New-York tribune., 1901-07-09
BURGLAR AT WORK FALLS
ROPE LADDER. BREAKING. DROPS HIM
THREE STORIES.
HE IS Ho1sTED FROM COURTYARD OF FIFTH
AVE. BUrLD1NG-A REsCUER INJURED.

HE IS aO1sTED FROM COURTYARD OF FIFTH
AVE Br1LD1NG-A REsCUER INJURED.
while attempting burglary last night a man
who described himself George Gardner. TWEEN
" years old of No. 100 Bleecker-st. fell from
the third floor Of the story office building at
No s. F4fth-ave. into the courtyard in the
rear and was. it is believed, fatally injured.
Gardner told the police OF the West Thirtieth-st-
station that ne was being assisted in the con-
templated robbery by two confederates.
The office building is situated at Sixteenth
ST. and Fifth-ave No. S5 Fifth-ave. is occupied
by Houghton. Mifffin Co. on the second floor,
Dent AIcroft & Co. glove manufacturers. on
the third floor. and E. & II. T. Anthony G. Co..
photographers supplies. the fifth floor. The
remaining floors are empty The courtyard is
formed by the rear of the building. the rear Of
No 6 East Seventeenth-st. and high brick wall
facing Fifth-ave.
Theodore Roeder, the janitor of No II East
Sixteenth-st another office building. look
into the courtyard last night when he heard
moans and calls for help. He telephoned to
Police Headquarters for help. The police OF the
West Thirtieth-st. station were in turn called.
and Patrolmen Aiken and walson sent
TO the scene of the accident. Meantime Christie
pher Anderson. who lives the third floor of
No. 6 East Sevententh-st. and who had been
doing some repairing the second floor Of that
building. had heard the cries for help. He went
to piazza on the second floor. and by walking
out TO the furthest end could discern the form
of man lying in the yard He went to Fifth
ave. and Seventeenth-st. and told Policeman
Holmes. who summoned Policemen Conboy and
Brundage, in the mean time calling an ambu-
lance from the New-York Hospital
Anderson went back to his house and procur-
ivor aIa1 70 LAT hiY,NcaI into ha
courtyard. When part way down the rope broke
and Anderson fell about fifteen feet cutting Off
the end of a finger of his left hand and sustain
ing several minor bruises
Meantime the ambulance had arrived. in
charge of DR.. Chittenden. Another rope was
procured and John Kennedy, the driver. de-
scended into the yard. The rope was tied about
Gardner and he hoisted TO the first floor Of
the Seventeenth-st. building DR. Chittenden,
after a hasty examination of the man, said he
had sustained a compound fracture OF both legs.
internal injuries. scalp wound and lacera-
tion of the lip.
Gardner a few minutes later said: We'll. 1
am done for now. I'll be a cripple for life. Give
me n glass of water"
| Gardiner was taken to the hospital. On the
way there he told the police that with two pals
he was trying to break into the building. He
said he had rope ladder. made out of clothes
line, with wooden rungs. and that he de-
scending from the fourth to the third floor the
! ladder broke and he fell into the courtyard
The excavation is guarded by a watchman.
! He said he had not seen any one enter the
! place Entrance could easily have been effected
however The ground is covered with piles OF
! lumber BY standing one Of the long planks on
| its end. and with the assistance Of his pals.
| one OF the men could easily have reached the
! first story window of the office building, and
! then. by lowering the rope ladder, the others
! could have reached the window. Once inside 1t
| was an easy matter 10 reach the fourth floor as
| the doors the floor were open
The men, II is believed. intended TO rifle the
| mandatory OF Dent. Allcroft & Co. the glove
| manufacturers, as. according TO Gardner he was
descending to that floor when his ladder broke.
He refused to give the names Of his pals