Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-03
BOY AND A BURGLAR.
When They Meet the Plucky Lad
Comes Out Ahead by the Use Of
THE DEADLY FAMILY STOVE POKER
The Robber Struck on the Head and Seized
by the Throat, and
MARCHED INTO THE LAWS PRESENCE

PHILADELPHIA, March IA New YORK
burglar is lying in the Episcopal Hospital
with fractured skull If he RECEIVERS he
will be brought face to face with justice
and a plucky young man who was not
afraid to defend his mother and sisters and
his home against what seemed to be
big odds. Midnight housebreakers
have met with rough treatment in
this city. Just one month ago at mid
night on January 80, Joseph Thompson
shot and killed q well-known burg
lar named Duffy, who tried to force an en-
trance in his house. Almost within hour
of the month Daniel Ryan, a 2O-year-old
youth, wounded the man who was engaged
in similar crime.
All day Yesterday death hovered near the
wounded burglar, but last night his case
took a remarkable turn and though his head
is broken he will in all probability be able
to appear before a magistrate to answer for
his offense.
The Burglars Presence Detected.
The Ryan family live costly at 403 Hack
ley street, thoroughfare running of Fourth
street, between Berks and Norris streets,
Mrs. Ryan is a widow with large family
of children, of whom her son Daniel, the
hero of Saturday nights encounter, and
boy of 90, is the oldest. Two pretty sisters
and younger brother include the rest Of
the family.
Daniel is spare in build and even more
boyish looking than his years would indi-
cate, and scarcely the lad one would think
would walk boldly into six-foot burglar
with no weapon but poker, and not know
ing how his opponent was armed. But he
did, and That so vel! that the fight was of
short duration. 1t was past midnight. The
family was all sleeping soundly but Daniel,
who had been out, but came in, and was
reading in the dining room.
Suddenly be heard a football in the side
yard, and listened. Some one outside was
evidently trying the shutters, for Daniel
could hear the soft stepping and the placing
of hands on the shutters. At first he was
badly scared.
Armed With a Deadly Poker.
Then be awoke his mother and told her
there was a burglar who wanted 10
interview the silverware and valuables,
Mrs RYAN was equal to the occasion, and,
opening the window, looked out into the
back yard. She saw 4 stalwart-looking fell
low trying the shutters. When she ordered
him away he paid no attention, thinking,
probably, that there were no men in the
house and he was going to have an easy
| time. Then Mrs. Ryan quietly told Daniel
that the burglar wouldn't 60 away and Dan
wished for a pistol.
As there was no such weapon in the house,
he didn't lose presence of mind and go
shouting for a policeman. There was the
family POKER, which looked inviting as it
stood BY the range. Dan thought that
would settle the burglars ambition if he
could get in good stroke with it. So he
grabbed the poker tightly in his right hand,
stole softly to the kitchen door and awaited
developments. In about moment the man
outside tackled the door and tried to force
it open. 1t wouldn't yield to his advances.
The Boy Unlocks the Door.
But Dan quietly unlocked it and opened
it like q flash. There was a startled ex.
clamation from the man, muttered curse
from Daniel, and the moon, as she looked
down good-naturedly on the scene, saw the
| poker raised above the boys head and come
down with crushing force upon the burglars
head. He was hit hard and dropDed to his
knees, only to be grabbed by the throat by
the plucky fellow and jerked to his feet an
instant later.
By this time the family was aroused; the
daughters were screaming and there was eX-
citement Dan, even if he is not six feet
high, was stronger than the burglar he had
knocked down, and made the fellow walk
down Fourth street until they saw police
man. Before the officer could summon a
patrol wagon the prisoner sank unconscious
to the pavement, where the blood flowed
from a gaping wound in his head. He was
taken to the Episcopal Hospital, where the
physicians said his skull was badly frac-
tured and that he would die.
In lapse OF consciousness he gave his
name as Charles Reybold, of New York.
RYAN was allowed to go hume after being
complimented on his bravery. The wounded
man is not known to the police. An Eight
eenth district officer is at his bedside, and as
soon as he Is able to leave the hospital he
will be taken to prison.