New-York tribune., 1901-07-05
BROTHERS FIGHT ROBBERS.
ONE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BY BURG.
LARS.
THE OTHERS MISTAKE EACH OTHER For
HOUSEBREAKERS. AND STRUGGLE
OVER SHOTGUN

James Beecroft. Of the sons OF the late
John r. Beecroft was severely beaten by burg
lars at his home. in Pelham Manor yesterday
morning about o'clock.
Beecroft had been out to a Fourth OF July
celebration As he went to the front door he
noticed that it open He was wondering
who had been careless when he heard a noise
IN the dark hallway. and suddenly two men
sprang out of the parlor and rushed on him
One man struck him the jaw with his fist and
at the same time the other came down on his
mead with weapon that felt like blackjack.
Beecroft heard one of the assailants exclam:
you're the man that shot at US; we'll put you
where you won't bother us any more" Then he
fell to the floor unconscious
The excitement aroused an older brother
Fred. who came out of the second story window
and slid down post Of the front veranda At
the same time another brother got up and ran
down the stairs with shotgun. He saw Fred in
the front yard. and. thinking that he was the
burglar, levelled his gun at him and was about
10 shoot Just then Jim who had recov-
ered 1t up a cry in the woods that he was
CHASING the burglar and needed help.
The brothers had clinched with each other and
were IN oeatnly combat for the shotgun. but
when Jim called they saw their mistake and
letting go of each other, joined in the chase
Inc burglars took opposite directions through
the woods. and ran for nearly a quarter of
mile When they reached the home of Colonel
De Frece. James Beecroft was close on their
trail They turned to him several times and
warned him not to come too close or they would
put him out of business
The tall burglar said to the shorter one as
they ran: Bill, guess it's time TO separate;
you take one direction and I'll go the other"
with this they disappeared in opposite direc-
tlons. and the Beecroft brothers were unable to
ind them. The burglars had escaped through
the dense brush. and the pursuers were forced
to give the chase
The robberies were the sole topic OF conversa-
ton in Pelham Manor yesterday Nobody in the
manor feels safe. and some of the women are
so nervous that they the verge of COL
lapse. The citizens have decided that some ex-
traordinary method will have TO be employed
and they will hold a meeting in few DAYS
to increase the police force 1t is likely that de-
tectives from this city will be employed until
the gang is effectualy broken up
For the last few weeks burglars have been
having their own way in Pelham Manor and
the homes of many New-Yorkers have been
plundered. The first big robbery occurred at
the home of D. I. Carson treasurer Of the
Southern Bell Telephone Company. The house
breakers next attempted TO enter the nome of
tHe rev A +. Ienney, rector OF Pelham PriOry,
but were frightened away by the sons of the
late John R. Beecroft. who shot at them. They
came back for the third time on Wednesday
morning and stole about $500 worth of silver
ware from Professor A. c. McCfirert of the
Union Theological Seminary. part of the
plunder consisted Of the wedding presents of the
Professor and his wife. The burglars took the
little boys wheel. left II at the railroad sta
tion. and took the agents wheel and a wheel
that was stored there.
On the same morning they attempted TO get
into the home of j. Hull wealthy New-Yorker.
who lives on the Esplanade Mr. Hull is con-
nected with the American Tobacco Company.
Two OF his Dachshunds began to bark furiously
just as the burglars were prying open the
window. Mr.. Hull ran to a window in the front
of the house and his wife went to one in the
rear The men were at the back window trying
to get in. When they saw Mrs Hull they ran.
Mrs Hull got a good view of them. She
says that is tall and we'll built and the
other is a short man. The tall man wore side
whiskers. They were quite we'll dressed