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uowkue daim COUBIKR. MONDAY.slitute for Officer Napoleon Proven-cher. He walked across the south common, passed through the usual streets mapped out for the beginning of the beat and in a short time reached Howard street.'Turning the corner of Howard At Tanner street he thought he saw thi form of a man about luO yards away Just before the office of Scannell Wholey’s boiler manufactory. In the d.» rkness the object at this distance was somewhat Indistinct, but approaching it Officer Healey became convinced that it was a man.He crossed over and Just as he reached the door of the office the fellow Jumped out, with the command: Hold up your hands. I’ve got you!’*Officer Healey was looking into the muzzle of a revolver, but he did not flinch. Instinctively he felt for his _ _ weapon, a 38 calibre self cockingSmlith Wesson. It was kept in the left Inside pocket of his coat and as he reached for it the burglar shot. The bullet went astray.By this time Officer Healey had drawn his weapon and aiming at the fellow's chest pulled the trigger. To his dismay there was no report. Again he pressed the trigger and again the revolver refused to work.There was a click—no more. Meanwhile the burglar shot again fin** this time the bullet took effect. It struck the left leg near the knee and piercedit.In desperation Officer Healey threw aside his revolver and grasping lils club struck the burglar a smashing blow on the head. The man went down, but was not knocked out.The officer jumped on his man and then ensued a desperate struggle. It was not a question of arrest or escape: It was a tight for life. They roiled over and over in the dark street, each man using the energy that comes only in a contest of this kind.It all happend in much less time than it takes to tell It. The* officer, a trained athlete with all of the tricks known to wrestlers, was pitted agai *st a man heavier by 30 pounds—it was a contest of skill against brute strength and skill won.The officer was In the act of reaching for his-twisters when the fellow yelled Help, help!”Immediately a man ran out of the office nearby. The officer's first assailant shouted: “Put a pill into him, quick.”The second man aimed his weapon. There was a flash and a report and the brave officer felt a stinging pain between his shoulder blades. Bang, and another bullet struck squarely in the right thigh. A third missed flro.With a groan Officer Healey sank to the ground. “I'm done.” he gasped. I give in.” But the ruffians were without mercy. The second man struck him on the head with a slung-shot, while the first assailant brought his fist on the officer's eye with awfulI Down the Howard street hill he hurried, blowii g continuously the piping note of alarm. It was about 1.13 o'clock and very few heard the noise, but as the wounded man reached a po nt known as the flats a young man named Thomas J. Boyle, living at number 120, opened a second story window and asked, ‘‘What’s the niat.er?” Healey replied: “I’ve been assaulted, and robbed. I’ve been shct.”Mr. Boyle called to the officer to wait a minute and hurrying out, assisted him to the box at Howard and Chelmsford street nearby. Plucky to the last the officer unlocked the box and attempted to speak with headquarters. The words died in his throat. Boyle made him sit down and took his place at the 'phone. Operator Howard, who had answered the fiist call, had summoned Capt. Kew to the 'phone and the latter asked as to the trouble. Boyle replied: An officer has been shot, send up the ambulance.” In all haste Capt. Kew calied the ambulance, but It had an unnecessary trip, for just after the telephonic convt rsation was over, a hack owned and driven by Samuel Ren-aud came along. It was stopped and Officer Healey in company with Mr. Boyle stepped in. Renaud drove his horses through the streets at full gallop and a police -officer u .t knowing its mission attempted a ^.old-up. The driver did not s ow up for a moment, however, and St. John's hospital was reached in a very few minutes.Officer Healey, assisted by Messrs. Boyle and Renaud, staggered into the building. Taking from his pocket the $25 overlooked by his assailants he handed it to the slater in charge and asked for Dr. Meigs. He was assured that the doctor would be sent for as soon as possible.“■When you tell It to my mother, please break It gently.” the wounded man then requested. He was at once placed under ether for the purpose of locating the bullets. It was found that one had entered the left leg, piercing I it and causing only a flesh wound, the i second had entered In the back with a | course towards the left lung and .the l third had lodged In the right thigh, j Dr. R. E. Bell located the latter bullet.• It is embedded in the mysclea of the j thigh at appoint half way between theI knee and the hip. It will be extracted as so »n as the subject is able to bear the shock. The wound in the back is the 4 mcst serious, because it involves the possibility of the bullet penetrating the left lung and the resulting tendency to inflammation or pleurisy, e*ther of which would prove fatal in this case. Dr. Bell is Inclined to believe, however, that the htng is not affected, as th re has been no hemorrhage or spitting of blood, conditions always existing in such wounds.loneliness of the spot the men “were evident y taking no chances.When Officer Hea ey came by, th» shorter of the two was busy at the safe and probably did not know of his com pnicn’s trouble until he heard the cry for help. He ran out through the door, v/hich can be unlocked withbut a key from the Inside. The assistance that he gave his fellow burglar came non* too soon, for the officer was gaining i decided advantage. After knocking ou and robbing him they did not return tlt; the safe for they were seen by people Immediately after the sh-.oting runnirg in the direction of the N. Y., N. H. and Hartford tracks.Wilfrid Legasse, who occupies one of the only two houses to be seen withlr a quarter of a ml e, was aroused by his wife about 1 o’clock Sunday morning. She had heard a pistcl. shot followed by four more in rapid succession and then two men running by the house talking all the while. She thought they entered her yard, but is not sure. Mr. Legasse arose and looked out but could see nothing. Mrs. Hegasse says that the house opposite was occupied last summer by two tramps, who followed her husband one night after he had drawn his pay. Thty occupied the house at a time when it was advertised for rent and looked to be pretty tough characters. One was tail and the other was of medium height., Mrs. Ltgawse suggested that these tramps might bt-the offenders.The office of Scannell Wholey presents an appearance of confusion. Every drawer was ransacked, everything overturned, but the burglars got absolutely nothing for their work. They made an unsuccessful attempt to blow open the safe. Had . they succeeded they would not be any the richer, for the safe contained no money.Saturday afternoon the office ______closed promptly at 5 o’clock. The safe was left as it always Is—with a card bearing the admonition “Don’t blow thlw sRfe; it Is unlocked.”The doors were closed, however, and this gave the burglars the impression that the safe was locked. The attempt to force it open caused the boltsslidi itPoor Healey was almost lifeless. He said later that he did not lose consciousness, but it is certain that, he did. No man could have been wounded as he was without going into dreamland.After they had laid him out theyThe descriptions of the men are not as complete in detail as the police would like. In the darkness and in the terrible struggle Officer Healey did not have much of an opportunity to size uo his men very accurately, but he offe-ed the following delineation: Man number one—5 feet 11 inches or 6 feet tall; weight 180 pounds; smooth face, darklout result the burglars left the sign “It is locked.” behind them.The safe is a huge affair bought in Boston several years ago. It is equipped with double doors with two large handles. The burglars forced one of these handles by hammering it with some blunt instrument and the combination also received the same treatment. Directly under the combination Is to be seen a small hole about an inch in depth. The intention u v doubtedly was t-j fill, it with dynamite and force the doors open by an explosion, but when the handle was detached a hole large enough to serve this purpose was created.That they did have an explosion c not be doubted, for the tables and desks in the office are completely covered with a layer of dust. The men were not handicapped by a lack of facilities. ard had they n^t been Interrupted their work, so far as ODening the safe is concerned, would have been a success. When they entered the place they lowered the curtains. They |THRiM WOUNDED. ~Officer Healey Shot by Two Desperate Burglars,CAUGHT THEM CRACKING SAFE AT SCANNELL WHOLEY’S.There Are Several Suspects Now UnderArrest.Tanner street, one of the loneliest spots In Lowell, was the scene, early yesterday morning of a fierce fight between John F. Healey, an officer on the reserve force, and two desperate burg-fars. As a result the officer lies In St. John's hospital with three bullet wounds and a terribly battered head.When first taken to the hospital It was feared that his wounds would have an early fatal termination, but several hours later an Improvement was noticed and it was given out that he had an even chance for his life. During the early part of last night, however, the officer was somewhat weaker, but at 9 o'clock he began to be more comfortable. His pulse and temperature were but slightly above normal and he was resting easy at 2.30 o'clock this morning.Officer Healey went out with the 12 30 shu t- Sunday morning. He was as-signed to the Ayer City district to subvent through him. They relieved him of his handcuffs, twisters, club, revolver, gold filled open face watch and $ .0 In bills. In their hurry and excitement they overlooked S2S.Suffering from three bullet wounds and almost blinded by the blood that flowed from a ghastly cut In the scalp Officer Healey at length regained his senses. He arose and staggered against the office neat by. Then he saw his rubber coat on the ground and picked It up. He did not know why he should bother about such a trifle when In such an awful condition, and he d ies not know why he walked almost half a mile to the nearest patrol box when there was a te ephone a few feet away In the office of Scannrll Wholey. Perhaps it was Instinct that led him to seek the usual means of communication with his superior officers In the police station, for he was In a semi trance.He took out his whistle and blew Its shrill blast with all of the strength of his feeble lungs as he staggered In the direction of the nearest box at Howard and Chelmsftfrd streets. He felt that his strength was leaving him and he broke Into a faltering run.complexion, dark clothing, overcoa down to the knees In length.Number two—Five feet seven or elgh Inches tail; stocky In build; darl clothes; smooth face.The men were interrupted In the act of committing a burglary In the Scan nell Wholey office. They had effeci-ed an entrance through a window b forcing a catch with a chisel or a ''Jim my. After this was accomplished onlt; man was stationed outside to guard against detection. Notwithstanding theOfficer John F. Healey and the scene of the assault.
Newspaper Details
Lowell Daily Courier
Lowell, Massachusetts, US
Mon, Mar 06, 1899
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Pete M.
USA 05 Mar 2025
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