New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-01
WAS ROBBERY Intended
ARTHUR J. RIDLEY FIRED AT BY EARLN
MORNING CALLERS
WHILE sT,YIYG AT THE LONG ISLAND HoMF
OF 4 FRIEND HE Il CALLED FROM BED
AND EXCHANGES SHOTS WITH
SOME UNKNOWN MEN.

Three men made a deliberate attempt TO murder
Arthur j. Ridley. member Of the drygools firm OF
t. Ridley q sons. of this city. yesterday morning
at Bayside l.. !. 4 shot hred n him at Close
range. II failed 10 take effect and lodged In thc
window-casing at which he stood
The attempt was made at go o'clock al the home
Of Theodore Allen. Mr. Ridley was listing the fam
ily. The house is close To the beach and stands
alone. Tuesday night Mr.. and Mrs. Allen re
rnained at Ncw-York. There eleven persons at
the house Wednesday night Mr.. Ridley was the
only man. The others We're women and children
Miss Allen. daughter Of the owner of the
house. noticed that some one was trying TO pry
open the window. Then she heard some one out
side say:
There seems to be some one inside but | can't
make out who or what 1t is
Miss Allen sprang from bed and turned up n
lamp which was standing on Il tabl" The lamp
had been turned very low. but not entirely out
She was thoroughly frightened. but instead Of
screaming she asked what was wanted.
One Of the men. after some hesitation. asked II
Mr. Allen was at home Miss Allen said her father
and mother were away in Ncw-lork. The same
man then asked If Mr.. Ridley was in the house.
Miss Allen said he The same voice then told
her 70 call him as they wished TO see him. Miss
Allen. without leaving the room, called for Mr.
Ridley at the same moment drawing on dress
ing gown.
Mr.. Ridley had been asleep on the second fiooT
but responded at once to the call The door was
open and he ran into the room. In "A few words
Miss Allen told him there were several men out
side who wished to him. He asked what was
wanted in reply he was told to come to the
side door. Mr. Ridley replied that he wanted To-
know what was wanted. one Of the men then SAID
they had a sick man with them named Frank But
lei They said he had been taken SICK on Il yacht,
and said that he knew Mr. Ridley.
Mr. Ridley, who thought that the story was true.
although he could not recall the name Frank But
Ter. replied:
III you want TO speak to me you can do so
through the window" ana raised the wlndow ana
looked out. The were standing several feet
away to side. TO obtain IA better view Mr. Rm-
ley leaned out
dow one of the men raised pistol and bullet
whizzcd past his head The aim poor, and
the bullet did not touch Mr. Ridley, but buried
itself in the window easing back of him.
The entire household was awakened 10y the sound
of the pistol shot Mr. Ridley ran TO his room ana
procured "A small pistol. which was the only weapon
of any Kind In the house. lie then went to win
dow on the second floor and looked out In the
shadow Of a tree h" three men. and fired al
them The men then ran away.
The local authorities were At once informed, but
as none OF the inmates Of the house could give "A
description of the men the chance of their arrest
is slight Mr. Ridley cannot think Of any reason
why an attegpt should be made on his life. The
does not know of any one who would wish to take
his life He thinks with Mr. Ridley that the men
were after plundcr and thinks that had he been At
home. and Nj. Ridley not there. they might hhv"
had a chance OF success. as he would not have
been a cautious his guest