Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-13
ASSAULT BY BURGLAR
Painful Experience of James
]. Roche.
SERIOUSLY INJURED
ONE OF TWO INTRUDERS WORE A
MASK
Victim of Assault Sure He Can Iden
tify Him-The Police Inves-
tigating.
SERIOUSLY INJURED

Masked burglars visited the home Of
James ]. Roche. 355S 18th street northwest.
about o'clock this morning. and their
presence was discovered by Mr.. Roche,
who went in search OF them. He found
them and was assaulted by one of the two
intruders and knocked down the steps. The
burglars then left house, probably beliov-
ing they had left their victim TO die.
DIR. Hasbrouck was summoned to the
house shortly after the murderous assault
was committed. He found Mr.. Roche had
sustained ugly cut in the back of his
head and his arms and shoulders had been
injured in the fall down the steps. Several
stitches were taken in the scalp wound, and
then Mr.. Roche was made as comfortable
as possible. No time was lost in notifying
the police of the occurrence, and Lieut..
Kenny, Sergt. Bremerman and several po-
licemen participated in the subsequent In
vestigation. Later in the morning Capt.
Boardman assigned Detectives Peck and
Miller to work on the case.
When information of the affair was re-
ceived the police had an idea that the men
who entered the house Were tramp burglars,
but Developments convinced them that the
visitors were of a more dangerous guild
who understood their business and who eX-
pected to get possession OF a large sum Of
money, as well of a quantity of silver
ware fhOClle Is SdllSUeu lie can lutnil-
~ one of the mon, who wore a mask, but
did not see the one who assaulted him.
Mr.. Roche left his place of business last
night about the usual hour, which WAS
shortly after midnight, and reached home
soon afterward AS is his usual custom he
sat in the dining room and smoked his pipe
few minutes before going upstairs. About
3 O'Clock he heard a noise i'm the house
Feeling satisfied that burglars were in the
house, he left his sleeping chamber aud
went to another rooom for his pistol.
Encounters the Intruders.
Getting the weapon, he started in search
of the visitors. Upon reaching the landing
at the head of the steps he found himself
face to face with a masked burglar. There
was time for explanations. and before
Mr.. Roche could use his weapon he received
the blow on the back of his head This
blow was delivered from behind.
When the victim got up the burglars had
made their escape. Mrs. Roche is in
valid and was unable to render her husband
much assistance. DR.. HasbTouck reached
the house In a few minutes after being
summoned and found the injured man suf
fering intense pain. He had lost consider
able blood from the wound of the head. 1t
is the physicians belief that the burglar
struck Mr.. Roche with pistol.
An examination of the premises showed
that nothing had been carried away. The
intruders had effected an entrance through
the rear window. Before going to the up
per floor they had put quantity of silver
ware in a dishpan preparatory to carrying
it off. Because of their hasty flight they
were unable to carry off this plunder.
In relating his experience to the police
Mr.. Roche recalled an experience he had
last Thursday night about three hours be-
fore Special Policeman Young and the al
legged burglar engaged in a shooting afray
on 18th street. Mr.. Roche conducts a
restaurant at 9N Pennsylvania avenue
#ala1 1flfN-
ment of the Barrios Diamond Company. A
few minutes before II O'Clock that night
man entered the saloon and walked TO the
rear end of the bar, where he saw the pro-
prietor counting the days receipts. Turning
to the incomer, the proprietor inquired:
What will you have?'
III take short beer was his response.
Suspicious Aroused.
The man drank the beer and walked out.
When he reached the door he turned and
took a good look at the man who had wait
ed on him. The incident excited the sus-
picions of Mr. Roche, but he said nothing
about it until later. He left his place OF
business not long after the departure OF
the customer and boarded car for home.
When he reached Whitney avenue and 18TH
street he saw the face OF the man VINO hau
purchased the glass Of beer shortly before
midnight. Being satisfied that the man
was waiting there to rob him, Mr.. Roche
took a short cut across lot and reached
his home without being molested. The
masked burglar. he is now satisfied, is the
one who bought the beer at his place
Thursday night, and who was afterward
seen waiting on the corner OF VIII tney
avenue and 18th street. 1t is believed by
some of the officers that the burglars are
pals of John Hay or David Bratton, who
figured in the shooting affray with Special
Officer Young Mr. Roche may be con-
fined to his home several days, but his in
juries are not apparently of a serious ma