Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-11
PISTOL IN HIS FACE.
BURGLAR CoNFRoNTs MIR. GORDON
AT THE FRONT DOOR.
LIVELY SCOFTLE FOLLOWS.
A Bold Attempt ut Robbery on
Church Hill sunday Evening--The
Thief Makes His Escnpe-Hesidents
Greatly Troubled by Tramps.

Burglaries have recently become rather
common occurrences in Richmond. but
the most daring attempt at robbery which
has been made here in some time occur
red Sunday night just after o'clock
when a white man. wearing a mask
knocked at the door OF the residence. No
27O6 east Grace street, OF DR.. Virginius
the Doctors brother-in-law answered the
alarm, presented a pistol to his head and
demanded entrance
Mr.. Gordon is not afraid OF little
thing like a pistol even when a burglar
is behind it. and instead OF throwing
been the case, he grappled with the
masked man, and together the two rolled
out on the lawn. The police are on a
still hunt for the man, but no arrest has
yet been made.
MIR. GORDON'S STATEMENT.
Mr.. Gordon was seen at the residence
yesterday by a Dispatch reporter. and he
told the following story of his encounter:
AT about a quarter of Z Sunday eve
ming | was reading in the front office
of my brother-in-law. My chair was
nearly in front Of. and about five feet
distant from the pate-glass Office door.
/ suddenly heard, as l thought. key
being inserted in the door lock, and
thinking it the Doctor, stepped to the
door 10 save him the trouble of finding
the key hole. On opening wide the door,
imagine my surprise when a man, his
features covered by black mask, sprang
from the shadow of the dark porch,
simultaneously poking a pistol right in
my face. From his words. he evidently
mistook me for my brother-in-law, as
he said: Doctor, give -.' The rest
/ did not hear. / realized that only quick
action could avail me. so gathering al
most supernatural strength. | jumped at
him with both hands TO push him down
the steps. The fellow was taken so
unawares that he was precipitated TO the
pavement below. Expecting greater re-
sistance. /. too, took a header in the
same direction, sustaining terrible
shock and a few bruises when | struck
the bricks below
CALLED FOR HELP.
"On regaining my senses / imagined that
he had struck me on the head with the
handle of his pistol, and thinking that
he was still standing over me. gave the
alarm by calling for Help
"Over the iron fence he eaped and fell
TO the sidewalk for a second, but quickly
regained his feet and ran rapidly down
Grace street in the direction OF the Ches-
apeake and Ohio tunnel. Ny fall badly
wrenched my back and 1 had to lean on
the fence for support. / am the special
90 Of . h.. NT..-t /.
Company, and have a desk in the
Doctors office. at which l was sitting
last Tuesday about midday, when a man
came to the door and asked for food,
and being refused, slowly turned away.
my wife noting that he had a scowl upon
his face.
He was man of slight build. about
D feet inches high. and wore patent
leather shoes. lightweight grayish over
coat. and brown Fedora hat. Sunday
night, the mask, OF course. hid his
features partially, his chin only being
visible, but ! am satisfied. from the
clothes and hat of the man. he was none
other than my caller Of Tuesday. and the
same man who has been in this neighbor-
hood for the past week. alarming seve-
raj of the ladies'. His accent is slightly
northern, twirling his RS a little No
one from his apparel, would suspect that
he had been begging from door 10 door.
l hardly think he will bother this house
or neighborhood again soon"
a REIGN OF TERROR.
The residents of east Grace street have
been troubled for some time with tramps
and sneak thieves and at many of the
erstwhle tranquil homes in that section
the ladies' are afraid TO remain alone du-
ring the day. a man answering the de-
scfiption Of the one who assaulted Mr.
Gordon has been seen frequently I'm the |
His action has created sus-
picion, and several ladies have been
annoyed by his staring at them. He was
asked what he wanted by a resident Of /
the section in which he attempted rob- |
berry and he replied that he was waiting |
for his brother.
Sunday night the man was seen running /
from the scene of his work, and he was /
identified as the man who had |
been seen hanging around the corner for |
several days.
In his fight he threw away a pair of |
'ubber 'creepers," usually worn by
hieves, and they were found by the
police.