New-York tribune., 1907-09-01
JkILLS BOLD BURGLAR.
FAMILY SAVED By BABY.
Intruder Trsce T'arned on Gas an
Flat to Hid an Robbery.

Little Charles. jr-. the Of Charles VerraI
who is employed at the Metropolitan Museum Of
Art was petted and humored even beyond the
ordinary by his parents yesterday. for his faint
cry in the dimly lighted chamber in the fifth
story fat At No. ID East SD street yes
terday morning probably saved his life and
that of his father his mother and his four
vear-old brother Thomas It also Indirectly led
20 the taking Of 2 life. which both the police
and Magistrate Corrigan- in the Harlem court.
held to be justifable homicide for the man
who net his death from three bullets fired from
q revolver in the hands of Mr.. Verran did not
allow such thing as the taking Of life himself
10 stand in the way Of the accomplishment of
his purpose.
This purpose was IS the police figure 81 out,
he robbery Of the fat in which the Verralls
live In doing away with him under such cir
cumstances the police think Verrall put very
bsd nan out Of business, though last night no.
body hid been found who could identify the
body Of the victim Of VerralPs well placed
shots. The persistence and determination which
he exhibited in returning TO the fiat after he
had once been frightened away stamped him as
q criminal Of such nerve and daring that the
police and all the neighborhood are wondering
why he should have selected such 4 humble
hone as that Of the Verralrs to loot
II was shortly after O'Clock yesterday morn
ing when Mrs. verrall. who sleeping with
the baby in the second of six rooms Of the fat
from the front, was awakened by the restless
ness Of little Charles Beyond the open door in
the front room were sleeping Mr Verrau and
his son Thomas. Mrs. Verran went quietly TO
the kitchen to heat some milk for the baby. on
her return TO the chamber she thought she
snnelled gas and. thinking that she might have
forgotten 10 turn of the gascock in the range,
she went back. and was rrvstified to find two Of
them turned on full.
About an hour later she awoke suddenly and
tuned TO see II the baby had disturbed her. and
again detected an almost overpowering odor Of
gas in the room. Recalling her discovery of
The two gascocks turned on full she staggered
out 70 the kitchen. and soon found five, instead
Of two from which were pouring forth & stream
Of gas which vould have meant quick asphyxia-
ton Of the whole family # the windows had not
heen open Not daring TO light match, Mrs.
verran felt her wev 70 the range and there
turned Of the TWO gas jets which had been
turned On before. as also another suspended
from the centre Of the kitchen ceiling. Then
she gTope6 her way into The dining room and
found Two more gas Jets pouring out deadly
fumes In terror she rushed into the front room
and told her husband Of her discovery.
Nj verraL. now fully awake, Immediately de-
cided that the 5ers could not have been turned
truder who either had designs on the lives OF his
family or wanted TO get away with what valu-
ables he could find. Taking his revolver. he led
his wife and TWO sons across the hall. and
aroused the family Of Thomas Kiernan hack
man The two men were talking over the rat
1er when Mrs. verraII whose nerves had been
sharpened by her experience. heard noise Il
made by some walking about in her rooms.
At her discovery the Kiernans and their seven
seen-yeaT-od daughter Jennie and Mr.. Verrall
SAT nsht ana listened. and in a moment heard
the SOUND which had previously attracted Mrs.
FerraEs attention The two men then rushed
70 the rear Of the hall Herman had armed him
self with 2 shovel and stood at the head Of the
stairway and Ferran began cautious inspec-
ton Of his fat. starting at the kitchen.
Eerran had his revolver ready 10 use in case
n need AS he entered the kitchen he was GER
tain he saw a figure moving tc get out Of his
way and heard the sound Of footsteps retreating
toward the front Of the fat. He followed eau
tiously through the rooms. which are strung out
in railroad" fashion. Not until he reached the
front room did he catch sight of man who
boldly threw Up the window. ieaped out On the
Intel and without q moments hesitation took
his life in his hands by leaping over an open
space five stories above the ground 10 the Intel
of the window Of the front room OF the Herman
hat- Dashing through the window. which was
Cpen- the intruder rushed through the apartment
fn which the women and children were cuddled
together IN fright. and made for the kitchen in
Kiernan's fat He was just starting 10 escape
through the window Of that room to the fire es-
cape outside when Verrall. who had rushed out
Of his owr fat. got his first good chance at the
flying figure and fred his revolver. He fired
four times in rapid succession one of the shots
hit the in the arm and another in the
chest and the third tore into the abdomen kill
ing him instantly. The fourth went wild
The whole house, which has two fats TO each
ot its five floors. was in an uproar Patrick
Kiernen. brother Of Mrs. verrall, but no reia-
ton Of Thomas Herman, rushed out for a po-
licenan- When Patrolman Shea, Of the East
18th street station, got to the top floor he sent
Dr. carscaden said the must have died
instantly.
The dead man was slightly bald and about
thi-tv-fve years old He was Of slender build
and had gray eyes and small sandy mus
tache- Five Of the upper and two of the lower
teeth were missing HIS black clothing was Of
fair quality. There were no papers or anything
else on the body that would give clew as to
who he In his pockets were six keys. q
cigar. e knife, two rings. e nickel watch a worn-
ans open faced watch and 81 cents IN change.
Coroner Dooley had the body removed to the
police station and verrall was placed under ar
rest Later, in the Harlem court. when VerrsIl
told the story. Magistrate Corr1gan said he
would discharge him. believing that man had
entire right 70 defend himself and his fam
ily. verau said he would be in town II wanted
for coroners inquest