New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-08
NEW.JERSEY NEWS.
4 HARD FIGHT WITH A BURGLAR.
ALTHOUGH BADLY WOUNDED RESIDENT
OF PoMPTON LAKES SHOOTS AND IN
HIRES A MAN WHO HAD BROK-
EN- INTO HIS HOUSE.

,EN INTO HIS HOUSE.
Paterson. April (SpeciaD.-For over hi'eeh mn
utes Edward r. Richardson. prominent c.iAe"
and churchman of Pompton Lakes. batued WIN d
desperate burglar at an early hour 'hiS 'io'"'"s
in the dark hallway OF his home.
The Richards homestead Is on the Bioominsoa'e
road about y mile and half out of the borough or
Pompton Lakes. About q month ago, when the
village was suffering from an epidemic OF oulsiai
les tho Richards house was visited ana MI nv"
ards and his daughter were chloroiormeu vino
Mrs Richards was compelled TO watch. III sien'o
the operations OF the purgiais "i''o '
way with their booty. 1900
Sirce that sion the Richardses have been care
ful TO see that their house was securely las'eheo
before retiring. When they were ABOUT 10 fe''e
last night noise was heard. as If some one were
prving at the back door Of the house. anu NIL
Richards went down TO investigate
He pushed back the bolt and flung open tho ooor
As he did so a man away In the darkness
Mr. Richards examined the door and found that
hole had been started just below the bolt with the
evident intention Of springing IT, MI Richarus
secured the door more firmly. and relating the oc-
currence TO his family. retired. with q revolver
under his pillow.
1t was about Q o'clock this morning wnen MT
Richards was aroused by nolse as II some one
rsre moving about in the room beneath him. He
awakened his son George. and. armeA with MS re-
George entered the dining room. while Mr.. Rich
ards went to the room from which he heard the
sounds There no light and he was obliged TO
erope about. He was just about entering the draw
ing when man stepped in front or NM
The burglar picked up a chair and whirling II
over his head dashed at Mr.. Richards who had. in
the excitement of the moment forgotten that he
held a revolver I'm his hand, and grasped the chair
in the burglars hand lie wrested 1t from his an
tagonist who immediately, picked up another chair
revolver shot. Mr.. Richards wrested this from the
man and rushed in TO gIappIe WIZ him As lds
came in and went to strike a light but was unable
TO find n match. Meanwhile as the combatants
struggled with each other, the burglar worked his
right arm free and pulled out long -bladed knife.
He thrust vciously with it at Mr.. Richards, who
turned sideways TO avoid the point but received a
gaping wound in the chest. his movement prevent
the stab staggered Mr.. Richards, and as his grasp
weakened the burglar fiung him aside aand I madde
the knob on the other side and held It shut. Then
Mir. Richards remembered his revolver, and, aim
ing where he calculated the man was standing, ne
fred through the closed door. There was yell Of
pain from the other side and the doorknob loosened
Mr.. Richards flung the door wide open and saw
fired several shots at the disappearing nguTe Dui
the fellow kept on his way. AS Mr.. Richards and
his son were about to go inside anot N mar
road Mr. Richards emptied the revolver at the
second fugitive but the bullets failed to hit him
The first burglar was evidently badly wounded;
on the dOOrSteps and trail OF blood could be Iol-
lowed out of the gate and along the road. The
number of valuable pieces OF silverNare were found
packed up near the dining-room buffet;
Mr.. Richards believes that the burglars are the
same pair that visited him on the first OCCASION as
they effected entrance in the same manner The
only description he give of his assailant IS
that he was Of medium height. George Richards
10 report the occurrence and ascertain If anything
had been seen of the would-be assassin