The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-06-19
DARING THIEVES
RAhSACE HOMES

Residents OF the Locust avenue dis
trict were aroused last night by
fusillade OF shots fred at three dar-
ing burglars engaged in series OF
robberies which ended at the home OF
Fire Chief o. j. Watkins. where John
MichalsSi, aged 45, OF Grant Town.
was captured by Fire Chief Watkins
and Albert Seaman. night police chief.
Chief Watkins arm was seriously in
jured in struggle with the burglar.
o. J. Watkins, us Locust avenue;
articles stolen include one manicure
set, one clothes brush. six pair OF silk
socks. two pair OF pants, gold mounted
fountain pen. one white serge dress.
T. ]. Kerns. Short avenue; buckets
and other articles stolen from back
porch
William Crowl. Tenth street; at
tempt made to enter home through
rear window.
Edward Maxwell. III Locust ave
nue.: attempt made TO enter house
through side window.
The entire first floor OF the Watkins
home was ransacked. All the articles
stolen were recovered. part OF them
in the shrubbery about the house and
part in Michalski's pockets.
Michalski carried a black felt
switch" hat in his pocket and wore
a straw hat OF the anama style. Wrap
ned in the switch" hat in Michalsk's s
pocket was found a pair OF strong
pliers used for opening doors and win
dows, a half dozen cartridges for
80 caliber revolver and an electric
fash light.
Mrs. aWtkins was awakened by un.
usual movement in her home about :
o'clock last night She hurried across
the hall and tapped lightly at the door
OF the bed room occupied by c.. E.
Henna and c. L. Hawkins. two dodgers.
and whispered that burglars were in
the house. Henna and Hawkins arm
ed themselves with revolver and rife
and slipped carefully down the dark
stairway. Just as they reached the
first aoor they heard door fly shut
and the sound OF man running from
the porch OF the house.
Lea2ing to the front door they fred
several times at a man running down
the street, the bullets from their guns
tearing up the dirt aolng the sidewalk.
This man, however. escaped unlnJur.
ed. Darling around the house, they
came upon a second man, who later
turned out to be Michalski, who tehy
drove into a corner and prevented
from escaping until the arrival OF
Chief Watkins and Policeman Sea
man, who had been summoned by tel
ephone by Mrs. Watkins.
Mr.. Watkins and Mr.. Seaman, who
arrived quickly in the city automobile,
ran around the Watkins home in op.
oosite directions, Mr. Watkins coming
ppon Nfichalski suddenly as he turned
the corner. Michalski advanced as II
10 attack. and Mr.. Watkins. being un-
armed. struck with his right fist and
GRABBED his assailaut with his left hand.
Chief Watkins injured his hand Sc
verely by the blow. bursting the
knuckles and straining the ligaments
Of his arm and wrist.
A search OF the yard about the Wat
kins home and the pockets Of the pris-
oner resulted in the recovery OF the
articles. Michalski was placed in the
county iail Michalski denied that he
had been inside the Watkins home
simsels. but declared that one OF two
other men with him might have been
In the house. According to the story
pieced together by the county officers
and the police. one OF the three bur:
glars stood guard at the front door OF
the Watkins home and the second
watched the rear and examined a
smoke house in the back yard while
the third man ransacked the house.
]. NJ. Watkins, aged so years, the faith
er OF Fire Chief Watkins, woh Is very
near death. was not awakened by the
burglars. who ransacked his bed room
nor by the shooting which followed.