Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-23
STABBED TO DEATH.
THREE THIEVES ATTEMPT TO ROB A
STORE.
The Proprietor Aroused and Has n Hand
to-Hand Combat with One Of Them,
but Is Finally Murdered.
lRr telegraph 80 the pIspa.cl.l

NEW YoRK, August 22.--At IN early
bonr this morning three thieves broke
into the grocery store OF Christopher W.
Lucas, at Jay aud High streets, Brook
lyn. They we're surprised at their work
by the proprietor, end a hand-to-hand
conflict took place, during which the
grocer was stabbed TO the heart. Tho
police caught one Of the men. He said
his name was McElwain, and gave de
scription OF bis companions who bad
escaped. He said their names were
Hawthorn Benson and Thomas Qnin-
Ian. An alarm was at once sent to this
city with the request TO watch for the
men. In less than an hour Detective Barry
had captured Benson, who on being
taken before Inspector Byrnes was re-
cognized as Martin DeniD, n professional
thief and an ex-convict. lie WAS sur
rendered to the Brooklyn officers The
other man is being holly 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 McEwain was in the store. sud
denly McElwain came rushing out OF the
store. lie was covered with blood. The
prisoner ANA Quinlan then fed,
Further details show that the bur
glars 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 go in. He is q
slightiy-built young man. and only
nineteen years of age. lie opened the
window easily and crawled in, and was
making his way to the front room,
where it was supposed Lucas kept
his money-box. 1t was quite dark
at the time. He bad reached
the passage-wsy leading through
the bed when Mr.. Lucas was
awakened by the noise and got up 10 see
what WAS the matter. He did not wake
his wife. AS lie entered the dining-room
he saw the figure of man making for
the window aud grappled him at once.
McIlwain was so frightened that be
dropped his hat near the bedroom door.
where it was picked up afterwards. He
was in his stocking feet. Lucas was q
powerful man, weighing over 200
pounds, and he would have made short
work with the intruder had not the latter
been armed with knife-an ugly-loOk-
ing weapon, with the blade fully SIX
inches long. As soon as Lucas seized
him near the window they began TO
tussle, knocking the furniture about and
making a great noise, which woke all
the rest Of the family. Mrs. Lucas
rushed out of the bedroom followed by
Harry, her nine year old son, and scr
want came out of another door. Lucas
was down on ore knee in front of the
window and his assailant stood over him,
striking him repeatedly. "Help "
" Murder " "Policel" shouted Lucas
at the top Of his voice. "Ilelp; I'm
being murderedl" Mrs. Lucas jumped
forward and caught the murderer by the
arm, while the servant grabbed him 10y
the coat, and Lucas tried to get up.
ISLAND back" cried McElwain to the
two women, fourisbing his knife, which
they then saw for the first time. "Stand
back and let me SO, or III cut you open
as | did him w Both women shrank
back in horror and McElwain jumped
out of the window, and grabbing up
his shoes ran out of the yard down High
street Lucas meanwhile had struggled
to his feet and had staggered to sink
in the corner Of the room. "FOr Gods
sake, Mary. get me some help" he
proaned. ~ believe | am killed, and
with that he sank down in n heap in tho
corner of the room. The shrieks of the
women aroused the whole neiehbor-
hood and a few seconds afterwards
DR.. Stone, who lives on the opposite
side OF Jay street, came running IN. 1t
was too late, however, TO do anything
for the wounded man. He was fast
diving. There were three or four deep
gashes on his right shoulder and arm
and horrible cut in the breast under
the heart, from which his life-bloOd was
pouring in stream. Within ten min
utes lie had breathed his last.
McElwain was captured by Policeman
Kennedy. who says that he heard shouts
of Murder !" "Pohce and q few
seconds later saw man running to-
wards him with his shoes in his hand.
He grabbed him and took him to the
station. McElwain had in his possession
n big, wicked.looking knife, the blade of
which was covered with blood. McEl-
vain confessed that it was he who had
stabbed Lucas.