The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-03
SOLDIER TURNED YEGG MAN.
SON or RICH WOMAN ARRESTED
on BURGLARY CHARGE.

wilson, With Paper showing Good Service
Record In the spanish War and the
Philippines, Caught m Dark Hal AFTER
Hard Fight-Equipped for Crime.
William Davenport, or Wilson, a. the
police now call him, and Joseph Martin,
the two men who were locked up yesterday
morning after fierce hallway battle with
three policemen, we're held for trial In the
afternoon In 5000 bail each at jefferson
Market police court on charge OF at
tempted burglary. The men are accused
Of having jimmied the street door OF a
building at Ss7 Sixth avenue.
The police learned in the course OF the
day that the man who called himself Daven-
port Is William d. Wilson, son OF the late
Alexander d. Wilson, a well known con-
tractor and builder who died some time
ago leaving a fortune Of half million
dollars. Wilson, they learned, had been
living for three weeks in q furnished room
at 2Ol West Thirty-ninth street. where his
trunk containing discharge papers from
the army and a number Of ribbons and
love tokens was found,
Wilson's mother lives in an oldfashioned
brownstone house at 200 West Thirty-fourth
street. One Of her daughters has been
very IN recently and Mrs Wilson is so broken
down in health that the news OF her sons
arrest has been kept from her An old
servant OF the house, when told that the
boy was in the Tombs, said that he was a
wild lad and would have to shift for him
self.
From the papers found in Wilson's trunk
and from the talk Of the servant II was
learned that Wilson went out with Company
II Of the Eighth Regiment at the beginning
Of the Spanish war and served throughout
the campaign. At its close, he enlisted
in an artill cry regiment and went to the
Philippines, where the papers show that
he served with distinction.
When the police found fifty dollar bill
on Wilson at the time OF his arrest he told
them that the money was his allowance for
the week. His story was laughed at, but
investigation proved it's truth and showed
that Wilson was not driven to attempt bur-
glary through need,
Policeman Dwyer Of the Tenderloin had
been watching the two for some time. He
sent a small boy for his part ner Jim Muir
phy, who il new to the Tenderloin, but not
TO the business OF handling bad men, and
then dived into the dark hallway. Both
Dryer from being shot was each mans
fear of shooting bis pal. The cop didn't
wait for them TO draw head on his brass
buttons. He tackled the bigger Of the two,
and down they went together, all over the
floor. The big mans pal held light, but
that was soon knocked out by the struggling
Wrestlers. e., g..
Dryer was getting the upper hand when
IN came Murphy. The big burglar still
gave them both all the trouble they could
handle. Detective Keenan,; joining. the
party, counted three and that was @out'
In the sTenderioln station Detective
brennan, Capt. Cottrelps man Friday,
who was scot to look up the prisoners ad-
dresses, said thai pavDport's name was
fourth street. He u IS years old. Martin
Is 10 and lives at 2iI West 1hirty-fourth
street.
In the station house revolvars were taken
from both men. Wilson had jimmy
Jimmy was made like big tack claw,
Wilson's glove lacked one finger to give
the name trigger finger play. A real
syeggman'ss bag was hung under the hol-
$50 m bills and a dozen cartridges.
When the prisoners were held for trial
the complain ant was Or. W. +. Birkowitz,
a dentist. He was a most unwilling COM
plainant. He has an Office IN the build
ing whose front door was broken open.
He told the police that he had shut the
door on Monday night and found it open
when he returned in the morning.
why should I sign your paper or be
troubled with your affairsi' he asked the
Magistrate. Il didn't zee those men break
in the door. Besides, they didn't take any
Of my things
Magistrate Whitman told him all they
wanted OF him was 20 swear that he shut
up the place. DR.. Birkowitz finally did 50,
declining, however, to cease grlmbling.
In spite ofhfl the jimmies, pistols and other
equipment, the prisoner pictures are not
IN the rogIies' gallery. The police think
that this was their first adventure. They
took their arrest coolly.
I'm sick OF the whole thing exclaimed
Wilson. Il wish they'd stand me up and
shoot me dead and be done with it,