The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-09
POLICEMAN SHOOTS THIEF.
THE BURGLAR LIKELY TO DIE IN
FORDHAM HOSPITAL.
ne and u,- Pa, shot az the Two B'ueeoat.

He and u,s Pal shot NJ the Two Biuecoats
who Cnnebt Them when About to Rot
n House In Norris al Pat Escaped
Wounded Man Had Burglars Tools,
Police Captain Creeden II CONCENTRATING him
self over the capture Of n burglar, but the pris-
oner's confederate Is still at large, and the prls-
oncr Is likely TO die without giving the police
any help In thoir search for the missing crook.
Tho prisoner describes himself as William
OConnor NJ CollinsvillC, Conn. lie viii tell
nothing else about himself. He was caught
after being shot by Policemen David Ryan and
Patrick Read. whom he had dono his best TO
XIII. He is In Fordham Hospital bleeding Inter-
hnlly from n bullet wound In his neck, and the
surgeons fear 1t will hasten his death to probe
for the bullet.
Policemen Ryan and Read were sent out in
citiZens' clothes Mt l2 o'clock Thursday night
to discourage burglars and sneak thieves who
have come To look upon the big scmi-rural pre-
cincts, north OF Harlem River. as n compare
lively safe Held OF operations. They travelled
together MS far as Union avenue and 1884 street.
where they separated. Ryan going northward
toward l05th street. and Read continuing eas
to Prospect avenue. n block away. Read was not
beyond hearing distance when Ryan ran upon
two men providing about the grounds surrounding
the residence of Capt. John T.. barlow, at LOCO
Union avenue. Barlow Is n retired sea Captain
and his home contains a rich assortment of val
uables attractive to burglars.
"Whot are you doing there2" Ryan asked.
skip. the game is up" one OF tho men
warned his comrade, and both bolted for the
fence. Policeman Ryan tried to head them of.
Both drew revolvers and fired as he was trying
TO draw his own weapon. lie duckcd to avoid
the bullets, and the burglars vaulted over tho
fence and started east through l65th street.
Ryan followed, alternately yelling for them to
halt and whIstllng for his side partner.
He was gaining on the slower Of the ~fugitives
when the man. who proved to be O'Connor.
turned and fired two more shots nj him. One Of
the shots passed through the p~olicCnan's hat,
grazing his head so closely that he believed he
was shot. Policeman Read had heard the pis-
tol reports aud was hnstenlnE to his comrades
assistance when the chase turned into Prospect
avenue. ,, d., r,o.,,. ~ p,,,oo
man Ryan shouted as lie caught sight of his side
partner. Policeman Read had drawn his re-
volver when he heard the pistol shots.
Halt lie commanded AS the fugitives APP
Not by a damned sight" one OF the men
answered as lie dashed across the avenue.
Read headed Off the other. who kept straight
on until within some ten feet OF the policeman.
when he levelled his pistol and fired point blank
at him. .
The bullet struck Read on the shoulder and
buried itself in the padding just above 1t. The
thief halted n moment TO deliver his fire. AS he
turned 70 cross the avenue Policeman Read re-
ne DUTgIhT stfHstTeu lOIhhru ~ ie" lcel,
dropping his revolver, and fell unconscious II
few feet beyond.
Ry this time the whole nsighhorhood was
aroused. Other policemen hurried up, and u
crowd Of cxr!tcd citizens gathered about the
PROSTATE thief. An ambulance was sent for.
and while Ryan and Read guarded the uncon-
scious man other policemen started in search Of
the prisoners pal. He had Kept on down Pros
pcct avenue and disappeared ut its junction
with Westch"ster avenue. The search for him
proved truitless.
When the wounded man was taken to Ford
han HOSPITAL he gave what lie claims to be his
name and the town he came from. but would
say nothing more. He is about "A years old,
with smooth fnce. brown hair. and dark brown
eyes. The clothing he wore IS new and of good
quality. In MS pockets were tools which con-
vince the police that he IL IA burglar. but none of
them has succeeded in identifying him.
The implements found on him include n table
knife, the blade ground thin to enable the
owner to slip IL between the cross strips of win
dow sashrs to throw back the catch. He Lad
also a narrow half-round gOuge chisel handy to
gOuge out an opening near the catch OF window
the knife blade. \ bit of stiff steel wire con-
venient to use through the small opening made
with the chisel was found with II. The pistol
he used was n 3"-caliore OF good quality. and no
was also armed with n hunting knife with q
heavy keen blade.
several little burglaries In West Morrisania. At
all events. the marks of a chisel snch As the
prisoner had were found on tho window cases OF
the houses entered. Neither OF the policemen
was hurt In the fusillade from the thief. Reads
bullet struck O'Connor under the ear, and Is
throat. II struck two low to affect the skull.
but the patient is weakening fast from internal
hemOrrhage. and the surgeons have but little
hope OF saving HIS life.