Evening journal., 1901-04-13
Gang First Robbed and Killed
Thomas D. Kahn0
WHOLESALE ARRESTS MADE
Prisoners Believed TO be Responsible
for BurglarieS Which Occurred
The Past Month

Pittsburg, April 13.-There has
scarcely been a more eventful day in
the annals of the Pittsburg police than
yesterday. Thomas d. Kahre, Mount
Washington grover, was shot and kill
ed in his home Ly three burglars while
defending his wife who was being
chloroformed. A few hours later the rem
devious of thealleged felons was discoy-
cred at 80 Fulton street, and force OF
detectives put to work On the case. In
a desperate fight which followed City
Detective Patrick Z. Fitzgerald was IN
stantly killed and one OF the alleged
robbers. who gave his name as Ed
ward Wright. who fired the shots
that killed Fitzgerald, was badly in
jured. Two male and two female
members of the alleged robber gang
were arrested ant diamonds and
other booty worth from $4,000 to $4,000
recovered. The whole of the gang is
believed to be in crstody and the de-
tectives have evidence that the men
are responsible for the numerous bur-
glaries of the past month or two in
and around this city.
The wounded prisoner was removed
to Mercy hospital. where it is said he
may recover, although he was shot
three times. The others arrested gave
their names as Robert Wilcox and his
wife, Jennie; j. B. Wright, a brother OF
the alleged murderer. and awoman said
TO be his wife. They were taken to Cen
tral station, where It was learned that
all were from Chicago. Wilcox Is said
10 be known in that city as Kid" Men
OILS. Mrs. Wilcox admitted that they
had all come from Chicago some
months ago, and had been working
here since then.
The detectives first went to a house
on Bedford avenue. A woman fully
dressed was sitting at a table eating
breakfast and a man lay on the bed
clothed. AS he caught sight of tho
officers he darted his hand under the
bolster. but at the comand "hands up
and the presentation of a loaded revol-
yer he surrendered. The officers
looked under the pillow and found
three loaded revolvors there. They
then repaired to the Fulton street rem
devious, when the shooting took place
The description of the encounter IL
the room as told by Inspector Robert
Gray, OF the detective bureau, was mos
graphic. When he and Fitzgerald
went up stairs they knocked on The
door. II was quietly opened by wo-
man. Her body blocked a view of thu
room, and the officers thought the mar
they were after had escaped, having
had warning from the woman.
Fitzgerald was in front Of Cray
holding the door knob in his hand ant
with his head and shoulders in th'
room. Suddenly he cried:
ttrrIos., bn &c Rob TTafc cftn
Rush him."
Suiting the action to the word. tn
detective rushed INTO the room. will
the inspector at his elbow The wo
man had stepped aside and as the of
ficers entered the man began shooting
Both officers had their revOlvers on
and replied to the shots. The robbie
stood upright, firing his pistol, coolly
while the woman covered in a corne
Of the room. Fitzgerald and Gray wer
by this time alongside of each other
All three men were pumping lead int
each other Suddenly Fitzgerald lurch
ed against Gray and the latter, stil
firing, saw that his partner was stag
gering and cropping blindly.
"pm all in, Bob" shouted the de
tective, "but don't mind me; get him.
Then Fitzgerald fell. Gray graspe
the pistol which the murderer held an
snatched 1t from his hand. 1t had, q
afterwards was discovered, one ball i
1t, so that four shots must have bee
fired. Suddenly the fellow pulled an
other revolver, where from Gray cOul
not realize. The man began to shoe
Gray had fred all his ammunition
and the fellow still kept firing, al
though apparently very weak from Oh
bullets that had reached him. Ora
grasped him by the throat and trie
TO throw him to the floor. both me
stumbling to and fro over the body {
Fitzgerald. Then at last the ma
threw up his hands, said "rIl give in.
and dropped to the floor.
It Is Gray's opinion that Fi;zgeral
died as he fell to the floor. althouc
he is not positive as his own 1eht wit
the murderer lasted, it seemed to hin
several minutes after Fitzgerald fell
There is no doubt in the minds /,
O'Mara and his detectives that the
have the men who murdered Kahn,
who have committed the r0bheries
Aspinwali. Etna and Sharpsbure. a
most invariably using chloroforr
who entered tho house Of the Rev. d
Henry T. McClelland several weei
ago, and who have committed scores
other robberies. The booty that W.
found IN the house on Bedford aver
furnished the proof.