New-York tribune., 1901-02-14
PLUCKY FIGHT FOR LIFE.
MRS PRYOR BEATS OFF 4 HIGHWAY
MAN IN PARK-AVE. TUNNEL.
RUFFIAN STRIKES HER WITH A PIECE
OF GAS PIPE. But SHE KICKS HIM
DOWNsTAIRs-HE IS CAUGHT
BY A POLICEMAN.

Mrs Louise A Pryor, thirty years old, the
wife of DR.. W. r. Pryor of No. 121 East Thirty
eighth-st.. was the victim yesterday afternoon
| of desperate attempt at highway robbery. The
place chosen for the crime the stairway
| leading out Of the Park-ave. tunnel from the
| uptown tracks al Thirty -eighth-st. Or. Pryor.
the husband of Mrs. Pryor is a son of eX-Judge
Roger A Pryor.
Mrs. Pryor on a Madison-av car on her
way home from a shopping tour She signaled
! 10 the conductor to stop at Thirty-eighth-st.
The car reached that point at 12:5j p. Sit
ting back of Mrs. Pryor in the car was a we'll
dressed man of powerful build He kept his
eyes on Mrs. Pryor to extent that annoyed
her exceedingly, but in the excitement Of leaving
the car she quite forgot the fellow Her fingers
were glistening with rings. and she wore dia-
mond breastpin. In her hand she carried
purse which contained So in small bills and
change.
| BOUNDS UP THE STAIRS AFTER HER.
Mrs. Pryor hurried up the stairs. She got
about half way up the long flight Of seventeen
steps, when she heard some bounding UP
after her. She had time to turn around and see
that the person the man who had annoyed
her in the car. She tried 10 fee hut he was too
quick for her In his hand he carried something
like piece Of gas pipe wrapped in a cloth. and
with this he gave her blow the back of the
head near the ear. Fortunately he just
bit too far away 10 make the blow fully effective.
II sufficed. however, To knock the woman down.
She screamed for help, but it might as we'll
have been on a deserted country roadside In
the heart of the biggest city in the country.
Mrs. Pryor fortunately kept her presence Of
mind. Finding herself in a desperate plight
with a murderous robber. she concluded
10 sell her life at its best price. and
like a flash she leaped to her feet and
sprang at the fellow. He made a second blow
at her. but she lodged il. and then. by fortu-
nate chance. she managed kick him as he
stopped 10 pick UP the weapon which had fallen
from his hand. She landed her small boot right
under his chin. and he rolled over and fell
backward down the stone stairs He was
stunned for a moment Mrs Pryor then did
what very few women would have done. In
stead Of fleeing for her life which she could
easily have done she deliberately turned and
seizng TIE bludEeon dropped hy the thief
bounded down the stairs TO attack him. lie saw
her coming. and in amazement at her attack
jumped up and fled across the tracks to the
downtown stairway. Between the tracks there
IS a small fence OF netting about three feet
high TO prevent passengers from crossing and
to save them from being run down hy cars. The
thief went over this in a bound. and Mrs Pryor
cleared II even more easily. When ne came. cur
five feet behind him.
Murder, Thieves, Robbers she shrieked
The fellow ran with the speed Of deer east
toward Third-ave, through Thirty-eighth-st
Mrs. Pryor kept after him. Arthur Mullen
servant in the home Of ]. Hampden Robh. Of No
23 Park-ave- saw the chase and Joined At
Thirty -seventh-st. and Park-aNe was Police
man Ryan. He that the fugitive would run
TO Lexington-ave. and he ran in a parallel
line through Thirty y-seventh-st.. 10 head him off
Ryan is very fast on his feet and when the
runaway got to Third-ave Ryan Jumped out
a nd n al lnn 4 Fyln lat
dashed up and fell in a heap on the sidewalk
II the brave Mrs. Pryor. once she her
assaant in the hands OF "A policeman she
swooned. She was revived in a nearby drug
store and taken 70 her home in cab The
prisoner was taken 10 the East Thirty ffth-st.
police station, where he described himself as
Patrick Hynes, twenty four years old. of No
163 Third-av- In his pocket found Mrs.
PryoT's purse.
THE HIGHwAYMAN HELD FOR TRIAL
Mrs. Pryor was more fit for a hospital than
any other place when she got home but insisted
on going to court to appear against her as
sailant Dr. Pryor tried TO persuade her to
walt until tomorrow hut she would not. and
cab was called. In it the Doctor and his plucky
wife were driven to forkville. where Hynes
waiting for arraignment before Magistrate
Cornell. When he the woman. with eyes
flashing. come down the courtroom aisle. accom-
panied by her husband. who was almost ready
to take summary revenge Hynes covered and
trembled Mrs Pryor Identified him as her as
sailant
What have YOU to say?" asked Magistrate
Cornell to the prisoner.
Nothing now" he replied.
You are held for trial in 5000 bonds.' said
the Magistrate. Hynes led away. Mrs
Pryor congratulated by the Magistrate and
the police. on the side Of her head was great
lump. the size Of a small egg where she had
been struck "oh. that's nothing she said
lightly. THAT fellow meant 10 kill me There's
doubt Of it. He like mad beast.
knew | had 10 fght for my life. Judge. I'm sure
he meant TO murder me. and then rob me- she
said.
According to tho police OF the East Thi-ty-1fth-
81. station Iynes member OF the gang or
who. February 2S. 1900. attacked Martin
Murphy bartender for Joseph Fallon. at Thirty
sCventh-st. and Second ave. and attempted To rob
the place. one member Of the gang Thomas Giles.
attempted to stab Murphy with sabre and
shot dead hv the bartender. Murphy arrested
and committed TO await the action Of the Grand
Jury. on May 6 1900 Justice Fursman ordered
that Murphy be sent 10 the Manhattan State Hos
pital for the Insane. where he is nov