The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-31
DARING THIEF.
Continued from page 1.

North Main street. From the end of the
alley the fugitive made bis way through
a hole in fence, scaled six-foot retain
ing wall and wakes through the back
door of Mrs. Nellie Thomas boarding
house, 2l Waterman street. He went
into the hallway and, just to keep his
hand in, assa ulted boarder named J..
a. Bucb, man over 20 years old. This
was where the thief showed conclusively
that he mas ability Of better things than
being thief. He changed his hat and
went out the front door onto Waterman
strsetgi t
The crowd, somewhat reassured by the
cessation of Hiring and growing braver
as IL became evident that the thief was
out of reach, was rushing up Waterman
street, looking for thief with cloth cap
and when a calm and collected young man
with a stiff bat on came out of the front
door at Il they shouted to him TO help
catch the desperate and he willingly
Joined the pursuit. He was chasing nim-
self literally, and ran shoulder to
shoulder with a red faced, putting indi-
vidusl who lest wind by telling what he
would do IL he got held of the viper.
The rest was simple enough. and when
tue chase grew cold and melted away the
young man who ought 10 have a whole
page in the rogu-s album melted away
too.
His next crime followed within seven
hours, and his victim was a lone cyclist
riding up from Crescent Park at O'Clock
this morning.
In this case the bighwayman resorted
to the trick of train wreckers and placed a
fence rail- across the bicycle path just
north OF the entraDee to the Squantum
Club. The path at this point Is dark and
gloomy, passing between thick hedges
and he rider had no idea of danger un-
til his front wheel struck the rail and he
went over hesdlong. Before he had time
to recover himself a revolver was pointed
between his eyes and a man with slouch
hat and one hsnc in sling commanded
him 10 give up his wheel. The unfortu-
nate didn't hesitate an instant, and with
out more parleying the robber mounted
the stolen bike and rode of toward Paw
tucket.
The victim, who would not divuIge his
identity, walked to the East Providence
town hall and notified the police and
they joined In the search which, for the
last month or more mas baftied the efforts
OF the authorities OF half dozen cities
and towns.
The last seen OF the thief he was bent
double over bis handle bars and riding
past Moore'a Corners. This was at 10
o'clock this morning, quarter of an hour
after the robbery on the Crescent Park
road. A description Of the man is as
follows: Five feet 0 inches in height;
100 or 1eb pounds weight; dark com
plexion; long black hair dark eyes;
long, narrow face, with pointed chin on
which was two weeks growth of dark
beard. tie wore q black shirt, black
necktie; dark brown coat ana trousers
of rough goods, and DARK cloth cap; a
dlrty-coored sweater; no mustache; age
about Fl or 22 years. Mr.. Dawson con-
sdered the man rough looking, but others
who saw him difiered from this.
john =. Wright, the proprietor Of
furnace and stove repair shop at 23 North
Main street, was one of the first to see
the man come through the window, and
surmisipg that something was wrong ran
sitter him. Mr., Wright saw that the
man had a revolver in his right hlp
pocket, and made grab for 1t snd sue
ceeded in securing II, and then fired one
shot at the fleeing man. MIR. Wright
. fired second shot, but the revol yer
missed fire. There were but two charg-
es in the revolver, which contained
seven chambers.
ihe club with which he demolished
oawson's plate-glass Is on exhibition in
the window OF 1HE News office.
A dispatch from 1Hurton says: The
bicycle thief who causec.such asssensation
in Providence last night by getting afely
away through a fusilade of bull It's, after
an attempt had been made to arrest him.
rode down two Taunton policemen who
had set out to intercept him at Westdale
early this morning, and in spite of per-
feet shower OF bullets, which were sent
after him, the bicyclist escaped, APP
parently unharmed.
Word was received by the Taunton
officers at about 3 o'clock this morning
that the fellow was coming in this cirec-
tion. Officers Eddy and Blandan started
along the Taunton turnpike. When they
reached Westdale they saw tire rider
coming at furious speed ana made rrera-
ra.ions to stop him. AS he came on,
however, Ii was evident that he would
not stop, and command TO halt, even
though 1t was EN- mphasized by the muzzie
OF a revolver In he hand of each poI ice
man, was not needed. AS the rider speu
past, both officers fred. The rider paid
no attention 10 the action. but kept on
st the top Oh his speec. The officers ran
after hin, emptying their revolvers cs
they went, hut not one of the shots APP
pehred 10 take effect and the rider was
soon bevond rante, aud was speeding
toward OaklanS.