New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-20
Two Men Enter Maiden Lane
Establishment in Broad Day.
light and One At.
taCkS Owner.
HITS HIM WITH HOSE
$40, 600 Worth of Diamonds
Scattered on Floor in Strug-
gle That Follows-Alarm
Brings Aid and Ar.
rest Is Made.

As daring an attempt at robbery rs
ever occurred in the downtown iowclrv
district was tried late yesterday after
noon by two men who entered the ieW-
ely Office Of George Coulton. in tho
Maiden Lane Building. No. 10 Broad.
way. and asked him 20 show them some
of his bost diamonds.
u vas Just before closing time when
tho two mon. fashionably attircd. cA-
tered the Offices and introduced thcm-
solves as coming from Chicago Tncy
told Mr. Coulton he had hccn recon-
mend"d to 1hcm 10y tho proprietor of a
Chicago hotel. They wanted 10 our.
chase q diamond for about 500
tnsuspcctinSly Mr.. Coulton tooK
from Tho large safe. just back Of where
ne stood. tin box containing abou.
$1,000 worth of diamonds. PiacinG
the box Oh tho loW counter Couiton
opened ii and displayed his sssortmen,
Of stones.
Was Taking Paper from Gems.
He was removing the paper from
some OF the larger gems when Suddenly
he WAS hit over the bead with an nm
pro,iscd Blackjack" II was piece
of garden hose. sixteen inches long and
filed with lead shot The ends Of the
hose were plugged with pieces Of wood
tackled securely 10 tho rubber.
Coulton staggered but was able to
turn and Press all electric push button
under the counter. which gave the
alarm IN the surcrintondent's Office on
the fourteenth floor and 10 the special
officer stationed in the main hall of the
building. The jewcler then grabbed
,.is assailan,. who vas making for tho
door leading TO the hallway. and a hard
struggle followed.
Calls for help brought out into the
hallway occupants Of ncighboring Of
fees. al Of whom are dealers IN
precious stones While the struggie
wss going Oh Within attempts by thos..
on the outside tc open tho door We're
made. but /; vas locked. one OF Tho
Two men had sprung the catch locA
uson entering.
John 1Iu,Dhy. the special Office sum-
moncI lV tie alarm, lost no time In
getting 10 ti4c office. He smashed the
glass panel and climbed through the
opening. Following him came Superin-
teudent Robert Rowley. armed with an
automatic revolver. Upon entering
the,. found the would-bo burglar ON the
f,or with Coulton's hands about his
throat The $1,000 worth Of jeNelry'
vas scattered about the floor
After being ta,:on 10 Police Head
Quarters H.. Detective Michael sum
,o.r- md Pa.ro.n.an Richard Daly. OF
the traffic SQUAD, the prisoner was rec
osniZeI hy Inspector Iaurot As Joan
Cahill. alias Thomas Kelly, alias Hid
Fool" ~ member OF the Gashouse
gang. !e gave his age as twenty -fouf
and sid ne lived 81 No. 323 Eas, :tth
street
records showed Ceh!il had been ar
re.tcG i'm 1907 for grand Larceny ana
in 1909 Tor leionious assault. lie es-
c,ped conviction on both charge. his
nirture Wa.s in the rogue gallery pre-
yious 70 the destruction ot that DiancH
of the bureau Of identification. Inc
nrisnl,er refused 10 reveal the name oi
HE COMPANION. who had made good his
esc,,,c betorc the alarm 0t CoultOn Was
answered.
Rcbbery Carefully Planned.
That The robbery was carefully
rIauned seems evident. 1T Is surprising,
bov.eyer. that the struggle in the room
nassed unnoticeG by the occupants oil
tbe civ Investment Building across
,he street. as well az those on ihe Top
Gnor of the Vessels Building.
The Maiden Lane Building. when Is
on the southwest corner ol MdIdeh
Lane and Broadway, il used tor the
most part by jewelry firms, some %
,bo most prominent fms in the TRACE
having Offices there.
All Ire offices were recent. equipped
with electric burglar alarm syS'ci''S'
An electric button is in the most a'ah-
al.,< ,,loco i'm the room. the pressing Oh
ubicb gives the alarm i'll the supc'lh-
,endent's office az well as TO the special
officer in the main hall of the building
1, is believed Cahilrs companion
n.seod Murphy. the special officer, on
,be stairway while Murphy was hurrE-
ing to the Coulton oiiice.
Mr. Coulton. except for PAM I'll
hr,,so on the left side Of his head was
tho worse for the encounter.
After appearing as the complainant
ana identifying CahiIl as his assailant
ho hurried TO his home, at WoodhaVen'
Long Island.
..ou Ynll KIDDO!"-90 DAYS