The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-26
LOCKED HIM IN THE ICEBOX
THIEVEs PUT SHIELDS OUT OF TBE
WAY AND LOOTED HIS SALOON

Saloon Keeper Half Dead When q Chance
Customer, Hearing Him Moaning in His
Prison. Rescued Him More Than an Hour
Later-Ono Thief Out of Three Caught
= John Shields. who runs the saloon at Second
avenue and Forty FIRST street, was locked In his
icebox on Saturday night by thieves. who
iooted'the saloon. and after spending a pheasant
hour In treating each other to his choicest
brands OF liquors and cigars. departed. leaving
him In his prison. lie was half dead when by
a lucky accident he was discovered there more
than an hour later.
There were three Young men In tho saloon
at midnight. when the proprietor prepared to
close for the night. They had been In the
place for an hour. taking an occasional drink
OF beer. and the saloon keeper knew them.by
sight as occasional customers. They ordered
moro beer at closing time and fingered over 1t
as Shields closed and locked the front door
and pulled down the shades.
An out" called the saloon keeper. IA he pre-.
pared TO lock the side door.
We're ready" answered one OF the men.
and the three approached the door. As they
reached It they suddenly spranR upon the sa-
loon keeper and began to hustle him to the
rear OF the barroom. He tried to release him
self. but couldn't. and when he attempted to
call FOR helm one OF the young men clapped
walters apron over his mouth and smothered
his cries. They dragged him to the big ice
box at the end OF the bar. ono OF them swung
open the door and then all three pushed the
saloon keeper inside and banged and locked
the door. Shields went sprawling over the
cakes OF ice inside. banged his forehe ad against
one. cutting his head open. and fell uncon-
scious.
After disrosng Of the saloon keeper the
three men locked the side door and proceeded
to entertain each other with the best things be-
hind the bar. They took turns in acting as
barkeepsr and treating each other to whskey
and cigars. In the money drawer they found
$I9 and a geld watch and chain valued At
putting a bottle Of whlskey in HE pocket, they
left the place by the aide door. departing In
sucn hurry that they loft the door g, open Oe!:
This. as 1t happened. probably saved shields
from being frozen TO death. ,.,
:, David Halssy was going to his home at 238
decided that glass Of beer you'd be- lust tie
thing before going to bed. Several saloons he
had passed were closed 80 when n,i he say TIE
Keep Open after the Iesa hour. He walked UP
came to to- walt on him. The lights were burn.
Ina brightly and the whisky bottles and cigar
boxes, on the bar looked like business. After
q while he raped on the bar with beer glass
and looked around the place. but could see no
evidence that there was another human being
III the place.
While he was wondering whether to leaye
the, place or not he heard faint moan. He
looked about the saloon TO see If there was
sick or wounded bartender. but could not find
any. The rear room. too was empty. lie
was standing In front Of tho bar when he again
heard a moan and then a prolonged walinR
sound. He looked behind the bar and IN all the
corners and under the tables but could find
nothing human. ard the moro he sperulated
on the situation the moro unoanny II seemed.
He had decided to get out 81 the place when he
again heard moan and faint cry for help.
Where ara you?" he called out.
Another moan was the answer. Halsey
again Looked behind the bar. He WAS passing
the ioe box to search the rear room once more
stopped and called out and for an answer there
" ere some blows on the door OF the refriRera-
tor. Halsey unlocked the door and swinging
II omen saw the saloon keepeE lying on cake
OF Ice almost unconscious. He had recovered
his senses through contact with the ice. but
his blood had chilled and he had begun to sui
fer from the lnrk'of air There was not much
died had he been left short time longer.
Hasey carried him 20 chair md poured
some whiskey down his throat This helped
to revive him and Halsey went to the door and
shouted for the police. A policeman arrived
In a short time and when Shields had suffi.
ciently recovered he told his experience and
gave q dissertation OF his assaiants Two
lin ofthe East Fifty. first street station arrested
Thomas Cannon. "a years old. OF 1919 Second
avenue. In Third avenue. Cannon was intoxi-
Gated
Shields identified the man as one OF the
thieves and In tho Yorkville Police Court yes
terdav Magistrate Brann remanded him until
to-day for examination.