New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-21
BURGLARS FIGHT POLICE.
WRECKED II BIG SAFE.
Running Pistol Fight in Street
PatrOLman and Watchman Shot.

In a desperate battle with revlovers last night
between the police of the OAk-st. station and
five men who had entered the offices Of Isaac A.
Sheppard & Co. in the big four story building
at Peck Slip and Pearl-st. and had blown open
the big safe there capturing one Of the strong
boxes. two men were shot although neither was
seriously injured.
One of those shot was Policeman Henry t.
Pearson of the Oak-st. station. He was wounded
through the palm of the left hand, and second
bullet tore through his right wrist, embedding
itself in the fleshy part of the forearm He was
taken to the Hudson Street Hospital. The other
injured man is John Walsh, of No. 316 Pearl-st,
where he was employed night watchman in
the bonded warehouse of Baker & Williams.
His injury consisted of bullet wound through
the middle finger of the right hand.
One of the alleged safe blowers was arrested,
but the other four escaped making a running
and shooting fight" as they went
The man arrested gave the name of Walter
Daxie and said he was twenty-seven years
old and a sailor. He would give no further ad-
dress than Brooklyn, where he said his mother
lived The police, however, say that he is well
known to them Western ''panhandler' and
..,,eee1nan." He is of powerful build, standing
six feet two inches tall He was taken to the
nrison ward of Bellevue Hospital. handcuffed
and under guard of two policemen. Inspector
NEcCruslxv said he was afraid TO let him go to
the Hudson Street Hospital, for fear he might
make a desperate attempt to escape and sue
coed The man suddenly became i'll after his
arrest. and had to have medical attendance.
At II o'clock last night persons within a
coUDIe of blocks of Peck Slip and Pearl-st heard
a heavy mulfled explosion. 1t startled a good
many and they crowded out into the streets
The first TO get into the street was Walsh, the
yvatchnan He found boy, Peter Welch Of
No o Peck slip, who said that he too, had
hoard the noise. Then came Policeman Pearson.
Walsh the watchman. says that when he got
into The street first he saw two men, one In
Front Of the Sheppard & Co. building, the
Peck slip side and the other on the Pearl-st.
side
According 10 the boy Welch, these two men
had been pacing W and down in front of the
building for some minutes
Walsh walked along TO the Pearl-st. side Of
the building and at once tried the double doors
OF a big cellar entrance there about the middle
of the structure These doors-he found unlocked
In the mean time Policeman Pearson reached
WaIshs side. Other policemen were coming on
the run, having heard the explosion
Just then the two men who had been outside
came toward Walsh and Pearson. Both had
their revolvers drawn. At the same instant the
double doors Of the cellarway were thrown back
with a slam and three men darted out OF the
entrance into Pearl-st. They landed almost in
front Of Pearson and Walsh. All three had re-
yolvers drawn and at once began shooting, the
other two joining in.
Pearson and Walsh drew their revolvers and
returned the fire. Some twoscore shots were
fred in succession.
one of the three men who darted out Of the
Continued fourth page.