Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-10
SAFE BURGLARS BOLD ATTEMPT.
A Gang Of Desperate Men Captured I'm Chi
cage.

CHICAGO, Jan. 10.-A bold attempt at robbery
was frustrated and a gang Of desperate safe
blowers captured at an early hour this morning
by the police. On the fifth floor Of the build
ing at l6l La Sale street is the Office Of Dia-
mond Broker Murray. In big safe he keeps
Thousands of dollars worth of diamonds. These
were what the desperate thieves were after.
Shortly after midnight two detectives, who
were walking down La Sale street. saw five
men, two OF whom were carrying bundles. enter
the building at i6i. The officers concluded the
men were safe blowers and notified the central
station. Lieuts. kepley and Clarke quickly
summoned a number Of officers and the en-
frances 70 the building were guarded. The
heutenants with six detectives tip-toed up
stairs, each with drawn revolver in his hand.
When the fifth floor was reached a noise was
heard in l61. Putting his shoulder to the door
kepley threw his weight against it and IL
flew open. There was a shutting Of feet and
as the eight officers sprang inside the room.
which was in total darkness, Lieut. Kepley
fired his pistol in the direction of the noise.
I'VE have got YOU surrounded" said he, $50
you might as well surrender"
The gas was then lighted by one of the OFF,
GERS while the others stood with their guns
ready to shoot If the cracksmen should make a
rush to escape or show fight in any way. But
as the gas fared up il revealed five men who
stood near the safe with uplifted hands. On
the floor in front of the safe Law kit of tools
The combination had been twisted Off and in
five minutes the yaluables would have been
reached. The tools were wrapped up. and the
thieves, in charge of the officers. started for
the station. Officer Mcdonald, who was in
front, led his man down the stairway until the
first floor was reached. when the robber tripped
the officer and made desperate dash for lib
erty. The rear door was open and through this
the thief ran
THE cRAcxsMAN ESCAPED.
When the fellow was dashing down the hall
Lieut.. kepley caught glimpse Of his form and
fired at him. but the daring cracksman escaped
The lieutenant. however, is certain that one or
more of the bullets struck him. The fellow
ran through the alley to Monroe street and
then fed toward 5th avenue. Officer Mcdonald
pursued him and says that the fellow ran as
though he had been wounded in the leg. None
Of the others tried to get away.
1t was just midnight when the officers and
prisoners stepped INTO the station. Here the
safe-blowers were searched and six big revolv-
ers of the heaviest caliber were taken. At the
station the men gave their names as Thomas
Kennedy, Frank Duer, John Tuohey and Ed.
Murphy. The only familiar face in the gang
was that Of Murphy. He il an old time safe
blower and only recently was released from
the Columbus. Ohio, penitentiary for doing a
Job down in the Buckeye state some years ago.
After the men were safely placed behind the
bars the officers made an examination of the
burglars outfit. The chisels. punches and bits
were Of the finest chilled steel The police are
greatly elated over the capture.