The morning times., 1897-02-24
SHOT THE sT0R[KEEPER
Groceryman kessler Wounded by
"a Masked Burglar.
THE VICTIM MAY RECOVER
Two Men Attempt to Rob Store
In the Northeast They Secured
No Money-Police Have Only a
Slight Ciew to Work Upon-Two
Suspects Under Arrest.

Two masked burglars entered the gro
Gerry and provision store of T. W Kessler at
the corner of Tenth and streets north
east, shortly after o'clock last night,
ndwhile one made an unsuccessful attempt
to seize the money drawer the other shot
and seriously wounded the proprietor.
Both mer made good their escape, and at
late hour last night had not been captured.
The groceryman was removed TO Emergency
Hospital and it is thought he will recover.
Mr.. Kessler who is fifty seven years old,
and has been established at his present stand
for about three years, was alone in his store
when the men entered He was seated in
the rear of the ROOM near the stove, read
ing the evening paper. He heard some one
open the door, hut continued reading,
thinking that one OF the men who went he
hind the counter where the cash drawer is
situated. was young colored boy who is
employed about the store. When he
looked up from the paper he saw directlyin
front of him a tall, very black negro, w no
was covering him with pistol. The old
gentleman did not quite comprehend the
situation at the first glance, and peering
ONSi HiS EtdSntb dShtd nav w On W oHtth-
I'VE want your money, and keep quiet"
said the colorcd man. Mr.. kessler jumped
to his feet, throwing do wn his paper and
advanced toward the man, whom, he OBJ
served, had his face partly covered with
a dirty red handkerchief. Without another
word being spoken, and when the grocery
man was within about two feet OF the rob
her, the latter fired. The wounded man
front door. There were number OF peo-
pie upon the street in the vicinity, and
soiue Of them heard the shot, but did not
suspect anything wrong until called to the
scene by the cries OF tile victim
The first man to reach the spot after the
shooting was Mr.. Clarence Buchanan, a
clerk in Crittendon's grocery, which is
situated upon the opposite corner. AS he
crossed the street he saw the two colored
men, who had evidently just emerged from
the store, rush swiftly down Tenth street.
Upon entering the store he found the pro-
prietor leaning against the door and about
to fall.
DF. Hilton, who lives a short distance
around the corner On Ninth street, soon
reached the place and directed that the
injured man he taken TO the hospital
The police Ambulance was summoned and
Mr X esslei was removed to tie Emergency.
An examination of the cash drawer
slowed that the ruibeIs secured nothing.
Policemen Hebrew, Van Der Schaaf and
Clinton OF No 8 station, reached the
scene soon after the shooting took place
but were unable 10 secure more than
meager description Of the burglars. As
Mr. KeSsler was alone in his grocery at
the time he wasthe only person WHO saw
the men face to lace. His wife was in
a room back of the grocery, but did not
hear the ST OF and did not reach her hus-
bands side until after the Iohbers had
fled
There is almost no clew as TO who the
men were, and the only description which
the police have Of them is tiat given by
Mr. Kesslcr last night He { ouid only say
that the one who did the shooting was
tall. large and as far he oud see from
the portion of his face uncovered, he was
very black, and shabbily dressed. The
other was much shorter and younger, and
yellow lie thinks that he would be able
to identity them.
At the Emergency Hospital DR.. Hooe,
who treated the man. found that the bull
let had entered his throat, just to the
right OF the Adams apple. and taken
downward course. BY miracle it had
missed severing the jugular vein and by
the greatest fortune had escaped striking
two very sensitive nerves, Had either Of
these been hit death would have ensued.
The wound is an ugly one. DIR. Hooe
probed for the bullet, but il was too deep
to be reached. and is supposed to have
lodged in front Of the shoulder blade,
among the most vital organs. Late last
nj ght it was believed Mr. kessler woJli
recover, unless some unforeseen complica-
ton develops.
Late last night Policemen Brown Emer-
son, and Hebrew, OF the Ninth, arrested
Norman Henderson and Buck Butler, two
colored youths, each about twenty years