Evening star., 1897-02-24
SHOT by ROBBERS.
A Bold Attempt of Burglars Upon an
East Washington Store.

Bold Attempt of Burglars Upon an
Enst Washington Store.
The boldest attempt at burglary and rob-
berry which has taken place in Washington
in many days was made last night at the
corner of 10th and c streets northeast.
Zadock w. Kessler runs a store at the
southwest corner of those streets He was
sitting IN the store a few minutes after
o clock last night, when two colored men
entered. Mr. Kessler was reading paper
and did not pay much attention to the men
when they first entered. One Of the men,
who was mulatto, passed where Mr..
Kessler was sitting and went behind the
counter. Mr.. Kessler paid no attention to
this, as he thought the man was his col
cred porter.
I'VE want your money!" commanded the
companion of the man who had gone be-
hind the counter. Looking up from his
paper. Mr.. Kessler saw q large negro, with
q dirty cloth tied over his face, holding
pistol toward him. Mr.. Kessler arose from
his seat and started toward the man. In
stantly the negro discharged his pistol full
in the face Of the old storekeeper. The two
men fed and were seen running out 10th
street toward D. The bullet entered near
the center of Mr.. Kessler's throat. and
ranged toward the shoulder blade, where it
is believed to have lodged. The ball mar
rowly missed several arteries. which. If
they had been punctured, would have caused
immediate death.
Mr.. kessler was able to walk to his door.
and the first known OF the robbery were
cries of "help!'' "murder!" "police!" These
cries were heard by Clarence Buchanan. a
clerk in store opposite that OF Mr.. Kess-
Ter. and by others, and Mr. Buchanan
rushed across the street to find the old man
barely able to stand, owing to weakness.
In a few minutes Policemen Clinton, Her
bert and Vanderschaaf were at the scene,
together with Mr.. Kesslers physician. DR..
Helton, who lives on 9th street. An ambu-
lance was sent for. and Mr.. kessler was
sent to the Emergency Hospital, where he
was given attention by the surgeons and
DR.. Helton. The bullet was probed for. but
could not be found. 1t Is probable that an
operation will have to be performed. 1t is
not thought that the wound will prove
fatal
The boldness Of the attempted robbery
can be imagined from the fact that horse
that the streets are usually filled with pc
destrians until midnight. The highway
men evidently watched their chance to do
their work. The porter in MIR. Kesslers
store was at the corner on 9th street on his
way to the store. and saw the men running
away He was the only one who saw them.
The description given by Mr.. Kessler of
his assailants is not sufficient to furnish a
good Identification OF them. Mr.. kessler
paid so little attention to them until he
heard the command to surrender his money
that ne cannot give an accurate descrip-
tfon. The highwaymen would not have Sc
getting into the cash drawer.
The police are doing all they can to ap-
prehend the would-be murderers. 1t is not
improbable that several detectives will be
detailed for duty in that neighborhood, as
a number of robberies have been committed
there within the last few weeks. and many
attempts at burglaries have been made.
Before the excitement occasioned by the
kessler affair had begun to wane the north
east section of the city was startled by
more pistol shots and screams. following
the discovery of another attempt at dar-
ing burglary. The object of the attack was
house >S1S B street northeast. the pistol
being fired by and the screams emanating
from Mrs. Clarence p. Thompson. Mrs.
Thompson was alone in the house with a
colored serv!nt, the latter being very deaf |
About 10 o'clock, 50 says Mrs. Thompson
She heard some one attempting TO force
open a rear door. She opened second
story window and a man raE away Mrs
Thompson fired two shots at him and then
called for the police Policemen Browne and
Hebrew and Sergeant Wall RESPONDED and
searched the house and adjoining premises
but no one was found.
report was received at the ninth pre-
cfnct station that a burglar also entered
the residence of Mrs. Mary l.. Powers. GD9
10TH street northeast. about 7:3O o'clock last
evening In passing through the hallway
Miss Emma Powers was confronted by a
strange white man. She screamed and he
ran through the house, through the kitchen
doorway and scaled the back fence Miss
Amanda Powers hastily secured a revolver
and fired at the intruder but her aim was
not true.