Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-02-02
BURGLAR EN-.
PL0YS LADDER

A bold burglar was surprised while
in the act of forcing an entrance into
the house of night watchman, w. E.
Young, Pine street, early yesterday
morning. A bullet, fired at short range
barely missed the man, and that he
was not plugged full of lead is owing
to the unfortunate circumstance that
the three remaining shells in the night
watchman's revolver proved to be
worthless.
About A o'clock yesterday morning
while night watchman Young, on his
beat, was approaching his home he be-
held sight which to use his own
words nearly raised the hat from his
head. Leaning against the side of his
dwelling just below a window stood
ladder and on it was a man, who had
climbed half way up. All this the
watchman clearly discerned through
the darkness. Before he had time to
act, however, the man saw that he was
discovered and jumped to the ground.
Needless of the night watchman, who
called after him to halt, he ran around
the rear of the house and jumped over
the fence into the side yard connected
with the residence of Fred Howe.
Here in trying to escape he ran into
sort of nook between the porch and
high fence, which for awhile held
him captive. By this time the night
watchman in hot pursuit had gained
the rear of his own residence and
drawing his revolver, fired The bull
let missed the burglar by a narrow
margin, striking the rain pipe almost
in range with the man and leaving a
deep indenture, which is plainly visi-
BILE rod away. The watchman con-
tinued shooting but each of the three
shells which remained in his revolver
proved defective and failed to explode
Taking advantage of the momentary
delay the man managed to climb over
the high fence and crossing the back
yard of Michael McHale's residence
dashed between the two houses out in
to Front street, where he disappeared.
1t was only an instant until Mr.. Nc
Hale and several other neighbors were
out and ready to join in pursuit. The
pursuing party in a short time was
joined by the Chief of Police, but they
were unable to get on the track of the
fugitive.
The ladder used was one stolen from
the premises of S. @. Phillips adjoin-
ing, where for some time it had stood
leaning against one of the back build
ings in full view from the street. Yes
terday the footprints of the man were
still visible beside the house where he
had jumped from the ladder.
The night watchman is unable to
give much of description of the bur-
glar except that he was below medium
height and wore no overcoat. After dis
appearing ON Front street the burglar,
it seems, made his way up Ferry street
to Market street and passed eastward
along that thoroughfare.
r. B. Diehl, who resides at the
Brandon homestead, East Market
street, was awakened by the shooting.
He went to the window and few
minutes later observed a man, who
answered the general description of
the burglar, on the opposite slue OF
East Market street approaching from
the direction of Ferry street. Crossing
the street diagonally the man took the
sidewalk in front of the Brandon dwell
ling. He seemed excited and as he
passed he was murmuring to himself
in dissatisfied way. There would
seem to be little doubt but that he was
the would-be burglar surprised while
at work.