New-York tribune., 1909-06-11
WOMEN FIGHT BURGLAR
Thief Yields Knife litter Breaking
Into Nrs. To7cnsend's Home.

Mineola Long Island June 10 (Specian--Awak-
ened in the dead Of night 10 fEd a burglar in her
room Miss Katharine Hersey guest at the sum
mer home Of Mrs. Beekman Townsend at Oyster
Bay. slipped from her bed and engaged I'm a des-
perate hand to hand battle with the man. She was
so severely injured hy knife I'm the hands OF the
surprised burglar that she taken to the
Nassau County Hospital here. Besides Miss Her
sey. her two cousins. the Misses Ada and Bessie
Townsend were painfully wounded by the would
be thief
The Tovnsesd family. consisting OF the mother
and her two daughters. have been spending tho
early summer at the large house the Min HIN
road. and Miss Hcrsey, niece of Mrs Townsend 3,
has been staying with them for the last few days
Miss H"rsey slept in room on the second floor
with Mrs. Townsend. while the Misses Ada and
BESSIE Townsend slept in room across the hall
on tho top floor two female servants. There
was 10 man in the house.
II WAS shortly before ! O'Clock in the morning
that tho burglar made his entrance by rear win
dow. He had evidently kept watch on the Town
send home for several days and knew that only
women were in the house As he moved along the
darkencd hallway. he tripTed over the end Of the
carpet TIL, noise attracted the attention Of Miss
Hersoy While she lay waiting for repetition of
the sound she made out the form OF the burglar.
who had entered the room and standing by the
bureau. The young woman did not hesitate
moment. She rushed at the man. a. the same time
crying for help. The fellow was taken completely
h vsurprise nj the suddenness OF the attack and
instantly a desperate scufre ensued The noise Of
''A''''a'>'
the battle In the dark aroused the Misses Town
send. and they ran from their room just in time
to Miss Herscy drop to the floor from a blow
inflicted with steel Jimmy by the burglar. The
Townsend girls closed in on the and managed
to trip HIM and he lay the floor both
jumped him and Kicked him. BY this time Miss
Hersey had recovered from the blow on the head.
and. although stH weak. she Srasped the mans
hand in which was a long knife. and succeeded
in wrestling the weapon from him. Then she
grabbed the PROSTATE man by the throat He
shook Off her grip and reganed possession OF the
knife with which he lunged at the Townsend girls
Miss Hersey made a grab for tho weapon, but only
succeeded in getting hold Of the blade. In his
efforts TO retain the knife the burglar back
with an his strength. and nearly severed Miss Her
sey's fingers.
Mrs Beekman Townsend. although an invalid
and seventy-hye years Of age went to the assist
ance OF the young this stage OF the bat
tie. She had a revolver. but. knowing how 10
discharge it, she used II a club and repeatedly
struck the burglar the head The had
managed to get as far the hallway by this time
evidently intent gaining the head OF the stairs
Miss Hersey lying unconscious across the door
way while the three other women kept up their
fight. There large lamp at the head the
stairs and. fearing that the women might his
face by its light. the burglar kicked it This
left the house in total darkness. and the man took
advantage OF the gloom and rushed down the stairs
and out OF the house
While the stn calling for help
Charles Malone. who was passing, entered through
the window and made search of the premises
No trace the burglar could be found and he then
went for Dr. Irving f. Barnes, a neighbor who
hurried Miss Hersey to the Nassau County Hospital
in automobile after hastily dressing her wounds
There it found necessary take stitches in her
scalp. The two Townsend girls and Mrs Townsend
treated at home The latter is said to be in a
serious condition owing to her advanced age.
The burglar left nothing behind by which he could
be identified except rough mask Of black linen.
The young women described him as OF medium
height. slender and of dark complexion
Under Sheriff I{uIse worked all day on the case
without result The whole countryside is being
searched by the Sheriff and his 1t is certain
that the bears many scratches on his face as
result Of the fight.