Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-17

miles an hour.
FIGHT IN THE TOILET.
Somehow or other in the melee the front
doorway got closed against the fourth sus-
poet and quick as lightning he opened the
door Of the adjacent toilet room and
still reigned in tho coach. The passengers
were still safe and invisible. The flying
bullets had splintered the sashes and
broken the windows.
OFFICER SMITHS DARING.
All that was left of the burglars now was
the ono man in the toilet room. 1t was
determined at least to capture him. Officer
Smith went outside, and clambering along
the exterior of the coach as the train
rushed along, he got his pistol hand inside
the toilet room and commenced firing
point blank at the victim within. The
burglar Immediately returned fire, putting
bullet through Mr.. Smiths hand. The
officer theli retired. He already had
wound under his right eye, and his cloth
ing had been shot through.
THE FOURTH MANS ESCAPE.
Desperate burglar No. had not been
hurt although Officer Smith claims that
he heard him fall heavily against the side
of the closet as the officers pistol was
being discharged against him. The thief
with the courage of desperation crowded
himself up through the little window of
the toilet room and made the reckless
plunge for his life from the car in the
darkness while running at such terrific
speed. The poor wretch was successful in
extracting himself, but whether he landed
safely with his life is question.
WHERE WERE THE TRAIN HAHDs2
Meanwhile the train hands had all left
Tor the other end of the train. AT any rate
they certainly did not put in an appear
ance at the scene of conflict and left all the
risk and glory of the battle to the three
brave officers. The whole ARRAY happened
within few moments. The attack and
the escape all TRANSFERRED within minute.
HuTcHINs AND LooKERMAN's LUCK.
What is most remarkable in the whole
story is the wonderful escape from instant
death of Officers Hutchins and Locker
man. They were fired at repeatedly within
II distance of 10 PAGES by the burglars.
Smith. whose escape is also miraculous,
was wounded in the face and pistol hand
and had his overcoat at the right shoulder
pierced by bullet. All three officers,
although they did rot capture their men,
are yet deserving of the utmost praise for
their deliberate courage. The exact loca-
ton of the burglars hiding place is in the
woods between Clayton and Cheswold, on
the T., W. d b. railroad track. There is
seven miles of country between the two
THE TRAIN DID NOT SLOW UT.
There was no attempt to stop the train
throughout the melee. The train hands
claim that they hadn't time to do it, The
train was rushing along SO fast and it all
happened 50 quickly nothing could be
done.
who so desperately fought the officers on
the Norforlk express, this morning, has
| been captured.
Town Bailiff Boggs found him about 10
O'Clock, hiding in Wright's brickyard. in
this town. He was badly injured, having
been shot through the thigh.
The wounded burglar gave his name as
James Burns and his residence as Will
mington He was unable to walk.
When found he was hidden under fod-
der stack, near the railroad track
| The finding of revolver near the stack
led the officers to make the search.
The burglars wound was dressed and he
was taken to Dover jail.
SUPPOSED TO Re BASEBALL PLAYER BURNS.
DOVER. March 15.-The burglar who
was arrested at Clayton this morning was
brought here at noon by Constable Arm
strong of Clayton.
INA DISABLED CONDITION.
He in disabled condition. He had been
shot in the abdomen and his leg was
broken by the jump from the car window.
He had been lying along the railroad since
0 o'clock, in the morning, but managed to
crawl to Wright's brickyard, where he was
found at 10 O'clock
He refused to tell his name, but party
recognized him as Burns, formerly OF the
Wilmington baseball club and last season
of the Baltimore club
DETECTIVE HUTcHINs' STATEMENT.
Detective Hutchins and Chief OF Police
J. W. Lockerman of Camden, were seen at
the r., w. & Is. railroad station Tuesday
afternoon by GAZETTE representative.
Detective Hutchins gave, this version of
the shooting in the car and was corrobor-
ated by Chief Lockerman:
when the got on at Dover at once
recognized in them the burglars. Two Of
them seated themselves in the middle of the
car while the other two took a seat near the
stove at the front of the car. ordered
Chief Lockerman to place himself at the
front door of the car where two of the
men we're. County Constable Smith of
Camden and ] approached the two men
sitting in the middle of the car. ordered
them to go to the front of the car where
their companions were sitting telling them
they were under arrest ut the same time.
In the meantime Chief Lockerman still
guarded the front door of the car
CONSTABLE Smith and | then marched
|
car. This attracted the attention of the
two sitting near the door that Lockerman
was guarding. They at once recognized in
him an officer. AS quick as flash the two
men were upon their feet. They covered
Lockerman with their pistols, placing the
weapons within an inch of his forehead
Leave the door, the men exclaimed
Lockerman obeyed. AT this moment the
other two burglars turned upon Constable
Smith and fired. We in turn opened fire
upon them. One of the balls whistled
over my shoulder. Another pierced the
coat Of Constable Smith. After the fire
had been kept up but short time one OF
the men fled into the toilet room of the
car and two others went out on the plat
form, leaving one still in the car.
when one of the burglars slipped into
the toilet room Chief Lockerman CLOSED
the door upon him and held it. covered
the man remaining in tho car with my
pistol. The man who had fed into the
water closet at first attempted to Jump out
too fest (i0 miles an hour.) He then de
liberately reached his arm out of tn,
window and reaching around the window
sill began firing at Smith and / through
the car window. We had several narrow
escapes from being shot. The pistol ball:
whis,Ied thick and fast about our heads
Finally the firing ceased. Then Smith
reached his arm out the window and free
five shots point blank at the man in tht
toilet room. The next minute the burglar
threw himself out of the window and le
! go. That was the last seen of him.
about this time, when bullets were
flying in the car. the burglar who had re
NAMED In the car until this time fled on
on the platform and Joined the other two
confederates. This was between CheswolC
and Brenford Smith fired two shots a
them through the glass in the door. TIL,
train then began to slaoken up at Bren
ford. Smith and Lockermen went to tn,
rear of the car / went to the front plat