New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-19
CHOKED TILL SHE PAINTED.
THEN THE ROBBER STRIPPED HER OF
JEWELS WORTH sl6oo
THE STORY OF A CRIME COMMITTED IN A
THIRTY NINTH ST HOUSE on JULY al
AFTER DAYS OF WORK THE PO-
LICE HAVE CAUGHT THE

GUILTY MAN.
The facts connected with daring robbery.
accompanied with brutal violence. that occurred
In an unoccupied furnished fiat, at No. 256 West
Thirty y-ninth-st.. on July 81. came to light
through the arrest Friday night Of John
Deegan. twenty-slx years old. who says he is a
clerk, and who, at the time the Headquarters
men ran him down. was living in seclusion at
No. 3 Walton-ave. Morrisania. The complainant
is Mrs. Mary Johnson. wealthy property owner,
living at No 2lS West Twenty-ffth-st. She
still bears on face and reck the traces of the
vicious handling she received at the hands Of
her assailant when he first beat and choked
her into submission. and then tore from her
jewelry TO the value Of 1900. The detectives are
still looking for another man named John Rogers,
whom they firmly believe TO have been the insti-
gator OF the outrage.
The story told by Mrs. Johnson goes back 10
April t. when Rogers became her tenant in a
flat owned by her at No. 206 West Twenty-hfth-
ST. She lent him s.. which after a long time he
failed to pay. She met him In the street on July
90 and he made some excuse, bat failed again 10
pay her
On the following morning. however, Deegan,
whom Mrs johnson had not met before, called at
her house with note from Rogers, asking for
a loan Of $50. The note explained that the writer
had become mixed up in fight the night be-
fore. and langMshing in jail awaiting the
arrival Of money with which to pay his fine
Mrs. johnson promptyrefused to assist Rogers,
and gave Deegan piece of her mind about him.
Nothing abashed Deegan returned at soclock that
evening and after first informing Mrs. Johnson
that Rogers had obtained his Release, expressed
a desire To hire Of her iiats saying tnat ne
was going 70 Saratoga, and wanted to install his
mother and sister in furnished fiat. she took
him over TO No. 256 West Thirty -ninth-st, and
showed him over a furnished fiat. He decided
10 take fl and made bluff" at paying her
months rent in advance. AS she was passing
from the bedroom into the kitchen In order 10
make out a receipt Deegan sprang upon her
from behind. c!utcheo her by the throat ana
threw her on the beo
The unfortunate woman fought for her life.
and the robber did not spare her. They must
have fought desperately, FOR when she recovered
her senses some hours later her clothing was
almost torn from her and her face was lacerated
and bleeding The black and blue hngermarks
on her throat showed that he had finally choked
her into insensibility. She was stripped OF all
her Jewels and she bad been wearing some
valuable ones. She estimates her totai loss AT
81 sos -
The detectives learned that Deegan, or Downing
as he had called himself, was fequenter OF
racetracks Detective Sheridan followed him 10
Saratoga on August g and found out that ne
had been there one day, and had gone on 10
Roston Here. for time, the trail was lost, out
ten dav. ago the detectives located their man at
No } Walton-ave. Morrsania. They were not
sure about him at first and II took several Gays
OF watching before they found and caught MIN.
He was marched down TO Headquarters, where
Mrs Johnson had no hesitation in Identifying
him as the man who had assaulted and robbed
hor At Jefferson Market Police Court yesterday
he was remanded until Tomorrow.