streets,
Brooklyn. They were surprised at their work
by the proprietor and q hand-to-hand conflict
took place, during which the grocer was
stabbed to the heart. The police found one Of
the men in his store hiding behind Q barrel
He said his name was McElwain and gave de-
scription Of his companions, who had escaped.
He said their names we're Hawthorn Benson
and Thos. Quinlan. An alarm was at once sent
to this city, with request to watch for the men.
In less than an hour Detective Barry had cap
tured Benson, who, on being taken before In
spector Byrnes, was recognized as Martin
Denim, professional thief and ex-convict He
was surrendered to the Brooklyn officers. The
other man is being hotly pursued
Before Denim had been taken to Brooklyn he
sent for Inspector Byrnes, to whom he said he
wanted to confess. He said that neither he nor
Quinlan knew what had happened in the store.
They were both on the outside watching while
McElwain was in the store. Suddenly McEl-
vain came rushing out Of the store. He was
covered with blood. The prisoner and Quinlan
then fed
FURTHER DETAILS SHOW
that the burglars entered the yard in the
rear Of the house and put ladder up
to the middle second story window.
McElwain was the one selected to 20
IN. he is a slightly-built young man
and only nineteen years old. He opened the
window easily and crawled in and was making
his way to the front room, where IL was sup
posed that Mr.. Luca kept his money box. 1t
was quite dark at the time.
He had reached the passageway leading
ened by the noise and got up to see what was
the matter. He did not wake bis wife.
As he entered the dining room he saw the
ngure OF a man making for the window and
grappled him at once.
McElwain was SO frightened that he dropped
picked up afterwards. He was in his stocking
feet.
Luca was big. powerful man, weighing over
two hundred pounds and he would have made
short work with the intruder had not the latter
been armed with knife, an ugly-iook-
ing weapon, with blade fully six
inches long. As soon as Luca seized him near
the window they began to tussle about, knock
ing the furniture about and making a great
noise which woke up 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 the other door. Lucs
was down on one knee in front Of the window
and his assailant stood over him, striking him
repeatedly. Help, murder, police" shouted
Luca at the top of his voice. "Help-rm be-
ing murdered"
murderer by the arm, while the servant grab
bed him by the coat while Luca tried to get up.
stand back, +" cried McElwain to the two wo-
men, fourishing his knife, which they then
saw for the first time. Stand back and lei
me go, or I'll cut you open as did him."
Both women shrank back in horror and Nc
Elwain jumped out Of the window and, grab
bing up his shoes, ran out of the yard down
High street.
Luca meanwhile had struggled to his feet
and had staggered to the sink in the corner of
the room. 'For Gods sake, Mary, get me some
help" he groaned. Il believe I am killed, "
and with that he sank down in hear
in the corner of the room. The shrieks of the
woman aroused the whole neighborhood and in
o few seconds afterward DR.. Stone who lives or
the opposite side Of Jay street came running in.
1t was too late, however, to do anything for ths
wounded man.
HE WAS FAST DYING.
There were three or four deep gashes on hil
right shoulder and arm and horrible cut in
the breast right under the heart, from which
his life blood was pouring in stream. Within
ten minutes he had breathed his last.
McElwain was captured by Policeman Ken
nedy, who says that be heard shouts of s'mur-
DER" police" and few seconds later saw a
man running toward him with his shoes in his
hand. He grabbed him and took him to
the station. McElwain had in his possession a
big wicked looking knife, the blade Of which
was covered with blood. McElwain confessed
that it was he who had stabbed Luca