Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-28
A RUNNING FIGHT.
Officers and II Burglar Exchange
Pistol Shots.

Pistol shots.
This morning about o'clock colored
man made an attempt to rob Quigley' s
irug store, corner of 21st and G streets,
and when pursued by officers several pistol
shots were exchanged, and the would-be
burglar-murderer escaped in the darkness.
The street lamps had been extinguished at
o'clock. one hour before the colored man
made SO desperate an attempt to commit a
double crime, on suspicion that the moon
would furnish light enough for pedestrians
to make their way along the streets, and
also render the police assistance in the way
OF seeing any suspicious persons. But the
moon failed to shine, and the city was in
total darkness, rendering it an easy task
for burglar or murderer to have escaped
without much trouble.
Policeman English of Lieut.. Boyles pre-
cinct and Special Officer Owen Startling
were the men who frustrated the mans
plans and the officer fired four shots at
him, while the special officer made every
effort to capture the fugitive.
The officers came along 21st street about
the hour mentioned. and their attention
was attracted to the yard in rear of the
drug store. They stopped and listened for
few seconds. and the noise made by the
burglar endeavoring to smash open the
cash register continued.
Inc officers started toward the yard, and
they got a good look at the man. who was
operating with the assistance of a con-
federate. Feeling reasonably certain that
they could capture the man the officers
started for him, but before they reached
him he became aware of their presence and
started to run. There was only one way
FOR him to escape, and that was through
the store
An entrance had been effected by cutting
pane of glass from the rear window and
the burglar had not taken the precaution
10 unlock the front door. But there was
no other channel of escape from the ward
II he wet in there he would get cornerel
and would have to kill his pursuers before
he could escape but this chance was the
only one. so far as he could discover, and
leaving the unopened cash register in the
yard he darted through the window into
the store.
There was no light in the room, and SO
the officers could not see him If he stopped
to hide. But he did not stop to hide behind
one OF the counters from where he could
have used his pistol on his pursuers Instead
or dong this he continued through the store
and went headlong through the front win
dow, taking with him pane of glass not
more than twenty inches square
Having reached the sidewalk. the burglar
felt comparatively safe once more, and left
the oHlcerS some distance behind him when
he started down G street When the ofti-
GERS reached the sidewalk they got a
glimpse of the fleeing burglar. and, after
pursuing MIN short distance, Officer Eng
fish drew his revolver and fired
Then 1t was that the burglar drew his
weapon ana returned the fire. Two bullets
from his pistol We're sent in the direction of
the two guardians. while four bullets from
the ofhcers pistol were sent down the
street toward the colored man. While this
ineHectual firing was being done the special
officer gained Il little on the colored man,
but when the firing ceased the fugitive
r ade fresh start.
Close behind him were the officers and
they Kept him in view until the corner of
18th and H streets was reached. and then
the man escaped in the darkness
he
burglar is a brown-skin man, about five
feet four inches tall, and was neatly
dressed. When the officers finally gave up
the pursuit they returned to the drug store
and examined the premises. The proprie-
Tor was also present, and he found that
nothing was missing. AS already stated,
an entrance was effected by cutting pane
or glass from the rear window The cash
register. in which was a small sum of
money. was found in the yard where 1t
had been left by the escaping burglar
A description OF the fugitive has been
sent to the different police stations, and
the officers are making every effort to cap
ture him. If caught, it is thought he will
surely get twenty years sentence for hi.,
double crime.