Year: 1869

Their Operations In tho Fifteenth Ward-


What They Did and What They Threatened


10 Do-A Courageous Girl.


IL woua ne difficult, amid the many incidents
connected with the late epidemic OF crime that
swept over this CITY, startling its lawabiding
munty into the belief that the bold villains OF GER
tain organized murderous gangs would eventually
hold the reins OF government and run 1t to to sub
serve their own interests to note more desperate
piece OF work than that which occurred yesterday
morning in the Fifteenth ward. 1t was the perpetra-
tion OF two desperate burgaries by brace Of black
rascals, the stealing OF all they could lay their
hands on, during which they entered the room Of
female, and when discovered by her threatened to
choke her TO DEATH But they have come to grief,
and the story Of their discovery, the girls courage
and their fortunate arrest was told at the Jefferson
Market Police Court later in the day before Justice
Dodge.


Ellen Finn, pleasing healthy looking Irish girl
Of some twenty-three years, acting as servant in
the family residing at No. 10 East Fourth street. was
the complainant IN the case, and her st0ry-given In
the simplest manner p0ssiblet0ld the nature Of the
possesses much OF true courage She stated that
she occupies the back room on the basement oor as
q sleeping apartment, and that she retired about
half-past nine O'Clock on Saturday night, sleeping
soundly until about three O'Clock yesterday morn
ing. Partially awakening at that hour, she turned
over ri It's side, when it struck something cold and
clammy that clntched 1t tightly. Instantly she was
wide awake and suddenly peered toward the object
veins. Aided by the gas. which had been
feeby burning all night, she discovered. cooly
y'ns on a, on lounge within With two f1o feet a q
over In the corner OF the room companion Of like
revolving aspect Fancy the situation. Three O'Clock
IN the morning, the house as still as death and a
female IN the hands OF two murderous looking men.
1t was enough 70 give most men the nightmare,
avoiding any reference as to how Il would affect
and colared the first rascal with vice-like grip,
ana began to shake him soundly, wnen hts brother
hands upon her, and holding he. with all the
strength they possessed the backer OF the black %
ing from his pocket handkerchief, in
tending 10 carry ms threat into execution But
after q sharp struggle she broke away from them,
and, sending another scream ringing through the
house. the inmates began rushing down stairs, when
one OF the rascals rushed up to her and struck her
terrible blow OH the nose. Both OF them then fed
across the room, into the yard, where in moment
they were lost The alarm soon reached the street,
when sergeant Haggerty and patroman Meschutt,
OF the Fifteenth precinct appeared, and after ex-
plantations We're made they examined the premises
and found that the two men had reached the house
over yards communicating with those In Lafayette
place, and forcing the window nad obtained an en-
trance into Elen's apartment They found further,
that they had ransacked the room and taken away q
pocketbook containing eleven dollars, part Of her
last months wages


Search Tor the ra3calS was made, Wnlcn soon cu


minated In their arrest together with the discovery
that they had In their flying trip the yards in


tervening Fourth street and Lafayette place
robbed clothes line. and then hearing the voices
the searching officers they burst the basement
OF No. II Lafayette place. where taking up po-
stions Mt either end OF the lower hallway, they
crouched into the smallest possible space, hoping
soon 10 be able to emerge and escape.


But oiicer Mescnutt " as too wide awake for them,
as rIiching the yards In question, he tracked them
to their hiding place and hunted them out quietly
assuring them that II they made the least resistance
he sswould take their roofs or" and he would.


Apprisine Sergeant Haggerty a moment after Of
his good luck In finding the rascals, they were
marched to the station where Ellen soon after ap-
peared and fully recognized them as those she had
seen In her room. They gave their names as Edwin
Thomas and Isaiah Garrett The former Is eighteen
years OF age, born IN Baltimore IL aborer, and the
latter sixteen years Old, born In Newbern, N c. and
has been employed waiter. While their way to
the station house both admitted to officer Meschutt
that they were guilty, and in their informal ex
animation In court repeated the confession.


The aiidavits taken against the prisoners combine
the two charges Of burglary and larceny to answer
which they were committed to answer without bail.
Ellen went from the court, looked upon as quite O
heroine and one who can easily take her own part
under all circumstances. The clothes stolen from
the line were afterwards found packed away In a
blanket In OF the yards, but the money they OBJ
tanned was not recovered.