The Washington herald., 1907-08-31

Brooklyn, Aug. 30.-The story OF hold
up and attempted robbery foiled by a
pretty girl with hat pin was told in the
Manhattan Avenue Police Court, Brook
lyn, this morning by the heroine, while
the villains Of the piece scowled from
their places within the inclosure.
The heroine Of this thriller that really
happened" was Miss Kate Murphy. nine
teen years old, employed as a ticket seller
in the Brooklyn Rapid Trancit station at
the corner Of Myrtle and Knickerbocker
avenues. The part Of the villains was
taken by John Brennan and James
ByTnes, who live on High street, the for
mer being a clothing cutter. and the latter
a motorman.
According TO the story Miss Murphy
told Magistrate Manner this morning, the
two villains had been for some time
hanging about her headquarters In the
elevated station, evidently with their eyes
on the contents of the till. Last night
Miss Murphy went on duty at 10 O'Clock
finding something over $500 in money In
the cash box, besides nearly $500 worth
of tickets
Turns Suspects Away.
Along toward midnight the two men
strolled into the station, which is one
Of the highest in the borough, being more
than sixty feet above the street, and so
isolated that it would be easy for thieves
TO escape down the tracks before helm
could reach the platform from the street
below
Going to the ticket window. the man
announced that they We're inspectors for
the company and had come 10 make an
examination Of the register and turnstile
MISS Murphy didn't like their looks. and
told them so, assuring them further that
they would have 10 show credentials of
some Kind before she would allow them
10 go inside the inClosure. When they
SAID they didn't have their papers with
Ihein, she told them TO so and get them
ana they boarded a train bound for
Ridgewood.
Sends for Policeman.
The proceeding was so strange and un-
usual that the pretty young ticket selIer
was much alarmed Suspectlng thar sba
had not yet seen the last Of the pair. she
took the money and tickets and locked
them In the safe. A few miautes later
Miss Murphys young sister Margaret ar
rived with a midnight lunch, which they
usually eat together. after which Mar
garet returns home. The ticket seller
was so alarmed over her recent visitors
that she told her sister to board thn
next train and go TO a street corner
a few stations below, where she would
md a policeman stationed. She was n
tell him the story and, II possible bring
him back with her
While Margaret was gone the men re-
turned anu without making any pre-
tense OF showing credentials, said they
were going 10 examine the register. They
forced open the door 10 the little Office
and began making an examination oF ths
register.
Miss Murphy lodged and slammed the
door on them. AS its spring lock snan-
ped shut. she called repeatedly for helm
leaning far out over the railing. so tbaf
her voice would carry as FAR as possible
down the street.
Held at Bay by Hatpfns.
When the policeman. who CHANGED 10 be
Within hearing distance, arrived a few
minutes later. the two men had broken
out Of the ticket once. and were being
held prisoners in a corner Of the station
by Miss Murphy. who was armed with a /
pair Of strong, sharp hatpins. Just at
this juncture train rolled into the sta
ton, and Miss Margaret Murphy jumped
of, accompanied by another policeman.
Every one on the car followed close be-
hind him. and IN a moment the two "in-
spectors" were the center Of a threaten
ing demonstration.
The policemen finally got their prisoners
into patrol wagon and hustled them to
the nearest station. This morning both
were held under heavy bonds to await
the action Of the grand Jury.
Magistrate Manner finished his hearing
on the case this morning with a fiatter-
ing little speech to Miss Murphy. closing
thus:
Girls with spunk such as Miss Murphy
has shown are exactly what this town
stands most in need Of"