The Washington herald., 1914-08-17
fights BURGLAR,
DARING BULLETS
Charles L. Hill Routs Thief,
Who Wounds Himself
In Struggle.
WIFE WATCHES In FEAR
RObber Escapes After Fierce Battle
with Husband, Who Braves Pistol
Shots to Defend Home.

Every hospital In the District and in
several large cities is being searched
for a burglar who wounded himself with
his revolver In a fierce battle with
Charles L. Hill. a former newspaper re-
porter. In the latter's apartment in the
Loretto. in Eleventh street near N.
A score OF detectives and policemen
reached the scene Saturday morning a
few minptes after the burglar IImped
| away, but have not been able to pick
up the trail
Wife Looks on in Horror.
Mr.. Hill. who is employed now in a
local music shop. is still receiving con-
gratulations from neighbors for his
scratch, although the burglar shot point
blank at him several times. while Mrs
Hill. his wife, stood in the same room
transfiXed with horror. believing her
husband had been killed.
The intruder had an accomplice, who
escaped over the roofs of the dwellings
as the battle inside progressed The po-
lice are confident both men were pro-
fessionals
About 2 O'Clock Mrs. Hill was awak-
ened by a noise In their apartment, on
the second floor, and saw a man stand
ing in the front room, next to their bed
room.
Charlie, there stands a man in the
front room" she whispered. arousing
her husband.
The burglar ran back through the bed
room toward the fire escape at the rear.
As he passed the bed Mr.. Hill. althougA
unarmed, pounced upon him, bearing him
to the floor. The two fought into the
next room back. the burglar reaching for
his revolver. which was in his hip pocket,
and Mr.. Hill trying to circumvent him.
Fires at HIIPs Head.
Finally. getting out the weapon, the bur-
glar fred AT Mr.. Hills head. The pow
der burned the latter's cheek, but the
bullet went into the wall He fired again
while Mr.. Hill was bearing with all his
strength upon the pistol hand. This bull
let is unaccounted for. but II Is believed
the burglar carried It out in his leg or
foot. Mr.. Hill then threw the desperate
and they rolled over and over in a life
and death struggle Eventually the bur-
glar freed himself and stepped out on
the fire escape
Don't you dare follow me-" he. hissed
as he descended the fire escape emptying
his revolver. At the foot OF the fire
escape the thief ran through an areaway
dividing the main building from the an
mex. at 1918 Eleventh street, where the
battle took place, and crossed Eleventh
street He disappeared in a narrow
alley. Several neighbors saw him limp
ing.
There was a head at almost every win
dow in the nelghborhood when the shoot
ing ended. Somebody living In the Lo-
retta telephoned TO the Second precinct
and a patrol filed with reserves hurried
TO the place. The police hunted around
there for hours
Jewels in Apartment.
Men and women heard the vile oaths
of the burglar between the pistol shots
and watched him as he literally blazed
his way down the FIRE escape.
To get in he cut his way through a
screen in a rear window. The apart
ment was dark except in the bath
room where a dim light had been left
burning. Diamonds worth several
thousand dollars were kept in the an
mex by one tenant. and these are be-
lieved to have lured the burglars. II
so. they got into the wrong apart
ment.
Mr.. Hill said last night the man he
encountered was masked over the eyes
and that he wore a Panama hat and a
dark suit. He was sure the man was
white. He was about feet 10 inches in
height and weighed about l6O pounds.
Mr.. Hill is short, and weighs 40 Mrs
Hill has not yet recovered from the shock