The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-31
Opened Fire on North Main
Street and Shot Two Men.
Robbed Another Bicyclist In East
Providence, Later.
Still Later He Rode Past Two Taunton
Policemen Sent TO Capture Him.

james ~. DeWSOn OF the nrm Oh DaW-
son Brothers, bicycle dealers at %
North Main street, had an experience last
night with an unknown man, who for
viciousness and nerve mas established tho
Rhode Island record. q.
The man who caused the trouble cal
led at Dawson Brothers store early
Wednesday evening and wanted to ex-
change a Victor wheel for some sporting
goods.
Mr.. Dawson was willing and offered to
advance $40 worth and take the machine
in payment. This pleased the unknown
trader and he selected an outfit that
would make a boys mouth weter for
camping out. He was intending to An
ish up the deal then and there and 20
off with his gun and other trarpings,
but Dawson wouldn't have IL.
de insisted first on getting O re-
ceipt of the wheel and the stranger
didnr have one. He agreed to bave il
in short order though, and went out, re-
turning in q few minutes with a suspic-
ious looking scrap Of paper purportlng to
be a receipt from Huntiey, q bicycle
dealer of Taunton. This was not sutisfac-
tory and Mr.. Dawson didn't hesitate to
say so, and the fellow went off again.
promising to call yesterday afternoon.
He did about O'Clock, but In the
meantime Mr.. Dawson had done q lot OF
telegraphing to Boston and Taunton,
ana was convinced that his friend
would rather steal q bicycle than buy
one.
When he returned yesterday and coolly
stated that be mad the receipt Mr.. Daw-
son was just as cool and locked the door,
putting the key In his pocket.
That settled 1t and there was no
more blutiing. The caller didn't for an
instant try to play the part OF injured
innocence, put reached for his revolver.
MIR. Dawson got ahead of him at that
point, however, and drew his gun, with
which he covered the thief
Then came the feature which entities
this episode to rank among the most
reckless in the local record Of wrong
doing The fellow realizing that the
police had been telephoned for, and that
every door between him and the street
was locked, stepped up to q plate-glass
show window, aud with one blow from
an Indian club made al exit for himself
three feet wide and live feet high. The
sidewalk was crowded ut the time with
shoppers hurrying home, and the crash
of glass and the startling appearance OF
a man leaping through the hole IN the
window created Il panic for q second or
more. Taking advantage OF this the thief
mounted his wheel, which had been left
at the curb, and began TO pedal up North
Main street, regardless OF city ordinances
relative to scorching.
Frank Tozio, cutter employed at
Henry Khrone's tailor shop was the first
man to recover his senses, and he started
the pursuit, by rushing against the wheel
as the wild rider attempted TO pass. he
thief was forcibiy dismounted, but thar
didn't phase him a bit. tie, drew two re-
yolvers and started a voley that was kept
up until the y CHAMBERS were empty,
and there was lively scattering OF the
crowd, which had joined Tozio in the
pursuit. Only two men were hit-Henry
Martin received a scalp wound and Frank
&. Riggs, who works for Mr.. Lawson,
got a bullet in the leg. Neither were
seriously hurt.
Aftor wounding the two men and scar
ing hundred more out OF any fnrther
desire for the chase, the unknown ran
no Jackson court, an alley opening Into
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