Evening star., 1897-01-08
A MAR Ro w ESCAPE
Policeman Pearsaa Fired at BY, Fleeing
iteT Burglar.
The Bullet Went Through His Helmet
Attempt do Rob the Ecking-
tom drbwer House.

Residents Of Hckington who live near the
power house of ahe lexington and Soldiers
Heme railroad were startled this morning
between 1 and r22o'clock when eight pistol
shots were fired in rapid succession. There
was no screaming. and as soon as the last
report had died away all was quiet again.
Two men were seen leaving the power
house and going in the direction Of South
Brookland, but only those about the build
ing could see them, for the night was dark.
and those who were awakened by the pistol
shots were too late reaching their windows
to see anything except couple of flashes
when the last of the shots were fired. Bur-
glars had attempted to enter the power
house, and Policeman Pearson, who went
In pursuit Of one Of them, was fired upon.
Two shots were fired by the fleeing bur-
glar,- and one Of the bullets passed through
the poiiceman's helmet only about an inch
above his head. Six shots were fired in
the direction of the fleeing man, but none
OF them took effect. This morning soon
after O'Clock a colored man named Frank
Tracy was arrested on suspicion. He was
found near the power house where the des-
perate encounter had taken place about
three hours before, and because Of his con-
duct he was arrested. In Judge Kimbalrs
court he was dismissed.
Policeman Pearson is a county policeman
who does duty in lexington. but is not
far from the power house about o'clock,
when Sergt. Kenny made his rounds, and
soon after the sergeant left he went over
70 the power house to see the clerk. MI
Frank Schoepf. who is In charge at night.
The last car had turned in, and the con-
ductors had made their returns-about 500
In cash, as well as several hundred dollars
worth of tickets.
This money and the tickets had been put
in the safe. and the clerk was making up
his accounts when the policeman called
to warm himself and make some inquiries.
He Heard n Noise.
The front door and window were closed,
and presently the clerk heard q noise at
the shutter. He naturally thought the
noise was made by burglar, but the po-
liceman thought otherwise He was under
the impression that the sergeant was
there looking after him instead of having
gone out to Brookland.
Clerk Schoepf went to the front door,
while the officer went in another direction.
But the man or men at the window had
10 connection with the force The one
man who was seen by the clerk ran from
the Office front, turned north and started
in the direction of Brookland. Policeman
Pearson had gone out the back way, hop
ing to head off the burglar, who passed
him, running as fast as he could and was
making his way to the freight yard at
South Brookland, when the policeman call
ed, stop there, or I'll shoot"
No evidence Of a halt was given, and the
officer fired ones shot to frighten him. But
instead of soaring the fugitive the latter
returned the fire1 sending two bullets in
the direction OF the officer. Then the Off
Ger emptied his revolver at the fast-mov
ing form, but heaause of the darkness he
could not take good aim.
Clerk SchoepE who had left the officer,
followed on through the woods. He, too,
was armed, but he did not use his pistol.
Finally the freight yard was reached, and
the fugitive, who ran between the cars,
soon got out Of sight and made good his
escape. go
Nothing Was Gone.
Both the officer and clerk made a thor
ough search OF the cars, and the freight
yard and falling to find any trace of a
burglar, they returned to the office, where
they found that nothing had been molested.
1t was their opinion that tramps had made
the attempt to rob the place. for scores of
them pass through the suburb every few
days and many of themfhave been arrested
there. A great many tramps who come in
on the freightt trains from the west on
their way south get off about lexington,
hoping to avoid the police. and some who
arrive at night stop at the power house
to get warm. Others remain there and
sleep in the box cars.
Nothing more was heard of the affair un-
til about s, o'clock, when the colored man
Tracy was seen near 5th and streets
The former street is not graded, but Is OBJ
StTucteu Will railroad ana 'otner materials
and why the colored man should have gone
that way the railroad watchman could not
understand.
He sent word to the police and when
Officers Pearson and Yetton responded the
sight of them started Tracy on the run.
He had a bag under his arm and this, the
officers concluded, was to carry off his
plunder, and, feeling satisfied that he at
least knew something of the former ex-
citing pursuit, they started to arrest him.
A Rnce 0ud Tn nfuro
But Tracy followed the example of the
other man and fled, going in the direction
Of South Brookland 1t was only when one
of the officers drew his pistol and threat
ened to kill him that he stopped and sub
mitted to arrest. Besides the bag the col
ored prisoner had a number Of keys in
his possession. When taken to the station
he said he lived in Draper's court and
was on his way to work on the railroad
when he was pursued and arrested. Dur
ing his several conversations he made con-
nicting statements. and the officers felt
satisfied that he knew something of the
former shooting. In Judge Kimbalrs court
Tracy was charged with being a vagrant
and. suspicious person Policeman Pearson
exhibited his helmet, in which were the
bullet holes, and told Of the circums tances
Of the arrest, following the shooting. His
partner, Policeman Yetton, also made a
statement, and Judge Kimball heard what
the prisoner had to say. His story was
that he was on his way to work at the
time of his arrest. He denied that he ran
when the officers came toward him. The
charge against him was dismissed and he
went to work.
Lieut.. Gessferd made report of the
attempted robbery to headquarters, and
Weldon and Gallaher to make an investi-
cation.