The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
STRUGGLE IN A BATHTUB.
PURCELL RESISTED ARREST TIGoR-
OUSLK WITH SOAP and WATER.
HIaiiihnn. VINO Crnwied Across an Airshart to
Reach the bathroom. Was Finally Pulled
Bodily into the ~Tnb-Purceii IN the Wan who
Demanded IS. 900 from n Harlem Hank.

tihliihnn. VINO Crnwied Across an Airshnrt to
Reach tho bathroom. Was Finally Pulled
Bodily into the IL the MAN who
Demanded sS 900 from n Harlem Bank.
Maurice Purcell, who astonishcd tho en-.
ployccs of the Harlem Savings Bank on Friday
by marching up to the paying tcllcr's window
and calmly demanding that Cashier J.. Homer
Hart hand him over s 5000 In gold sustained his
reputation for doing startling things at tho
right time by giving Detective Hallihan. who
arrested him yesterday at his home, 3Ol West
1881 street, one of the most exciting expert
cnccs Of his life.
Tho whereabouts Of Purcell. who Is said to
be insane from the effects OF n sunstrokc. were
learned yesterday by tho detectives attached
TO the Ehst 126th street station. Purcell had
threatened, when his demand for money was
refused by the bank cashier, TO return armed
with dynamite enough to blow the bank to
Mars, SO It was deemed necessary to have the
detectives watch the entrance to the building.
When Purcell did not appear, Detective Hnlli-
han went in search OF him to his residence at
301 West 1881 street. Hallihan saw Purcell
enter tho house, and after the door had closed
upon him the detective rang the bell. 1t was
answered by II sister of Purcell, who lives in tho
fiat with him. The sistor assured the detoc-
tive that Purcell had not been nome for scv-
cral dayr, and when the detective insisted that
he had seen Purcell enter the house n few min
u.CS before, purccll's sister abruptly ended the
conversation by closing tho door in Hallihan's
face.
The detective Immediately took steps to OK.
ecute a flank movement by entering thc adjoin-
that overlooked the rooms of the Purcells
across an ~airshaft. After u short wait, he was
rewarded by seeing Purcell enter the bathroom
disrobc, and prepare to take a bath. Halli-
han made up his mind to take Purcell single
handed even II he had to climb to the roof and
tnu.,t, tln al 1 In,gn I- Aut ~ 81 ,g,,n
slide. A board that happened to be Ion.
enough to bridge the gulf that lay between
thing wanted. so the detective pushed the board
across thcair shaft to the opposite window
ledge and crcpt over the improvised bridge.
Purcell, who was splashing about in the bath
tub, did not see the detective until the latter
had thrown up the window Of the bathroom and
formed, as he seized him by "one bare anr
soapy arm, as the d%etectiyc put 1t, that he was
entirely mistaken. and proceeded to prove it to-
that d~rcnc!ed and dazzled tho detective. Hal.
Than found it impossible to hold the man. lIo
wriggled in the tub like an eel, and the wet and
soapy surface Of his body enabled him to slip
from tho dctcctiyc's grasp every time the latter
attempted to hold him.
Haliihan found himself getting the worst Of
the fight. Purcell fought like a demon. He
Kicked the detective in the face with his bare
down his back, seized him by the neck. and
dragged his head under water until he was
half drowned End wholly exhausted. and ended
by dragging him bodily into the tub and sous
ing him thoroughly. This is what the detective
said.
The noise made by the struggling pair in tho
bathtub had meanwhile aroused the house. The
residents said later that Purcell was in The
habit OF taking very noisy baths, and delighted
in spiashing the water all over the room, anC
they had grown accustomed to a little dis
turbancc when he performed his ablutions, but
never had there been such an unholy racket rs
on this last occasion. They gathered around
the door, which was of course locked, and lis
tened wonderingly to the noise from witfffs
One woman declared that Purcell was having
II fit and suggested sending for an ambulance,
while his brother and sister, who had Joined tho
crowd outside the door, lmplored him to open
the door and let them know what was happen
ing.
The crowd around the bathroom door was
sent scurrying in all directions a few minutes
later by the door opening and the 'bather APP
pearing in his natal costume, tightly held by a
b~edraggled individual who seemed to have
narrowly escaped n watery grave. Hallihan
had been unexpectedly aided in the bathtub
scrimmage by the wild contortions OF Purcell,
who had kicked out the plug from the drain
pipe and let the soapy water run away. When
Purcell found that his ammunition WAS all
gone and he was left high and dry at the bot
tom Of the bathtub. he submitted to arrest with
n good grace, and allowed Hallihan to envelop
him in , bath robe and lead him out.
Then he was arrayed in civilized garments
and taken TO the East 126th street police station,
where he was locked up. He will be arraigned
in the Harlem Police Court to-day.