Carl Wilhelm Heinrich "Henry" FEIGE
1899 - Two Men Now Held Under Suspicion - They Tell Contradictory Stories

Henry Feige, watchman for Gimlich & white at their brewer on the corner of Columbus avenue and John street, was assaulted about 2:25 o'clock this morning by six men. An entrance was gained to the office, the object undoubtedly being to blow open the large safe. Feige's outcries were heard by the neighbors and the burglars fearing detection fled before securing any booty. Feige was of the opinion that six men were implicated in the assault, although not certain this number of men were there.

This morning the police made five arrests on suspicion, but only two, John Feeley of this city and Lyman Johnson of Lakeville, Conn., were held. These men were unable to give a good account of their travels during the night and will be kept at the station house for further examination. Feeley and Johnson were about the city during the evening spending some time at the St. Josephs band fair. Later in the evening they were seen on Wahconah street. They claim to have spent some time in the new Melville building. The stories of Feeley and Johnson differ very materially and the police are inclined to believe they know something of the assault and attempted burglary. Feeley has a court record, having served time for crimes committed here. Johnson claims to hail from Lakeville, Conn. He came here several days ago and secured employment for his wife as party cook at the New Burbank House. He has done little work since his arrival in this city. Feeley has been away from Pittsfield for some time.

The police have little to work on and it is doubtful if the burglars will ever be secured. The watchman can give them little or no information of value. It is the belief that the assault was committed by local characters and not professionals. The police are also inclined to the belief that less than six men were implicated in the affair.

The duties of a watchman at the brewery, with other work, call for the winding of a clock in different sections of the buildings once an hour. There are five stations where these winding must be made, one of them being on the second floor of the malt house. Feige was just leaving this department when the assault was made.

Feige left the malt house by way of a door on the east end of the building, a narrow stairway leading to the ground. He closed and locked the door and was leisurely walking down the stairway when suddenly he was confronted by three men. As many revolvers were placed in close proximity to his face and he was ordered to "Give up his keys." The watchman was startled at the sudden appearance of the men and alarmed by their demands. He surmised that the men had been hiding under the stairway and as the demand was given him he discovered three other men coming from their hiding place.

Feige hesitated for a moment before doing as ordered by the burglars, but before he could make a move, he was struck on the head with a club. Seeing it was impossible to draw his revolver, he having his lantern in his right hand while his left hand was on the railing of the stairway, he swung the lantern with great force into the face of one of his assailants. The light was extinguished, but it was not dark enough to prevent the burglars from carrying on their work.

As Feige was struck on the head he uttered two loud outcries, these outcries undoubtedly saving the property over which he was guarding. The blow delivered by one of Feige's assailants dazed him for a moment as he fell to the ground and before he was able to rise, several of the men had jumped on him. His keys and revolver were quickly taken and within a few moments the watchman's hands were bound and he thrown on the ground close to the fence which runs alongside the roadway between the main buildings and the bottling works. Feige had fully regained his senses by this time. Blood was flowing profusely from the wounds and fearing that he would become unconscious from loss of blood, the watchman begged to be allowed to stand up. He implored his assailants not to allow him to remain on the ground and die.

Feige's object was to get on his feet and if possible to alarm the people residing in the vicinity, there being a number of houses within a few hundred feet of the place. The burglars did not appear to want to let Feige die on their hands, neither did they intend to let him alarm anybody. Feige was therefore assisted to his feet and with two revolvers placed dangerously close to his face, was ordered to walk toward the corner of the office building.

While three of the men were giving their attention to the injured watchman, the other three were at work prying open one of the windows on the east side of the office. Notwithstanding they had taken the watchman's keys, no effort was made to gain an entrance through the front door. The window of the office was at last pried open and for a few moments everything looked promising for the burglars.

Suddenly several windows were heard to go up with a bang and a gruff voice cried out: "What is the matter down there?" This question came from Jacob Gimlich, a member of the firm of Gimlich & White, owners of the brewery, who resides about 80 yards from the scene of the assault. Mr. Gimlich had heard Feige's outcries and lost no time in dressing. Before leaving the house he called from the window and it was his voice that alarmed the watchman's assailants.

About the same time a member of the family of John White, who resides but a short distance from Mr. Gimlich, was aroused. John White, Jr., was awakened and with Mr. Gimlich rushed down to the office where Feige was found. The latter's hands were securely bound while he was suffering severely from loss of blood. About the time Mr. Gimlich was aroused a number of people heard Feige's outcries but made no investigation as it was not supposed there was anything wrong.

When the burglars heard Mr. Gimlich call from his house they immediately stopped proceedings and took a hasty departure. Four of the men ran between the main buildings and bottling works, while the other two ran around the bottling works, all going north on John street toward Linden street. The men, as they ran from the brewery, were distinctly seen by several of the neighbors, although it was too dark to distinguish their faces.

The arrival of Mr. Gimlich and Mr. White on the scene was soon followed by the police being notified. Feige's hands were freed and he was able to tell all that had transpired. The watchman was suffering from loss of blood as well as the terrible experience he had undergone. within a few minutes several police officers were on the scene and Dr. Burton was dressing the wounds of the injured watchman.

The police officers were able to trace the footsteps of the men about the building. They found marks showing where the office window had been pried open. While three of the men were carefully watching Feige at the corner of the office building, two men had got through the window and were about to begin work on the safe when they were alarmed by the voice of Mr. Gimlich. An attempt had been made to get the watchman to climb through the office window, but this he refused to do. Threats were made to shoot him if he did not carry out their orders, but they soon realized the man was weak from loss of blood and unable to do as they wished.

The four men who remained outside of the building spent the greater share of time warning Feige not to make an outcry and the presence of two revolvers were sufficient to keep the watchman quiet. His first experience with the men showed they were desperate and not to be trifled with. He knew that armed as they were he could make no resistance and unwillingly carried out their orders. When alarmed the burglars paid no attention to the watchman, but disappeared as quickly as possible, taking with them Feige's keys and revolver.

Feige has a large dog which generally accompanies him while he is making his rounds. This dog lay on the scales but a few feet from where the assault took place, unmindful of what was taking place. the animal was found there sleeping when Mr. Gimlich arrived. It is needless to say this dog will be succeeded without delay by a dog more suitable for watching purposes.

While Feige was being bound he was able to get a good look at the men who assaulted him. the morning was dark, but still he was able to get a look at their faces. None of them were masked, all being clean shaven. Every one of the men wore derby hats and long winter overcoats. They spoke no names that Feige could hear and therefore the watchman was able to give the police but little information that would tend to assist in the capture of his assailants.

The brewery buildings are located on the corner of Columbus avenue and John street. The main buildings, with which the office is connected, are built toward the west end of the property, the bottling shop being located between the office and John street. Connected with the office are a malt house, ice houses, the brewing building, several barns and sheds as well as a number of other building. With the exception of the bottling works, all the buildings are connected, although the watchman is forced to go outside to gain an entrance from one to another. There is a large open space south of the office, while a drive way extends between the office and the bottling works. The malt house is just north of the office, the stairway from this department leading to the driveway which runs between the bottling works and office. This is a very dark spot and no better place could be selected for an assault of this character. There are no lights about the buildings, except those carried by the watchman, and six men should have had an easy task making way with one man.

It is well known that the firm of Gimlich & White have occasion nearly every night to keep a large amount of money in their safe. May of their collectors do not return from their work until long after banking hours and this money is supposedly left for safe keeping in the office. The safe, which is a large one, is located on the north end of the office facing Columbus avenue.

Henry Feige, the watchman, is about 35 years of age and has been employed as a watchman at the brewery for several years. This is the first trouble he has ever had with burglars. Feige was not so badly injured but that he was able to be about this morning. His wounds had been dressed and although weak from loss of blood was able to tell the police a complete story of what had taken place. The man's clothing was saturated with blood and when Mr. Gimlich and Mr. White arrived on the scene he was very weak and much excited.

The Berkshire Eagle
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
October 10, 1899

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