New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-29
SHOT DEAD By A POLICEMAN
MANY CONTRADICTORY STORIES TOLD
ABOUT THE AFFAIR
ALLEGED ATTEMPT AT HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND
RESISTANCE or ARREsT-THE MAN WHO
WAS KILLED A BROTHER OF JAMES
THORNTON. THE VARIETY ACTOR
A THIRD BROTHER AND
THE DEAD MANS WIFE
UNDER ARREST

brother John was arrested on the same charge
and held in So 900 bail for trial Thomas Thorn
toms wife. Agnes. was arrested on a charge OF
intoxication and sent t. the workhouse. That
Is Yesterdays record IN the Thornton family,
and would have to look a long time in police
court annals 10 find It's parallel.
The story az told by side Is fol-
lows Claus \. Melander. cabinetmaker who
lives a. No ljl West Twenty-Gfth-st.. was going
toward his home through that street about 2:l9
o'clock yesterday morning a time when pedcs-
trans are ecarce even in that part Of the city.
When he came in front Of NJ. DO he was sud-
denly set upon by the Thornton brothers. From
all that can be gathered. the motive Of the two
men robbery. and their former records
strengthen that suppasition The street was al
most deserted. and as Melander came up to where
the Thorntons We're waiting John Thornton
struck him on the head and face and felled him
to the ground. AS he fell to the sidewalk the
other brother started to rifle his pockets OF any
valuables that might be there. Had the blow
that was aimed a NIelander been little harder
the robbers might have been successful. for he
had with him ar the time watch and chain
valued at $50 a Q about - in money.
THE p0GIcEMAN's VERSION.
But the blow was not hard enough To stun him,
an as ne ifI No SilNNlcl LOT N"lp ne oNt'Ty
frightened the two assaants and they ran away.
but the shouts for assistance were loud enough
to reach the cars Of Policeman William J. Aning-
ham. of the Twentleth-st. station. who made the
following statement 10 Magistrate Kudlich in
jefferson Market Court yesterday morning at
the arraignmcnt OF John Thornton: Il was on
my post near Elghth-ave.. in Twenty y-hfth-st..
when heard cries for help. ran ny to the mid
{ ~ in yphf rs.
cries came. and on my way met the two Thorn
tons running away ran between them. and.
trckinr my club under my arm. took each of the
fellows 10y the arm and lel them back To- Ne
hinder rs took them 10y the arms, some one
on the other slle - the street shouted. They're
the men. They robbed man MP the street
When We reached Mclanlcr We found him with
his nose ble ling. and with the righ' sid" IF his
face swollen from the blowa h. had received.
M4lander said that John Thornton was The man
that had struck him. AMI that Tom Thornton
had tried 10 go through his pockets. Tho TWO
men had returned with M 10 Melander without
any resistance. but when ttis was said AMI
tod them that they W w'uld have To- 81 with me-
g. the station. they seemed inclined 70 offer a
nght. tucked my club under my right arm ana
took hold y each = the men by The arm.
Just ~ did $50. Tom who was being held
=, .. tt, ,l .t..,,,,i ,u,' 4 o,'s take a
chnnce Jack and as De did 50 both men tried
10 break awav mlnaged ~ keep hold ~ John.
but Tom brok, away. as the club bothered M
Tom seized the club. and John yelled To- him.
Soak the - Tom
4 drew my revolver and ordered Tom. 10 give
mo the club he shouted. To h. with your
gun" and ran ~ mo to strike me-. He was very
cloee to- me. anl | had to act quickly. meant
,h. ,ui., went th,nk straight through lis
heart u" ie'l over %" MS race D'''' "''"'"'
""''"'r S'""' a..
In" i''''''"''" '"'" "'"' -"
IN inc station "'"s' WIZ" ''','' nv ''."
s"ar'h'd' )" "'''' '"'''' WIN Wv "''
~ was said 'l' ''"' I''''''''" VIZ ''''''' -
Z" oNrrpp"rr 'h" man. "l'' ''"' '''' WIZ ''''
successful after Il hard hght
ARREST OF AGNES THORNTON.
N""E"am '"'" '''' ~
Thornton the WHO oi '"' "'"' "'''' ~ 90
that she cam" INTO tue station Il I'" minutes
after her brother MIA" lad p'eH TOO h'u up ""'
that she was inioNct'rd ana caused " S'e"'t
Acting Captain Walsh Iri'd To quiet he'' anu
Aid not at first order her arrest iut "S 'n'
~renc was continued Tor fully htteen k'iu''s n'
ordered her arrest On a charse OF D'ih8 ih''M-
Gated ana dlsorderly.
The policeman's testimony in regard To the
shooting and the arrest was corroborat"d py
Mclander and also 10y Martin Jansen thirtN-ohe
years old of No. 2G9 Scventh-ave., who SAID that
he the man who shouted 10 the Policeman
from the opposite side Of the street ana told
him to arrest the Thorn,ons. 1t was also said
that when Coroner Dobbs called at the stauoh-
house. about > o'clock in the morning Johh
IN talk him at all
,o,,>, ,,t,op>.,ro>,s s.r,rF,fENT
The story told by J"hn lhorh'oh 10 '"e "laS
istrate WAC entirely different from 'ha' '"l' pS
the others. He aali that ne was Il o"r'e"uei at
the i"""iu iiouS'' ~ ~ -
yest'rua3 was MS ""S o''
had passed. MS "i'iV' an" @ W "