The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-04
SAVED BY Her SCREAMS
Two Villains Attack a Woman
Who Is Supposed to Have
Money in Her Bedroom.

A stocking half filled with sand was
brought into Recorder McDonough's court
room in Hoboken this morning by Detec-
tive Fallon as evidence in a desperate as
sault committed shortly after midnight in
the lower section of the city. The case is
one of the most daring the police have
had to deal with in some time, and had
it not been for the vigilance of the neigh
bors a murder would probably have been
committed The victim was Mrs. Maria
Lange, sixty years old, widow. who
lives in apartments on the second floor
villains who made the attack are John
Price. thirty-five years old, boiler max
er, and George B. Howard. twenty-four
has been known to the police of this ceun-
ty for the past ten years as notorious
character. A few years ago he was re-
years old. an engineer. Both are locked
up at Hoboken Police Headquarters. Price
has been known to the police or this
county for the past ten years as motor
ious character. A few years ago he was
released from the State prison after serv
ing term of five years for stabbing
Buck Ewing, policeman of Weehaw
ken. Howard said he came from New Ha-
ven, Conn.
The two men rented furnished room
from Mrs. Lange last Wednesday. They
said that they were employed on a steam
boat Next to the room they occupied
is the bedroom of Mrs. Lange, and in
the rear is another room, which was used
as a parlor. Mrs. Lange is employed
as nurse, and having no one to provide
fo,- h,,f barC ef.-
able amount of money
When she retired about ten O'Clock last
night, Price and Howard were sitting in
the parlor drinking beer, which they
brought from neighboring saloon. Short
" before one o'clock in the morning
Mrs. Lange was awakened by sudden
blow on the head. She jumped up from
her bed and was startled to find Price
and Howard in her room. Price held the
improvised sandbag in his hand. He was
about to WELD another blow when Mrs.
Lange seized his arm and screamed.
Howard attempted to place his hand over
her mouth, but she struggled desperate
ly and continued to scream at the top
of her voice. In the struggle she dislo-
Gated one of her fingers on her right
hand Her assailants made every effort
to overpower her but fearing that her
screams would awaken the neighbors
they gave up the attempt and made their
escape down the stairway.
In a few minutes the other tenants in
the house who had been awakened by
the fight went to Mrs. Lange's assist
ance They found her lying prostrated
in her bed. A search was made for her
assailants, but no trace of them could
be found The sandbag was picked up in
the lower hall where they had dropped it
in their hurry to escape.
Detective Michael Fallon who lives in
the neighborhood was summoned and
after an hours hunt he arrested the two
men in Barrys saloon at Newark and
Adam streets When the prisoners were
arraigned before Recorder McDonough
this morning Howard made a confession,
but Price was silent. Howard stated that
he went to a saloon in the vicinity and
purchased a pint of beer. He said that
Price requested him to ask the bartender
for soma, sand but denies that he knew
his companions Intentions. When he re-
turned to the room he said Price put the
sand in the stocking and told him that
he was going to get Mrs. Lange's money.
Howard admitted having taken part in
the assault.
The men were held in default of $1,000
bail for the Grand Jury. Mrs. Iange had
recovered this morning. Her dislocated
finger was dressed by City Physician
Simon.