The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-04
'DAPPER THIEF USES
GUN TO FELL WOMAN
Stranger Suddenly Demands
Money While Inspecting
Vacant Flat.
STRIKES, THEN FLEES
Victims Screams Spur Pur.
suit to Capture-Prisoner
Weeps in Cell.

young man who tipped cane ns ne
walked. who was well enough clothed to
avoid the reproach of .habbiness, who
flashed diamond ring on the third fin-
ger OF his left hand and who suggested
desperate In no particular whatever.
rang the bell at 116 Central Park South
just before noon yesterday and told Mrs.
Lillian Mason that he had called to in
quire about an apartment she had adver-
tised for rent
Mrs. Mason, the wife of a teacher In
the Dewitt Clinton High School. In
formed the jaunty caller that the apart
ment had been taken, but that she had
other apartments available at 3S West
Flfty-seventh street and would be glad
to show them TO him. They walked to-
gether to the Fifty-seventh street house.
where Mrs. Mason subjects small apart
ments and furnished rooms. The young
man apparently was impressed with
third floor apartment and began 10 dis
cuss the terms of lease. Mrs. Mason sat
down and answered his questions.
Visitor Turns Burglar.
Presently he walked toward her, say
ing, You look as IL you might have a
lot OF money. How about 1T" The ex-
traordinary DEPRESSION from their COM
monplace talk startled Mrs. Mason, who
sprang from her chair and made for the
door. Before she had taken three steps
the young man struck her down by q
blow delivered with the butt OF an auto
matio pistol. She lay for few moments
screaming and with the blood streaming
from a cash over her left temple. Upon
the stairway the thump of swiftly NOV
Ing feet was heard and voices called out
from the Railways The young man hes
itated no longer. running into the hall
way and making his way down two
nights OF stairs past tenants too startled
to stop him.
Several were after him. however. be-
fore he had sprinted a dozen yards from
the house and their cries Of stop thief"
and Get that man ~ caught the ear of
Traffic Policeman Patrick Neary, who
was on station at Fifth avenue and
Fifty-seventh street. The efficient Pat
rick spread his arms and Melted the fugi-
tive. taking him promptly to the Fast
F1fty-frst street police station. There
the young man said that his name was
Charles W. Smith. that he was a long
shoreman. and that he lived at 35s West
Fffty~third street. He denied that he
had attacked Mrs. Mason.
Prisoner Changes Story.
A little later in the West Tifty-seventh
street court. where he was held in ball
OF $4,000 on the recommendation Of the
District Attorneys office for further ex-
animation tomorrow morning. he
changed his story materially. He stated
that Smith was his correct name. that
he lived with a married sister and that
he was 80 years of age. He insisted
that he was longshorcman and that he
was out OF work. An impulse came to
him. he said, to take a chance" He
said he had purchased the automatic pis-
tol last week As they locked him up
on charge OF felontr US assault and at
tempted robbery he wept.
Mrs. Mason identified Smith as the
man who had felled her. She made the
Identification after DR.. ]. Davis OF Belle
vue Hospital had taken Ave stitches in
her scalp. The police said that the pis-
tot was fully loaded.