New-York tribune., 1896-12-30
THE ROBBERY or MRS. BURDEN
AN A1,DAC1oUs HIGHwAYMAN SECURES
FER PoCKETBOOK.

TIE MAN CAPTURED AFTER CfASf--"''' ''''
n,>-s ,-NsrcCEssFUI EFFORTS IN THE 70
LICE COURT TO AVOID THE PUP
1Lc1TY OF THE AFFAIR.
A crime alro~t unmatched in THIS CITY ior '"e
.o,arsss NJ the criminal was the robbery OF MIS-.
lanes Abercrombie Burden at fhln-a'e "'N
S.yertv.seventh-s yesterday. At > O'Clock IN
tho afternoon when many persons were III 'i''
nor, Of the avenue. which is supposed TO De "s
,,.u nrotec,cd bv the police any street In the
IT,. - r.orDsn who Is a leader in New YORK so
,.,. uas attacked threatened with a knife ana
commanded TO give up her money 10 hshWa!
man who was only boy in years "hen S"e
drew back IN alarm she was knocked uo"" d
her purse was snatched from her manu- Ing
thief was captured after a chase OF two olocKs'
Desperation apparently caused the boldness OF
the Young robber. He described hiinsei' ai'e'
his arrest as Charles Benasch. Of No. 1.3ol Ave-
me A. out Of work. destitute. ana nineteen years
old He was poorly dressed and hungry. but He
-,,sr-~.ra features and carried big casp-knifs
,n his pocket when he walked up Fifth-ave at
tho edge Of Central Park looking for an oppor-
tunitv 10 steal He may have followed Mrs
Burden when she walked from her handsome
home at Fifth-ave. and Seventy secono-st. SHe
walked ieisurely up the avenue alone. r!'"s
IN her hand a pocketbook that looked as n "
was made for carrying large sums Of money.
Benasch walked behind her. drawing closer 10
her until she was within the reach of his hand
He drew from his pocket the ugly-looking clasp
knife and opened It. Suddenly the fingers oi mis-
left hand closed on the arm Of Mrs Burden. she
turned to see his hardened face confronting her
and the knife in his right hand poised above her
heart.
Ci,a
OUT he hissed
STRUCK ON THE HEAD
The youthful highwayman probably imagined
that she would hand over all her valuabes but
she did not, because she too badly fright
ened She uttered a piercing shrek and drew
away from him. The next instant he struck
her a blow on the side Of the head and as she
reeled and fell to the street he seized the silver
trimmed snakeskir pocketbook and was of
like a shot He closed his knife and thrust 1t
with the pocketbooH into his pocket as he began
his race to escape. No policeman was near him
at the time and few Of the people in the avenue
had paid any attention to him untH Mrs Burden
screamed.
So quickly the crime committed that the
persons who We're nearest TO Mrs. Burden did not
see her fall after her outcry. and before they
could 20 to her aid the highwayman was fee
feet Mrs Burden started after him, followed
nv crowd Several persons shouted Stop
thief" Policeman jacob Young. Of the East
Sixty-seventh-st. station. was in Seventy sew
enth-st., near Fifth-ave.. and heard the cries He
saw the crowd the west side OF the avenue
pursuing the thief. and he Joined In the chase.
Young Is a swift runner, and at Seventy hfth-st.
he overlook his man and trlppcd him. BY the
time Benasch got upon his feet Young had him
securely handcuffed. The officer thrust his
hands into the overcoat pockets Of the prisoner.
and in one OF them found the claspknfe and
Mrs Burdens pocketbook. He held the prisoner
until Mrs Burden came up Then she promptly
identified Benasch as her assailant.
IN THE POLICE COURT
II was then shortly after . o'clock, and half
An hour later Mrs Burden. pale and excited,
and Young Benasch. cool and collected. were IN
the yorkville Police Court. Benasch sat in the
inclosure reserved for prisoners. while Mrs.
Ru,don was escorted before Clerk Nugcnt to
make q COMPLAINT Of highway robbery against
Benasch The highwayman appeared to be we'll
brut and strong and about five feet seven
inches tall He wore n blue flannel shirt dark
sack coat and dark overcoat. All his clothing
was worn and frayed. While awaiting to be ar
laigned he answered several questions put 10
him by reporters.
Il was hard up and had to do something
he replied In answer 20 a question as to why
he had committed such a deed. Then ne smiieo'
In the mean time Mrs. Burden was IN d state
Of evident distress.
Your name. please?" asked Clerk Nuseh''
Must give my name?" she asked. in low
tone.
oh yes" replied the clerk. 1T is absoiute'y
necessary"
Then put down Mary Smith. NO Us East
Seventy
Then the clerk asked her what was In the
pocket book. and again Mrs. Burden betrayed
nervousness.
"Oh. a check for 500" she replied. lingering
q piece of paper.
Kindly let me see IT." asked Nugent.
DECLINED TO SHOW THE CHECK
Mrs. Burden held the face of the check toward
him and he read, "Knickerbocker Trust Com
ia