The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
YOUNG BURGLARS CAUGHT
FAD LOWERED A ROPE THROUGH
r. A. COLBY'S SKYLIGHT.

Efr. Colby. Awakened, Fires His Revolver
and q Special Patrclmsn Nabs the Men
as They Descend From Roof -EVtd ence
That They Planned Other Robberies.
Two young burglars we're captured by a
special policeman at Hancock street and
Tompkins avenue. Brooklyn. early yester-
day morning. Since Albert c.. Latirner was
killed in a mysterious name in his home
on Hancock street near Tompkins venue
several years ago the residents have not
put much reliance on the police. but many
Of them have hired special patrolmen to
guard their homes at night. 1t was one Of
these specials, Henry o'Connell. who capt
ured the burglars yesterday.
Thomas A. Colby. a manufacturer, who
lives at 2s3 Hancock street. retired early on
Friday night. His family are in the country
and he was alone in the house. Early in the
morning he heard a crash in the upper part
ofthe house. Jumping from bed, he grabbed
a revolver and turned on the electric light.
Then he heard scampering over the roof.
Opening the window, Mr.. Colby fred one
shot in the air.
Special Patrolman 0'Connell. who was in
the vicinity. heard the shot and ran to the
Colby house. Mr.. Colby explained. 0'Con-
nell fastened 70 Hancock street and Tomp-
kins avenue and a few seconds later two
suspicious looking men left the apartment
house at that point. He covered them
with his revolver and raped for assistance.
After a time Policeman Kelly Of the Gates
ven station arrived n took charge OF
q Of the men.
Al the station house the prisoners said
they we're Frank Setback. 10 years old, of
1872 Avenue A, Manhattan, and George
Rainer. 20 years old, Of Montreal. From
papers in their possession 1t was shown
that they intended to rob not My Mr..
doors above. They had broken the glass
in the skylights in both houses. II was
after they had broken the glass and had
lowered a knotted rope that they had acci-
dentally knocked down some Of the plaster
and thereby awakened Mr.. Colby.
Mr.. Colby said subsequently that he was
lorry that he had turned on the electric
light and frightened the men away. He
said he was in a mood TO have shot both
Tnen n was sorry that he did not lave an
opportunity.
The two men had reached the roof by
forcing an entrance into the apartment
house on the corner. Then going 70 the
roof, it was easy to walk along until they
came TO the Colby. house. Yesterday morn
ing when the roofs we're searched a jimmy
and several candles we're found near the
skylight on Mr.. Colby's house. The knotted
rope also had been left dangling through
the skylight.
In the Gates avenue police court yester-
day both men denied that they had been
on the roof Of Mr.. Colby's house. They said
they were in the vicinity expecting to meet
some person, but they were unable to tell
who they had expected to meet.
While In court a boy tried TO hand a letter
TO Setback. 1t was taken by one OF the court
attendants. The letter said hat the writer
would get a lawyer for Setback and for him
not 70 worry. and that ne would go 70
II % that he could pay the lawyer. The
boy said he was Martin Hutchinson. He
was held for examination.
The two young burglars we're committed
20 Jail, after which they were taken TO the
State street headquarters, where their pic
lures were taken FOR the rogues' gallery.