New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-04
TWO BURGLARS CAPTURED.
THREE SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS GIVE
FIVE DETECTIVES A LIVELY CHASE
AFTER STRUGGLE. IN WHICH ONE ESCAPES
THE OTHERS ARE TAKEN-ONE.

AFTER STRUGGLE IN WHICH ONE ESCAPES
THE OTHERS ARE TAKEN-oNE.
CROOK WITH RECORD SHOT.
When Detective Sergeants Reap and Foye and
Detective Officers Flay. Berkeley and Frank Price
were on their way home at 2 n. m. Thursday. they
captured burglars in the neghborhood OF
Eighty fourth-st and Thlrd-ave. They saw three
men acting suspciously. two Of them making at
tempts to At keys into the door OF No I2i East
Eighty-fifth-st The three men walked away and
Berkley Price and Foye around the block to
head them off. Then Reap and Flay. who had
stayed at Lexingion-ave. and Eighty -fourth-st..
moved the strangers Reap caught hold OF the
biggest man while Flay made an effort TO grab the
other two. Both broke away from him and dashed
toward Park-ave. They turned back. however. and
ran toward Lexington-ave, taking the chance OF
lodging Flay. AS the men reached him. Flay made
an effort catch the taller OF the two. but he
drew a jimmy and brandlshing it in threatening
manner managed slip By the detective
Detective Price close after the two men and
ne Joined Fay In pursuing them. At lexington
ave the detectives drew their revolvers and nred
In the air. but neither burglar stopped in his
flight they fred again. One Of the men stopped.
and as the detectives slipped the handouts on his
wrists he groaned. and It was found that he had
been shot In the right wrist and that the bones
were shattered He had a loaded revolver and a
full set OF burglars tools The third made his
escape a revolver found the other man.
The two prisoners were taken to Police Headquar-
ters where they described themselves as Joseph
Thompson. .h!rty years old residence refused. and
John H. Ferguson. twenty-five years Old OF No. ~
Fourth-ave. 1t the man who described himself
as Thompson who had been shot. An ambulance
was called from 81. Vincents Hospital and the
ambulance surgeon dressed his wound. He was
then taken the prison ward at Bellevue. HIS
companion locked up in n cell AZ Headquarters.
Ncsfe morning the arralgnsl
In the Detective Bureau that all the stan could
who had been shot Immediately Identified by
Captain O Brien and Detective Sergeant McCauey
as George Johnson alias Howard. alias John Tobln.
a notorious postof!ce burglar and snfc-blower who
for the last three years has been operating In the
eastern part Of the country. He Is also wanted by
the United States authorities for several mailboA
robberes being implicated with Billy Hamilton.
Barney Kelly, William &. Wheeler. Bob Wallace
and Charles Fisher. all welknown crooks. An
operation performed on him yesterday after
noon and the bullet removed from HIS wrist IL
was learned that he once served fifteen years for
robbng man at Deckertown. y. J. Captain
O'Brien believes that Johnson and Ferguson and
the other man who escaped were about TO commit
a safc-robbery in the office Of Dr. Moses J. Jack
son No. 20 East Eighty fourth-st. The house
they were trying 10 enter is directly In the rear OF
DR. Jackson's residence. Or. Jackson Is a large
property owner. and. II Is said. keeps a large sum
OF money In his safe after he collects his rents.
The thieves doubtless intended 10 crack his safe.
Thompson and Ferguson were both re'nanded Tor
trial to-day.