Evening journal., 1901-02-07
POiled a Bold Attempt 10 Rob
Leyy'S Brokerage Of.
flee
GAVE NAME As JOSEPH Riley
lie Will appear Before The Grand Jury
at TO-day'S Session Of
Court

Sergeant Joseph Howgate had the most
desperate FIGHT vi his life last night when
he arrested a man giving his name as
Joseph Riley az Seventh and Market
streets. ON charge of attempting 10 rob
the loan office of NJ. Levy.
About 1880 o'clock the burglar alarm
in the police station, which is connected
with Mr. Lcvy'- place, rang loudly Sus-
pecting something was wrong Captain
Kane at once dispatched Serseants How
gate and Kclehcr TO Seventh and Mar
ket streets.
MAN STEPPED FORTH.
When the two officers arrived every
thing appeared to hc as usual. They
ratified ON the door, thinking probably Mr.
Levy was working in his office hut rc-
cciyod no response. Tho house sergeant
then agreed to watch ihc door while Ser
geant Kclcher went to the nearest telc-
phone 90 call mp Mr.. Levy and get him
to come down town and make ain inyes-
tigaton. kclieher went tn the restaurant
OF g.. i. II. Beckett. 40 Seventh and Ship
ley streets. lie had just disappeared in-
side the door when Howgate. who was
standing with bis back TO one of the
double doors. heard noise ON the steps
outside and iu asccoud a.ilau s,epued
forth.
Sergeant Iowgate at once asked the
stranger what he was doing in the build
ing and ne replied that he was looking for
his lawyer.
'rhcre are no lawyers here al this time
OF night said the sergeant
The intruder then stepped back and
struck at Howgate with the butt of q re-
volvcr.
Howgate grapplcd with him, and to-
/ gcthcr the men fell from the step To the
pavement. Despite the fact that the man
says he is sixty-six years old. he is as
strong as man of only half that num-
her of years. As they struggled the SER
geant saw that the man was pressing the
barrel of revolver to his heart and pull
! ing the trigger Sergeant Howgate was
unable TO get Aold of the mans hand to
wrench the weapon from his grasp Over
the pavement and out into the street the
men struggled The revolver was sin
being snapped. but would not go of. Ser
| geant Howgate cried for help and. al
though the crowds filed the streets. mo-
one offered TO give him assistance. Then
uowgate threw his man % the pavement.
After q desperate fight the man gave
up and was taken To the police station.
Upon being searched three bottles were
found i'm his pockets. One contained
black powder. one whitening TO mix with
IL. and another a bottle Of oil with which
10 grease the drills. There was also Lett
ter which the police think win disclose his
iucniity. Il was written on q rair0a,
company blank. but the heading was cui
off. lt was dated February o.
CONTENTS OF THE LETTER.
1t read as follows Dear llalto: How
are you getting along old man. / am
still tinkering and soldering away abou
the Same. suppose you have nothing
new to write about. ] did not see any
, body ] knew at the Court House tina
night. although they may have come afte
/ left ] was up to see mother ON Satur
i, day and Sunday. She does not remem
] ber me at an; She has lost her memory
| expect 90 see you coming j.
g some day q most dilapidated specimen %
! humanity overcoat gone and shoes oui
: / viii be glad To- see you whenever yo
come. whether it be as a tramp OF wit
r. q coach and four"
n The letter was signed "Andrometus.
< tt was postmarked New York and on Oh
n envelope was the name "a. /. Hami
ton" which had been scratched ont.
1t is believed that two other mon. VIII
escaped. were implicated in the attempte
robbery. 10 is supposed that they secret
rt ed themselves IN the building early In II
I'd evening and waited there until the ofi'
20 was closed for the night. Last night
d, was closed NO S.A5 o'clock. The thiev
at evidently had crouched on the steps lea'
he ing TO the loft over the front of the bur-
lar alarm. They evidently had learn
that the safe was in one Of the fro
rooms. for hole large enough to adm
81. the body Of q man was cut through u
- ceiling. rope ladder was let down ai
Sn they crawled into the room Then tn
~ found that the safe was IN the room q
y Joining. They evidently feared th
~ burglar alarm wires were in the door
~ they first tried to cut a hole i'm the wa
They bored holes ia the panel of {
door and kicked it ont This sounded Z
burglar alarm which brought the poll
Mr.. Levy when he looked ai tho man
Is the police station. failed to Identify hi
Il Riley was arraigned in City Coz
Ire this morning before Judge Cochr
three charges being placed again