The evening world., 1908-12-29
ROASTING Of HIS
RICHES MAY COST
OLD MAN HIS LIFE
Thief Hears Herman Fenger's
Tale of Hidden Gold and
Plans Robbery.
ATTACKS HIM IN ROOM.
Gets Only 81, Which Is All the
Cash the Aged Man
Really Had.
ATTACKS HIM IN ROOM.

Herman FerEer, a well-known old
character along Eighth avenue, will
probably pay the penn ~ Of death be-
cause he hragsed about an imaginary
heard of gold which he kept in his
sCualid room.
FcnEer was cropping his way into the
room in the rear Of No. 526 Eighth ave
nue. before daylight to-day when a rob-
Der struck him over the head with
piece of lead pipe.
He fell to the floor unconscious, but
the robber hit him many times lie was
thrown under the bed, while the thief
ransacked the room, All the thief got
was 81. which was in the old mans
pockets. After he had torn up a carpet,
partly demolished the furniture and
even rummaged through stove in
search of the expected hoard, the rob-
her departed.
Peter Teso, who owns a music store
at No. SIG and lives with his family in a
room adjoining Fenger's, heard what he
thought was the moaning of dog at 3
o'clock He remarked that he wished
people wouldn't keep dogs in a big city,
turned over and went to sleep.
Finds the Wounded Man.
Five hours later Tesio arose to open
his store. Again he heard the means
and this time he was sure they came
from Fengers room. He went into the
place and found the old man. Police
man John Stanley, OF the West Thirty
seventh street station. was called. sent
In for hula nd
DR.. Ward responded from Roosevelt
Hospital. The physician found that
Fenger's skull was fractured, while his
body was covered with bruises. He
sent him to Bellevue Hospital and the
doctors there said this afternoon that
he could not recover.
The attack caused great excitement IN
me neighborhood Of Fenger's home. and
Q delegation called at the West Thirty
seventh street station and insisted that
q rigid investigation be conducted. A
member of the "anger-print' squad was
sent to the place, and he found red
hnger-prints on the walls Of the hallway
leading from the room. These. 1t is ex-
pscted. will furnish clew to the robber
F'enger. who Is sixty-eght years of
age, IL distinguished looking man,
with gray hair and mustache. He
earned a living by distributing cards
advertising patent medicines which. he
said, would cure any I'LL in the world.
Dragged of His Wealth.
Once IN a while he would stray over
as far as Broadway and try to find
customers there. And then. once In a
very great while. he would forget all
about the patent medicines and the
doctors and visit various men wearing
white aprons and partake of certain
liquids which would loosen his tongue.
1t was at these times that he would
boast OF his hoard" He tottered up
and down Eighth avenue last evening
and whenever he paused in saloon he
would elaborate upon his imaginary
piles of gold.
And the best part Of it u.s." he said
IN one place, lis the fact that | never
keep my door locked l don't have to.
People know me TOO well. No one
would hurt old Herman Tenger."
The police believe that someone who
overheard his Boosting crept into his
room and there waited for him with a
piece of lead pipe. The robber did not
deign to take an old silver watch that
Fenger carried.