New-York tribune., 1903-06-28
| ROBBERS BEAT DOCTOR.
KNEW ONE AS FRIEND
Nother Gets Prisoner to Confess
Murder Planned.

Though
ing on his head dealt by man who had hVed
with hin, and who he thought his friend.
Tr BENJAMIN Hawker. a retired physician. liv-
ing at No 141 East Fifty-second-st.. last night
in his office defeated the plans of robbers and
captured one of them The widowed mother and
sister of this from their home near py'
saw him led away by the police, and TO the
pIeadings of the mother is ascribed confes-
sion in which. the police say. Dudley r. Bart
lett of No. 2O1 East Fiftieth-st-. told how he
had made a compact to rob and If necessary
murder the friend with whom he had lived.
Bartlett and his wife boarded with Dr.
Hawker up to three weeks ago. Bartlett re-
tanned key to the front door DR. Hawker.
who is over fifty years Old was seated in his
office on the first floor. when he heard some one
walking through the hail. He got up, went to
the door and saw Bartlett.
Hello. Bartlett" he said 'how did you
get in?''
Bartlett said that he had the key, and was so
used to using it that he forgot to ring the bell
What can l do for you?" asked the physi-
cian
Il have a friend outside who is i'll and l want
you to prescribe for him." answered Bartlett
Then he turned and called out: "Al right
Harry the doctor is not engaged"
Dr. Hawker turned and walked toward his
desk and Bartlett followed. When he turned
around he looked into the barrel of revolver
Another man, who was masked. closed the doors
quickly and then Bartlett said:
Doctor, we have come here to rob YOU II
you don't want be a dead one open that safe
quick and hand out all the coin. We mean
business
Quick as flash DR.. Hawker seized the pistol
and wrenched 1t from Bartlett's hand 1t fell 10
the floor. The doctor then grabbed Bartlett and
Earr
lett grasped the revolver and struck DR.. Hawker
several times on the head with it. In the mean
time. according to the doctor, the other man
seized his gold watch and chain. took $50 from
his pocket and tore off his necktie, which con-
tanned a diamond scarfpin. The scarfpfn and
the watch and chain were later found in cor
ner of the room.
The noise of the struggle and DR.. Hawker's cry
for help had attracted the attention of Mrs
Hawker and the servant Annie Brennan, who
rushed to the office. AS they reached the hall
way the man who had accompanied BARTLETT
started to run out Mrs. Havker grappled with
him. tore the mask from his face and endeav-
ored to hold him, but was unsuccessful. Annie
saw the doctor and Bartlett struggling on the
floor and ran TO Lexngton-ave-. where she
found Policeman Shields of the East Fifty-hrst-
St station.
Shields reached the doctors office just as
Bartlett was breaking from Mr.. Hawker's grasp.
The doctor tainted when he saw that Bartlett
had been captured and the struggle was over.
Shields hurried Bartlett to the station and
called an ambulance from the Flower Hospital
Dr. Hawker's wounds were dressed by DIR. Polk.
and he was put to bed. Several stitches were
taken in his scalp and about twenty bruises
his face and body were dressed
Bartlett's widowed mother and sister live at
No. 1J4 East Fifty-second-st.. near DR.. Hawk
er's home. The mother her taken from
the house and had seen his companion run hat
less toward Thrd-ave.
Captain Tighe says the prisoner made a full
confession to him.
Bartlett told me-" said Captain Tighe that
about three weeks ago he got into trouble with
a wholesale grocer's firm he working for
and left the city. About three days ago he was
walking along the Old Mill Road. near Jersey
City, when he was met by man named Harry
Cooper Cooper bought him several drinks, and
they came to New-York together. Yesterday he
says he met Cooper at Waifert's cafe, in Four
teenth-st. During the conversation Bartlett told
about his trouble and of having left the house
of DR. Hawker. He says that Cooper told him
it would be easy to rob the doctor and get a pot
OF money.
so Cooper gave Bartlett a bottle of chloro-
form and mask and revolver. He instructed
him how to use the chloroform, and then
planned the robbery. Bartlett to get into
the house with the key and watch until the
doctor went into his office. when he 10
call Cooper 1t was planned that both should
be masked Bartlett was to hold up Hawker
and says he had agreed to shoot the man if he
resisted
Bartlett was locked up charged with burglary
in the first degree and with felOnlouS assault. |
His mother wept bitterly in the station She
told her son To- tell everything. and not try to
hide his companion in any way
You have done wrong" she said God will |
bless Won now if tell the truth"