The Washington herald., 1906-12-06
ROB BROKER IN HOME
Masked Men Beat and Bind
Millionaire to BedpOst.
FELL HIM AS HE AwAKES
burglars Pound Elias ASieI Into IN
sensibiIity With Brass KnuekIes in
Chamber Because He Refused to
Reveal Combination of Safe-Resi-
dence in Bon-tOn New York District

New York. Dec 5.-Two masked bur
glars entered the home of Elias Asiel d
millionaire broker, at Is East Sixty-third
street early to-day, and after vainly
trying to force him 10 open a safe Ia his
room, beat him -insensible with brass
knuckles. bound and gagged him, and
left him helpless, bound to the bedpost
Before he could summon assistance, they
had escaped into Central Park.
The gag used was carried by one of the
burglars. 1t was made Of surgeons gauze,
packed into a ball and attached to two
pieces of tape. The other burglar carried
the cord with which Mr.. Asiel was bound
and the cord and the gag are the only
clews the thieves left behind them.
There was a desperate fight before Dr.
Asiel was Overpowered. but no one else in
the house heard the noise. A $50 watch,
$50 In money. and about 500 worth Cf
s.iverware and jewelry were taken by tie
burglars. but they entered the house for
the purpose OF robbing the safe, which
contained a fortune in gems
On MiiIiOnaIre's Row.
Mr.. Asiels home is in the heart Of a
section of the city occupied exclusively
by milliOnaires. He is head OF the firm
of Asiel & Co, at 30 Broadway. Some
OF his prominent -neighbors are the Post
leys, the Bloomingdales, and the Bro
l1aws
Mr.. Asiel built the handsome house for
his wife only a short time before her
death. two years ago Since then he and
his daughter, Miss lima. have occupied
the big mansion with retinue OF serv-
ants. Mr.. AsieTs bedroom is at the rear
OF the second floor. His daughter sleeps
IL a front room on the third floor.
The thieves went 10 the basement door,
which is on level with the street and
under the stoop. There they used a saw,
cutting away an inch iron bar.
In getting into the door leading into
the basement hall, the burglars cut the
window light with a diamond. To pre-
vent the cut square from falling, paper,
smeared with mucilage, was used.
Sack Several Rooms.
Gaining entrance to the house. the
thieves first went to the rooms on the
ground floor. To guard against hung
seen from the street they placed a large
screen against the window and then
begen Iooung the rooms OF snverware
and stickpins Every piece of sTvorware
ou the first floor was heaped in a pile,
I, ady to be carried off
Creeping To the second floor, the burg
lars began to search for jewelry. They
found stickpins and jeweIry of minor i'm
portance. and then they made their way
into Mr. Asiels sleeping apartments.
There is a big safe in Mr.. Asiers bed
rDr
lantern. the burglars made their way TO !
1t and tried the door. It was locked /
one of them fumbled with the combina- |
ton, and the noise awakened the broker. 4
As he moved in bed the burglars heard /
him and flashed the light in his eyes.
He was blinded by the flash for a mo- 4
mont but leaped out of bed and made /
foT the intTUdeTs. who rushed 10 meet 4
him. Although nfty years OF age, Mr.. 4
Asiel is muscular.
Fights With Robbers.
He shot out his right and landed on 4
the jaw of one Of the men with force 4
enough 10 knock him across the room. /
The other then hit him a terrific blow on I.
the forehead with set of brass knuckles. I
making the three distinct wounds. Mr. 4
Asiel staggered back and fell across the
bed. and both burglars pounoed upon 4
him.
If you make any noise" whispered /
one of the men, wen kill YOU and any
one else who attempts to stop US. Wen
choke you to death, anyhow. if you don't
open that safe
Mr.. Asiel feared that if he made any
outery he would awaken his daughter.
that the burglars might shoot her If she
should run into the hall and try to stop
them. But be was determined to fight,
and struggled To free himself
"Oh. You want it. DO yOu?" inquired
one of the men Then you'll get yours"
With that they began TO beat him
over the head until he lost conscious
ness. Then they stuffed the gag into his
mouth and tied the tape in a hard knot
at the back Of his head. The tape. by
the way, was sewed TO the gag by one
skilled in eedlewOrk-evidentIy a woman
or professional tailor. They bound his
arms and legs with a long cord and left
him on the bed.