The Portland daily press., 1898-12-26
LIFE IN GOTHAM.
How Burglar Interrupted Miss Ruth
kugeI's Bath.

New York, December PA most ex-
citing chase after a desperate criminal oe-
CURED yesterday in Harlem, in which
hundreds of women and children were
frightened by the brandshing of a revolt
yer in the hands of the pursued at close
quarters.
John Mccormick, an ex-convict, who
lives in Bowery lodging house, and
whose picture is in the Rogue's Gallery,
had entered the apartments of Miss
Bertha Ruthkugel, 90 years old, on the
second story, at % East l11th street.
The young lady was taking bath at 2
O'Clock yesterday afternoon, when she
heard her front doorbell ring. She paid
no attention to the summons, but went
on with her additions. Hearing noise
in the parlor, she got out of the tub and
walked toward the room where she saw
two rough-looking men going through
some bureau drawers. She screamed,
and the men looked up and, seeing her.
started for the door. Miss Ruthkugel
then leaned out of the window and shout
ed for the police.
At the bottom of the steps leading to
the entrance TO the house stood Mrs. Hen
" Oppenheimer, with her baby in a
perambulator Hearing the cries. Mrs.
Oppenheimer placed herself and baby
carriage in the entrance way as a sort OF
barricade. The burglars rushed down
stairs, and one of them struck Mrs. OPP
penheimer in the face, knocking her over,
while the other man kicked over the car
rage, throwing out the baby. Mrs. OPP
penheilner screamed and the baby cried
ustily.
DR.. Coles of 10th street and Sd avenue
was visiting a patient in the house and,
hearing the cries of Burglar p put on
his hat and rushed out. When he got to
the entrance Mrs. Oppenheimer pointed
to two men who were running in the di-
rection Of Madison avenue, crying out,
'.There they gol'' DR.. Coles started in
full pursuit, and the burglars, seeing
that they were followed. Increased their
speed.
At Madison avenue, at the time the
burglars reached 1t, there happened to be
two electric cars stopping. One of the
burglars got on the north-bound car aud
the other on the south bound car. The
north Inbound car started up first Nc
Cormick got on the south-bound car, and
DIR. Coles reached it just as it started
1t was filled with women and children,
and when DR.. Coles got near Mccormick
the latter pulled out revolver and, hold.
ing it close to the Doctors head, threat
ensd to kill him.
The utmost excitement and confusion
then prevailed. Women screamed and
Children cried Some tried to jump of
the car, and one woman tried to crawl
through broken window. In the con-
fusion and rush of the terror stricken
women, DIR. Coles was swept off lis feet.
Mccormick then opened the front door
of the Car and jumped over the railing.
DR.. Coles quickly followed and again
started in pursuit
The car by this time had reached l0Sth
street. Mccormick started at sprin-
ter's pace up the street. Near Park ave-
nue. bakers wagon was standing, and
Mccormick seeing DR.. Coles. followed
by a shouting mob. in pursuit, made for
it Joseph Bower. the driver. who was
=
McCounick's intention, and got on first.
Mccormick followed and, putting the
revolver to Bowers head, commanded
him to get off. Bower did not get off
quick enough to suit him, so Mccormick
pushed him off and, selling the reins,
started the horse at furious pace toward
Madison avenue.
at this moment light delivery wagon
came along and DIR. Coles got on it and
started in pursuit of the fleeing burglar.
At l09th street and Madison avehue, DR..
Coles saw Policeman Smith of The East
104th street station. The latter got into
the wagon just in time to see the baker,
wagon turning On 10th street. The po-
Hcemsn and Dr.. Coles then turned down
l09th street and drove the horse furious
". They turned INTO Park avenue and
almost caught up with Mccormick. Near
Third avenue Mccormick jumped from
his wagon and onto a Third avenue cable
car. which was more crowded than the
Madison avenue one.
Policeman Smith had to do some lively
sprinting to get on the car and, pushing
his way through the crowd. was confront.
ed by Mccormick with the revolver.
Smith was not cowed by the weapon. but
commenced clubbing Mccormick. There
was intense excitement among the passen-
gers, the greater portion of whom were
womer, and rush was made for the
rear platform. Along the tracks are
3, bitches for the laying of electric con-
duits, and many of the Passengers jumped
into them. The women and men lay
sprawled along the track as they jumped
of, and some narrowly escaped being
run over by other cars following.
II the meantime grand tussle was 60
irE Gu in the car between Policeman
SmIth and Mccormick, the policeman
using bis club literally. At 105th street
Policeman Smith managed to subdue
ormick and took him to the East
80 street station. When he was ar