Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-23
PATROLMAN
SHOWS NERVE
CAPTURES ARMED BURGLAR
AFTER HARD STRUGGLE
THIEF ATTEMPTS TO PLUMBER
JEWELRY STORE
Breaks SkyIieht of one-story Build
ing and Sets OFF Burglar
Alarm Which Calls
Police

Bravery on the part of Patrolman Os-
terloh resulted in the capture of John
Conroy, said by the police to be one Of
the most daring burglars that has struck
Los Angeles for several years. in the
jewelry store of j. c. Fleming, 5S1 South
Broadway, about 9 o'clock last night.
While more than three hundred per-
sons stood around the building and
watched the place with bated breaths
osterloh entered the store by means of
rope hung through the skylight and
succeeded in capturing the burglar.
About $3.50 o'clock last night word was
received at the central station that a
man had broken into Fleming's jewelry
store. Patrolman Osterloh was instruct
ed to go to that place.
When the officer reached the bulldlng
he found the street crowded, while half
a dozen policemen stood guarding the
building.
Osterioh began an investigation. He
soon learned there was a skyhght on
the roof, and in company with Patrol
man Bonner went there.
To the beam which runs across the
down into the store. Grasping hold of it
Osterloh lowered himself into the in
terror of the building.
Burglar Shows Fight
AS his feet touched the floor the patrol
man turned and found himself racing
heavily built man who stood armed WIN
a heavy revolver to meet him.
Drop that gum" commanded Osterlon,
hut instead of doing so the robber aimed
IT at the head of the patrolman as II in
tending to fire.
Dropping caution to the winds the pa
trolman sprang at the burglar and Tor
several minutes the two men fought pack
and forth, each striving to gain mastery
At last the patrolman succeeded in over
towering his foe and locking his hand-
cuffs around his wrists.
with his prisoner Osterloh, who had in
the meantime been Joined by Bonner, left
the place.
The building in which the Fleming
jewelry store is located is but one story,
and Immediately adjoining it in the rear,
another one-story building is in course
of construction. A ladder had been left
by the workmen and the burglar climbed
! this ladder, easily reaching the roof OF
| the building. A skylight in the rear OF
the store is protected by a heavy wire
netting. This the burglar pried Off and
broke the glass of the skylight without
| difficulty.
The skylight is connected with an auto
matte burglar alarm and this was
| sounded in the A. D. T. office as soon as
| the skylight was touched.
| When taken to the police station the
prison was recognized as John Conroy,
man who was recently released from
the chain gang after serving term for
petty larceny.
According to the police Conroy en-
deavored to pass by the name of H. c.
Kelley after being taken to the station,
hut y,oooppizad hU OffiCprq who
present and then confessed to his right
name.
After being searched he was put in the
tanks and a charge of burglary was
placed against his name.
Conroy is said by the police to have
served one term of seven years on a
charge of manslaughter, in the prison
at San Quentin.
Saw Man Working
Watchman II. w. Bolton of the Mer-
chants Fire Dispatch noticed the in
truder in the Fleming store shortly be-
fore he was caught.
81 saw the man working near the safe"
said Bolton, watched him few min
utes, and as he seemed to be working
in the light l paid no further attention
to him for a few minutes.
'"Then l went back again fearing that
perhaps something was wrong and stood
at the front door where he could not
see me.
I'm little while the A. D. T. watch
man came rushing up and 1 knew at
once that burglar alarm had been auto
matically sounded.
81 then blew my police whistle fear
ing the fellow might get away through
the rear. AS 1 did so he made a rush
for the front door, but suddenly stopped
down to the floor, ,and for few minutes
we lost sight of him entirely. BY that
time we had the place surrounded and
men on the roof too.
1--WE tried to reach Mr.. Fleming, the
owner, but he is at some theater tonight
and we will get him later. He had just
moved his store from 81 Spring street
to Broadway.
THE burglar had opened some of the
show cases, but did not get away with
anything A deputy sheriff told me he
recognized the man as one who had just