The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-17
RETURNED CONVICT
ATTEMPTS BURGLARY

Thomas Kane, Who Is Out of Peni-
tentiary Only Two Weeks, Breaks
into Home Of Martin Finlon and
Is Caught in the Act-Pleads to Be
Let Off, but Committed to Jail
without Bail by Alderman Jones.
After Just coming out of the Eastern
penitentiary, where he served term OF
four years for burglary, Thomas Kane.
of the West Side, finds himself face TO
face with another stay at Cherry Hill.
Early yesterday morning. about l
o'clock, he was caught breaking into
the home OF Martin Finlon. on the West
Side, and was arrested two hours later
by Chief of Police McAndrew and Pa
trolman William McAndrew, while
asleep at his brother-in-law's home.
He was arraigned later in the day be-
fore Alderman Jones and committed to
the county Jail without bail.
Prior to the hearing, Kane confessed
his guilt to Mr.. Finlon and begged him
to drop the case. When arraigned a
few minutes later, Kane plead not
guilty.
Kane had been around town few
hours before his attempt at burglary.
He was in Main street saloon about
l1.30, and on leaving was observed by
Patrolman McAndrew. The patrolman
knowing Kanes record, and in the face
OF the numerous hold-ups in the city
ecently, followed Kane's footsteps with
juspicion until he was a considerable
distance away from his beat. About 1
o'clock small dog, scarcely large
enough to frighten "A mouse, aroused
the Finlon family with his sharp pierre
Ing bark Mrs. Gilhool, a daughter of
Mr.. Finlon, who was visiting at her
ather's home, was startled, on being
aroused, to see man endeavoring to
elimb into the window of the dining
room, which led off the room where she
was sleeping She made a pretense that
some one in the house was armed and
cOurageously kept up shout for her
father to shoot. Mr.. Finlon. in the
meantime, himself made his way down.
stairs, and, though unarmed and un-
aware of how many men might be on
he outside and how they might be pre-
Jared to resist. he boldly struck out to
dead off the intruder. Kane. in the
Meantime. ceased his operations and
,tarted in the direction of his father
n-law's home. Mr.. Finlon who had
seen Joined by his son, shouted to the
nurrying man to halt. Kane, fearful
that the Finlons were armed and that
he might be shot, stopped and, turning
to the older Finlon, muttered some
thing about being his friend. Finlon.
after he and his son recognized Kane,
told the latter he could go, that his case
H. I'D 10, ~
Kane Immediately struck out for his
brother in-law's.
Patrolman McAndrew was immedi-
ately notified. He aroused Chief Nc
Andrew and both went to the Rhine
vault home, where Kane had made for.
Kane was lying on the sofa, fully
dressed. He made no protest. and was
placed in the city Jail.
AT II O'Clock yesterday forenoon,
Kane was taken before Alderman
Jones. When he entered the office he
espied MIR. Finlon. Reckoning him to
side room, he implored Mr.. .Fnlon to
1esst in the prosecution. For Gods
sake" said Kane. don't push this case.
for. it means two or three years more
for me- Mr.. Finlon told Kane, how
ever, that he would not retreat from
the duty he owed his family and the
whole community.
Kane, when arraigned, plead not
guilty.
Mr.. Finlons story was that Kane
must have used a jack or some other |
instrument with which to pry off a slat |
of the shutters, which We're securely |
fastened. After breaking the slat he |
unfastened the catch of the shutters |
and then raised the window high |
enough to fasten it with the CATCH He |
was climbing up on the sill when Mr.. |
Finlon's daughter shouted. causing him |
to retreat. The circumstances of Fin |
Ions recognition of Kane being related, |
as given above, the alderman COM |
mitted the prisoner to Jail without bail. |
'Thomas," said Alderman Jones. |
"your earlier experience which brought |
you to the penitentiary ought to check |
you, but it doesn't appear to have any
effect"
Kane was released from the peniten-
tiary about two weeks ago. and has
spent some time, but not all, in Car
bondale since coming home; he divided
his time between this city and Scran-
ton. During the recent hold-ups, more
or less suspicion was attached to him,
but nothing was learned that impli-
Gated him. His record is a bad one, and
since 1T became known. that he was
home, West Side residents have been in
Tear OF an attack from him. He an
pears to have weakness for robbing
places, whether or not his booty NAV
be or any value to him. Once he robbed
shoemaker's shop, taking hammers
and shoe nails, which We're of no use