The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-05-09
SIGHT OF DRAWN
PISTOL STARTS
WILD WEST TALE
No Robbery; Just a Little
Excitement at the San
ford Building
Sheriff Schultz Pulls Gun on
Young Man He Feared
Was About to Elude Him.

When City Sheriff Joseph Schultz,
walking towards his office in the San
ford building, took alarm that his
charge, Patrick Conlon was about to
make a. break from his custody, and
pulled a pistol upon young Conlon, he
didn't realize that his rather specta-
cular act was going to give birth to a
tale of a genuine midwest hold up
in the heart OF the business section.
1t was an incident lasting but a
few seconds, but the story that grew
ont of it spread like wildfire through
out the business district and as it
passed from mouth to mouth and be-
came appropriately elaborated it be-
came a most weird and spectacular
tale.
When the Farmer reporters got hold
of the story, it was something like
this
a highwayman had walked into a
lawyers office in the Sanford build
ing, and with drawn pistol chad held
up the lawyer, relieved him of $4,000
in money, a watch and other valu-
ables The lawyer was % stupefled
with fear that he sank into his chair
and allowed the highwayman to get
a. good start before he spread the
alarm. Nevertheless, the culprit had
been overtaken, and he was supposed
to be in custody.
At police headquarters nothing was
known of the crime.
The reporters hurried to the Sanford
building.
There were about so congregated
about the Cannon street side, where
the elevator and stairway lead up in
to the office suites. ALI We're specu-
lating as to just what had happened.
The reporters broke through the
crowd boarded the elevator and
alighted at the third floor, where a
half a dozen tenants had congregated
in the hall to chuckle over the Incl
dent
In a corner, discussing the situation
earnestly. were Sheriff Schultz and
Conlfrl Young Conlin appeared per-
fectly submissive, nothing like the
bold bad man the reports had pictur-
ed HIM The real story goes like this:
Sheriff Schultz was given papers
this morning in a civil action against
Conlin. He learned young Conlin
worked for his brother, Alderman
James J. Conlin, whose paint store is
at e2 Elm street. He went to Conlin's
Office. discussed the case in a friendly
way with the alderman, and then
walked in to serve papers. He pick
ed out the wrong clerk! Young Conlin
took alarm, and fpolishly fled through
a rear door. Sheriff Schultz was some
what put out at this turn Of events.
In a few moments the phone rang and
Young Conlin told his brother all
about his plans to flee.
The painter whose better judgment
prevailed, counselled the young man
to come back and settle the case in
the regular way, by accepting service
of the papers. When he returned,
Sheriff Schultz took him into custody,
on a body writ and the pair walked
from Conlin's establishment towards
Schultz's office.
Sheriff Schultz took alarm as they
neared the Sanford building. He
thought from young Conlin's actions
that he was about to flee SO he pull
ed a pistol.
1t didn't make a very marked i'm
preston upon young Conlin.
Don't be so careless with that gun.
You'll drop it if you're not careful, -
he said in the most matter of. fact
tone imaginable.
Many passersby saw the near gun
play and watched the pair disappear
into the elevator entrance of the San
ford building. Then the big stories
began to circulate.
Alderman Conlin came down to
Schultz's office a little later arranged
the matter of bonds in the suit, and
the Young man was released