Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-30
COPS IN THRILLING HUNT
FOR THIEVES ON ROOFS

Continued from PAGE One
due to the suspicion of passer-by whose
identity Is unknown to the police. This
stranger, after midnight, saw three men
standing near fence alongside of William
Eagan's saloon, at IA North 18th street
which is southwest corner of Commerce
street One of the men apparently carried
a heavy bag or bundle concealed under
ralncoat
The passer.by telephoned to City Hall,
and, In turn, the 9th district police station,
at 18th and Winter streets, was notified
Lieutenant Van Horn set out immediately
with a detail of men. They found no ex-
ternal marks OF an attempt to. enter the
Eagan building, so came to the conclusion
that the men they sought were skylight
thieves, By means of fire escape, the
police gained the roof, but discovered no
traces Of any person having preceded them.
They we're about to abandon their search,
when they found an open trapdoor In an
adjoining roof This discovery caused them
to redouble their vigilance and examina-
tion of other roofs revealed seven or eight
other skylight covers pried on.
FIREMEN IN CHASE.
Lieutenant Van Horn telephoned for rein.
forcements and more policemen, as well as
fremen from the engine house at 10th and
Commerce streets, ran to the scene. II was
dangerous work in the darkness, the police
rearing tnat llBnI WOuiu uetIdS thSh
presence TO the men, who might be armed
and in hiding behind chimneys or other pro.
lection. They worked for more than an
hour without reward, until one of the blue.
coats started man who had been crouch
ing on the roof of building on Juniper
street.
Bullets whizzed through the darkness
and a perllous chase began. The uneven
roof levels made the pursuit doubly
ha zardous. and Lieutenant Van Horn was
about to call his men off when Policeman
Clark and a fireman caught a fresh glimpse
OF the retreating man. Clark fired twice at
the fugitive figure, but without halting MS
flight.
Frutless search continued another hour
until Clark, passing over the roof of the
Globe Theatre, felt wet splash on his
hand 1t was blood and had dropped from
a skylight above the bluecoats hand. Fol-
lowing the red trail, Clark finally came
upon a young man lying exhausted on the
roof of the building. Blood was dripping
from a bullet wound in his left hand. Clark
took his prisoner to the station house,
where the captive said he was Morris
Drumm. "a years old, 324 Main street, AL
toona, Pa, 4.
been bandaged, charge OF attempted
burglary being lodged against him. He re-
fused to give any information OF his COM
panions.
HUNT OTHER SUSPECTS
The hunt for the two other suspects was
continued until daylight without result,
,ther than the recovery of the burglars
ools. which were found on a fire escape
near the Eagan Building. These consisted
If three new type forged sectional steel
immies,, flashlights, rope. soap, a dozen
smaller jimmies, steel braces, tin boxes
altogether. the police say, sufficient to have
opened any safe, once entrance to a build
ng were effected.
Detective headquarters was notified OF
he capture and Drumm's antecedents are
,eing looked up.
Some of the places broken open through
he roofs are the Dalsimer clothing house.
he Boston shoe store and Allnger's pool
,arlor.
Drumm was committed to prison without
ail by Magistrate Tracy. pending fur
her hearing on June 10. He professed
at his arrest, declaring he
vas a Panama hat salesman and had taken,
efuge in the alley in fear of being held
p His presence on the roof where he was
rrested he did not explain He says he
vas never in the city before. but Sergeant
)'Neill at the hearing recognized him as
aving been arrested on similar charge
wo years ago.
Drumm wore steel mocha glove over
is left hand when captured, Its mate |
'as found in the alley near the fence be- |
ind Eagan's saloon. DR.. j. C. McCon-
{ the Jefferson Hospital found no hole In |
he glove and the police think Drumm |
rev 1t over his hand after he was shot |
, prevent bloody finger marks betraying |
i'm as he CROPPED his way over the roofs.
During their three-hour roof climb the
olice made use of scaling ladder bor-
owed from the firemen