New-York tribune., 1900-08-16
BURGLARS CAUGHTINTRAP
CAPTURED NEAR FIFTH-AvE AFTER A
DESPERATE FIGHT.
PUBLISHERS HOUSE WITH $4,000
WORTH OF PLUMBER

WORTH OF PLUMBER
Anybody dropping into the West Thirtieth-st
police station. more often referred TO as the
Tenderloin precinct station, in the last four or
five days would have noticed signs of unusual
activity there Sergeant Joseph Burns, for
merly Of the West Forty-seveuth-st station,
who is acting captain in the West Thirtieth-st.
station in the absence Of Captain Thomas, was
the obvious centre Of the mysterious operations
Ever since Sunday he has either been in the
station or close 10 it.
That the police were doing something soon
became known throughout the precinct. and the
several interests Of more or less shady color
which thrive there were on the uneasy seat.
The closing Of the notorious T1voi and rumors
Of the same fate for the DorA. Pekin and other
similar resorts made many people Of that sec
tion cautious and the Tenderloin has been com
paratively quiet.
After several days Of hard work, which az
times kept from twenty to thirty policemen
busy the net was drawn yesterday. and two
desperate housebreakers, neither Of them out Of
Sing Sing more than week. we're caught. The
thieves are Jacob BANNER. alias Dutch Jake
alias "Chainbreaker Jake" twenty-five years
old, of No. III West Thirtieth-st.. and John
Fisher, twenty-six years old, Of No. 80 West
One-hundredth-st.
They were caught red handed in the home OF
Arnold Wood, a four story brownstone house
at No. 40 East Thirry-hfth-st-. late YESTERDAY
afternoon. They had more than $4,000 werth
Of brc-a-brac pictures. silver, linen, lace, etc,
all piled UP. ready for removal They fought
desperately.
When Sergeant Burns was in the West Forty
seventh-st. station he largely responsible
for sending both men to prison. Fisher and a
thief known as "Frenchy'' were arrested about
three years ago in a Madison-ave. house from
which the family was absent. Detectives DAILY
and LawIess. then Of the Central Office, made
the arrests. While one OF the burglars covered
L,awless with a revolver Fisher poked rifle
barrel into LawIess's abdomen and inflicted an
injury that later produced peritonitis and killed
the detective. The men were caught. however
and sentenced. For some reason they got OF
lightly Fisher and BANNER were next ar
rested in January 1898, in the home Of Fred
erfck Dietz. No. 163 West Forty-seventh-st.
which they were robbing. Both men were re-
leased last week, having completed their terms
for the Dietz robbery.
RECOGNIZED BY BURNS.
Acting Captain Burns was walking through
West Thirtteth-st- on Saturday. when he
CHANGED upon Fisher and BANNER in front OF the
latter's home. No. Ill West Thirtieth-st They
did not recognize Burns. AS soon as he got to
the station he sent two Of his best men out with
orders 70 keep the pair under constant sur
veinance. They were followed Monday TO
house in West Twenty-hfth-st.. between Madi-
son and Fourth aves. They made an effort TO
open the grating leading into the sub-ceuar, but
were frightened of by a noise from within
They were tracked TO Tenth-ave., where they
managed to evade the detectives. Acting Cap
tain Burns selected ten men, and distributed
them about the Twenty -ffth-st. house, believing
the thieves would come back. On Tuesday
afternoon the pair were found in Madison
Square They were followed TO a house in
Thirty -third-st.. near Fifth-ave. They tried
the basement doors and went away. Another
ten or twelve policemen were spread around this
place, while others were ordered 10 keep the two
men well in view.
Burns was trying TO get a little sleep yesterday
afternoon when one Of his men ran in and called
him.
We've got EN- this time" said the detective
They've got job all fixed. It'u come of in a
little while"
Burns jumped UP and went out with his man.
They found Fisher and BANNER in Thirty first
ST and followed them 10 the house in West
Twenty-hfth-st- The burglars loitered around
there for a few minutes and then moved OF
They next went to the Thirty-third-st. house
but for some reason they decided 10 let it alone
/ They were then followed for couple Of hours
and finally brought up IN front OF the Wood
house. Fisher dropped On his knees and with a
jerk pulled up the grating which leads into the
sub-cellar In a moment he dropped into the
hole and was out OF sight. Bahmer followed
him, adjusting the CRATE as he went down
HOUSE SURROUNDED BY POLICE.
Captain Burns told his man 70 watch the
place and himself ran TO the nearest telephone.
/ Ten minutes later a patrol wagon filed with
/ policemen dashed up. and the men were placed
/ around the house. Detectives Sheehan, Lock-
wood and Barry had in the mean time appeared.
7 Captain Burns first placed his men. and then
( decided TO 20 in after the burglars Knowing
/ the desperate character OF the burglars, none
/ OF the detectives took chances All drew their
! revolvers and were ordered TO use them II nee
/ essary. Burns was the first man 70 go into the
/ coal hole The Wood family are spending the
/ summer In Jefferson, y. H. All the shutters
! were drawn and the house was as dark a
! dungeon The detectives had nothing but
/ matches with them. and more than once they
/ burned their fingers. After exploring the sub
/ cellar and basement they went 20 the first floor
tha btlrs.Ia-rz xys~~ ha