New-York tribune., 1902-02-14
SAFE BURGLARS FOILED.
ONE OVERrOWERS MAN WHO CATCHES
THEM IN MOUQUIN's SIXTH
AVE. PLACE.

only by the merest chance was frustrated a
oolo attempt to rob a safe in the establishment
OF the Nouquin Restaurant and Wine Company.
at Nos. 454 and 45S Sixth-ave early yesterday
The burglars fed. leaving their work half done
and a fine set Of cracksmen's tools behind them
after assauting the man who disturbed them
at their labor. Had they succeeded which they
would have done had they been left alone a
little while longer they would have got away
with at least $1,000. They drank some of the
nnest wines in the place before beginning their
work.
Jermain Boucher, a veteran of the French
army. who looks after the fires in Mouqns
happened to pass the building at 2:3O a. m and
glanced at the windows. He was on the west
erly side of the street, and from where he was
standing he could some shadows moving
about on the first floor OF the building where
the main dining room is. That floor is some dis
tance above the street. Marvelng as to who
could be in the dining room at that hour Bou-
cher stood and watched for some moments, and
then he determined to investigate. His first idea
was to ring the bell and some of the
servants who sleep on the third or top floor A
moment after he had mounted the steps which
ascend from the street and rung the bell Bou-
cher noticed that the bar which locks the door
on the inside had been broken and that the door
was slightly aJar. He stepped inside.
No sooner had Boucher's body got within the
vestibule. between the outer and inner doors.
than he was pounced on by we'll dressed and
powerfully built young man. who pinned his
arms TO his sides Boucher is strong and large,
and he fought desperately TO free himself from
the burglar for a burglar it In the strug-
gle he got glimpse of two other men in ..
restaurant, who started, as soon as they heard
the uproar. for the vestibule to assist their
rade. Before the two within got outside
phar and in fbair CIV Tyc,oyJac
made their way to the stoop outside
Seeing the two men who were coming to the
aid of his opponent quite near. Boucher
half leaped and half fell the railing that
borders the stoop. and fell into areaway
He landed his back and for a moment was
stunned.
The three burglars took to their heels, run
ming up Sxth-ave to Twenty-eighth-st. and
west that street. Boucher all the time
had been yelling for the police. but none ap-
peared until the trouble was over The burg
lars escaped.
Boucher Imped around to the home of UIysis
Delsle. the night manager of the restaurant.
The two returned to the place. Strewn about
the floor in front of the old fashioned safe.
which stands under the cigar counter about
twenty feet from the door, were numerous
burglars tools. There were several drills. a
brace and Bit Jimmy and some implements
known as pluggers. Just to the left of the
combination Of the safe a hole had been bored.
It was half an inch in diameter and about half
way through the thick steel plate. Apparently
it had been the intention of the burglars to
use dynamite or some other high explosive.
1t is believed that the three had been in
the building at least hour. Several bottles
OF wine which had been emptied in the base
ment attested to the presence of the burglars
in the wine department.
Mr. Delisle, after the investigation, reported
the burglary at Police Headquarters and to
Captain Titus. Several detectives as
signed TO the Boucher said that all OF
the men were young and unusually we'll dressed,
Mr.. Delisle said that there 50 600 in the
safe and some small change.