Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-18
RUNNING FIGHT
Ii Which Burglar Is Killed
e" at East Boston.
They Beat Waterman Nearly to Death
:, and Blow the Safe.
Five in Gang-one Is Dead-offieers
in Pursuit.

into an Office in East Boston, earlier in
the morning, and squad of policemen
from Division Z. on the tracks of the
Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Rail-
road, early Thursday, one of the burg
lars was shot dead. The others es-
capped and it was believed probable
that some of them were wounded. The
identity of the dead burglar is not
known. Although all five Of the hunt
ed men used their revolvers freely on
the police none of the latter were
wounded. The burglars had previously
~ broken into the Office of the Metro
politan Coal Co.. in East Boston, and
maltreated the Waterman and blown
open the safe and escaped with 5000.
The killing of the burglar was Sc
cuence of one of the boldest pieces OF
criminal work which has been perpe-
trated In Boston for long time. Short
ly after / o'clock, John Donovan, the
Waterman, employed at the Metropol-
ltan Coal Cos. office at East Boston.
was awakened by the noise of an ex-
plosion which came from the floor be-
meath him. The building is a small,
twO-story wooden structure, almost
at the ocean front and in thinly in
habited section. The conclusion was
terrific.
Donovan hurried down the rear stair
way only to be confronted at the foot
Of the stairs by three men, each OF
whom was pointing a revolver at him.
He was at once knocked down and as
saulted. A coal hod placed over his
head so that he could not see and
then the burglars jumped repeatedly on
his body, evidently with the intention
Of killing him. The brutality of the
treatment made the Waterman uncon-
scious.
The robbers then undoubtedly pro-
ceeded to remove the contents of the
safe which they had previously blown
open with dynamite. They then crossed
the bridge to Winthrop. Shortly after
ward Donovan regained consciousness.
removed the coal hod from his head and
crawling to the desk telephone called up
police headquarters and gave the alarm.
Half an hour later patrolmen from the
East Boston station arrived and found
the Waterman senseless. He revived,
however, long enough to tell the off,
GERS what had happened. All nearby
towns and cities were notified and a
careful search of the marsh district in
East Boston and Winthrop was begun.
About two hours later when Sergeant
Aubens, accompanied by Patrolman
I1arkard. was making a search of the
barren district skirting the tracks of the
Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Railroad.
five men sprang from a growth of tall
weeds and opened fire on them with re-
volvers Although taken entirely by sur
A,,ko hi
ion returned the fire with the same fierce
ness that characterized the attack of the
robbers In the darkness the shooting
was at random.
At the same moment that the burglars
commenced to fire, they started to run
towards the railroad tracks. down which
they fled at quick run Untouched by
any of the bullets. Aubens and Hankard
followed swiftly. but the robbers had
such lead that the police were outdis-
tanced.
The officers retraced their steps to send
out an alarm. when they stumbled across
a body. 1t was that of a man about 20
years old. In his right hand was clutch
ed q revolver. There was a bullet hole in
his forehead and another just over the
heart. The wrist of the hand which
grasped the revolver was broken. prob
ably by his fall after he had been shot.
The body was taken to the police station
and later, when Waterman Donovan had
recovered sufficiently, he identified 1t as
that of one of the burglars. The dead
Sobber wore old. almost ragged clothing.
The only distinguishing mark found
about him was on the lining of his hat.
where was written in pencil wv. p.
Smith," The hat had been purchased in
New York. The man wore a short black
worn TT dark undercoat and gray vest,
black trousers and a pair of worn shoes,
the toes of which were completely gone.
The finding of a number of aims asking
cards in the pockets indicated to the po-
lice that the man had been a pan hand
Ter" who had deserted that career for the
more exciting one of safe blowing.
A large posse was formed and pursuit
of the remaining men taken up systemat-
ically. The gang was traced in the drec-
tion of Lynn, but at o'clock nothing was
learned to indicate the whereabouts of
the burglars
Manager Wyman of the coal companys
office. said. later. that only $500 had been
stolen. although that represented the en-
tire money contents OIL the SAFE
Sergt Aubens said, during that morn
ing. that he believed one of the escaped
robbers had been wounded by him.
The determination of the police to cap
ture the remaining men was strength
ened by the idea that they are the same
men who have committed burglarieS re-
Gently in numerous New England cities
and towns.
., Although a dozen Lynn policemen
secured the marshes between Lynn and
Saugus and worked up through the Saul
gus farming district. Thursday. no trace
up to II o'clock had been found of the
fugitives from East Boston. The district
offers many opportunities for escape and
the Lynn men believe that the gang
turned back before reaching Lynn and
made for Boston.
During the afternoon. the police stated
that there was reason to believe that the
dead burglar was William P. Smith, for
merly an express truckman and for sew
eral months past an alleged vagrant.
Miss Mary Hayes of East Boston, viewed
the body and afterwards said she thought
it was that of Smith, the man who had
boarded at her mothers house several
months ago. This Identification was re-
garded as important, considering the fact
that the name w. P. Smith was pencilled
inside the dead mans hat.
Late In the afternoon. Atwood S. Nixon, |
chief of police at Merrimac. Mass. identi- |
fed the dead burglar as one of the men |
who hound robbed and choked him in the |