New-York tribune., 1889-10-19
ATTACKED By HIGHWAYNEN.
JOHN BURKE, THE BoOKMAKER, ATTACKED IN
THE STREET AND CHASED TO THE DOOR


John Burke, the we'll known East side POLITICIAN
bookmalcr, iquordcalcr and dime museum proprietor,
had narrow escape from being sandbagsed ana
robbed by footpads, between and 4 O'Clock 3'T
terday morning, in Bleecker ST., near South fiha'o
He left HIS liquorstor at No. 163 Grandst shoruS
after / O'clock and stepped into Bowery rcs'a'i','
near East HoustOn-st. to take Hight luncheon Ao
remained I'm the restaurant until 3 O'Clock, anu uc"
started for his home al No. 90 Macdougal-st MI
Burke is a methodcal man, and has made pI"'
of going through Bleeckcrst. about o'clock IN tn'
morning for several years, and there are hunAIoi'
of persons who know his peculiarly IN ms I'ssiu'
Eeecker-st IS filled with thieves Of all Kinds, WIN
IN the old rookeres and tcncmens and lolter Al 'N
stieetcOrners 1t is a dangerous place al any ,'uO
Of the day or night and especially SO no" SIM si''o
therc IS not single lamp lighted after dark oct"eeH
Bleecker and Varick SITS
Mr. Burke turned into Blcecker-st at the ho"oIy'
After passing Broadway two came out from some
where behind him and walked at about inc SAM
pace. After going short distance the t"o - -
crossed 10 the north side OF the street, ahu
rapidly, they soon got ahead of Mr. Burhe, anu -
appeared in the darkness. Mr. Burke quiche"ou ~
pace and when he got midway between Mercer anu
Wooter SIS he saw the two men cross the south sde
They were near south Fifh-ave.. and at ms Po1n'
on tho south side OF Bleeckerst. there Is Temporal
bridge over an excavation in the sideWa!A ~
west of this bridge there is a small toolhous0' ~
Mr. Burke whose suspicious were arouseo oS '
strange action OF the men, thought they had secc"o
themselves behind this house and were "a''lns
for him. When he reached the bridge he s'eppo'
To the middle of the street and kept watch on 'N9
Toulouse The men were theO. and he lehalu0A
in the street until he had passed South fn'FaVo'
The worst part of Bleeckcrst. is at Depau ho"'
the Old Stewart mansion. Mr.. Burke hcslIa'cu d"
moment and was in doubt about going fr'hcr' ho
finally started ahead, and had gone only shol'
distance into the gloom Of DeDau Row, Wheh NJ
was ATTACHED by the two footpads The tauer o4
the two ripped open Mr.. BurRs coat ana graoDou
his watch chain while his companion was uylhe
10 hit him on the head with weapon that looAoN
like sand-bag Mr.. Burke, though small Is abii'
and plucky, and fought his assalants Vahanuy'
He knew that he had not an even chance WI"
them nd when he got out OF their clu;chcs NJ
started away on a brisk run. Both tho hlgh"aynic
followed at his heels, trying to strike him lie ran
diaconally across Macdougal-st to his home nv
IaIier of the two men followed him 70 his uOor; an
when Mr. Burke showed hgh; the thief walled Slowly
away Mr. Burke got a pistol from MS ROOM a!Ii
QUICKLY returned the street. but me theNcs n''
disappeared Mr.. Burke has not carried a teNolNr5I
for Years but hereafter he will do So lie rtpOI.tt
the attempt at robbery at Police Headqlartcts lt't
evening and several detectives were dctalleu 10 Pro
tect citizens in Bleccker-St. ,, .,od ,f
The thieves wOuld" have been richly IcWd,rurut
Chey had got effective blow upon MI Dur ,TS
head as he always has several thousand collars
with him.