The Detroit times., 1917-01-19
BURGLAR
WORS TED
BY BUTLER
Alex. WrOnke Saves
Jewels Valued At
Nearly $4,000
GRAPPLES WITH
THIEF; STABBED
Palatial Home of Wes-
son Seyburn Scene
of Encounter

Tho stabbed in tho chest and fore.
head during nghi with a burglar
who had entered the home OF Yves.
son seyburn. No. 1851 Jefferson-
ave.. early Friday morning, Alexan.
der wronke, a butler, pluckily con
tinued the unequal battle and pre-
vented the theft OF jewel case with
contents valued ar close TO $4,000
The thief escaped however. with
diamond-stndded card and vanity
cases worth s200 Wrunke, who
was also badly bruised was treated
by Dr Frederick G Kidner, ~ No
701 Jenerson-ave
Wronke says the intruder was a
very large man. and that no was
leaving the house no carried under
his arm the startling silver Jewel
casket. morcihan foot long When
intercepted By the daring butler h.
was nearing tn rear door. which
he bad entered after having Dor q
a hole thru the frame so that d.
could force back ,ho bolt
In the room where the hattie
started there was no light and
wronke only knew that ho wa-
wounded when he felt Tho hot blood
ON HIS chest
Mr. Scyburn Is out of tho city on
business trip
Mrs Scvhuru avs out ~ a
social function and Wronke had
retired Heariur noise in room
next 20 his on The second floor. be-
asked who WAS there and receis-
ing no reply atarted 20 investigate
The burglar ran down the front
stairs IT Wronke's appearance and
tho latter ran down The back 'airs
To intercept him
Curular Shows Fight
Coming upon the burglar in a
room on The first noor Wronke ln-
medatcly grapplod with him and
was knocked up against thc wall
Ilo again grappled with the burglar
and succeeded IA wrestling he jewel
case from him The burglar then
threatened 20 shoot and both men
rolled 10 the floor. lighting fierceiy
The burglar finally broke away
and started FOR a window followed
by Wronkc. The butler picked ur
"A chair and struck the intruder with
II just as he disappeared
Mrs Scyburn arrived home sooD
after. and Detectives Grove and
school responded 20 a call for thc
police flyer Wronke pIuckily re-
fused 20 20 20 a hospital and in
sisted on helping in The inyestiAa
ton 10 determine what had been
stolen.
Wrouko was able 20 give a good
description OF The burglar, who r.
thought TO be n professional.
wronke, tho but youth. Is
piucky. lie has been In America
only seven years, coming here from
France. lie was a servant I'm sew.
erai ar'stocratic homes in and
around New York before coming 10
Detroit. lie was mp and attending
20 his duties Friday morning as
usual altho he had a deep knife
wound over tho right temple and
another In the chest, just above the
heart.
Thief Giant.
wronke SAYS that when he heard
the burglar and met him In the
kitchen with tho jewel case he was
frightened. but realizing tho value
az tho box the intruder carried he
gave battle. The thief was fully six
feet tall. according TO wronke, who
IS small OF stature.
The rear part OF the Seyburn
home bears evidence that \ despcr
ate battle was waged Tho chairs
tables. lights and window pancs
were smashed. Wronke. blinded by
the blood that flowed from the
wound In HIS head. fought desper
ately and finally found himeclf on
top OF tho burglar. who was begging
for mercy.
Mrs Seyburn regards her butler
as hero To reporter for The
Times Friday morning she said she
had seldom met a man SO brave. II
was due 10 Wronkc's hght that bcr
Jewels were saved Only a few
small articles are missing The ar.
'icles saved included amons othor
handsome pieces of Nicwclry. din.
mond sunburst and sipmachcr.