HomeMy WebLinkAbout1948-10-24October 24, 1948
Thatched Roof Break involving John Poster Coburn,,-and Albe~t mAstuD~'ns
Car involved: Buick scott cpa. Mass. reg. 753-636, owned by~6r'~e
0arrier,.of 27 Melvin St. Lawrence. ~,~This cat-was.stolen from' the s
in fr0nt~of the above address.
The following is s list of the liquor found by Officer Fleming on the.
flod¥ in the rear of the above car:
Two four,fifth quart,bottles of $chenley's Reserve Whiskey;'
Bellows Crown Whiskey, one of Leroux Ginger Brandy, and two of S.
g~ams V.0. Whiskey.
The above liquor has been identified by Vict~
.who is the proprietor of the "~irlaway Cafe" of 500 M
Nethuen as property belonging to him. He said that his
ment~was entered sometime after closing time October 23rd
thai above liquor was stolen from~there. He also identified
~f earrings~ and a small novelty jacknife ,as .taken fromh e.~
At about 3:I1~ on October 24th 0fficer Fleming. called th
tier by radio end,said that he had found s .car~bearing'Mass.'.re
etlon plates 75~-~6 on 0s~ood St. He said that ~here were
of liquor on the floor in the rear of the car, and-that the
parked near the "Thatched Roof". The liquor was br~
and:0fficers Fleminm and Farnham returned to'the perked car.
~miving it a hast2 examination the officers went to the
and upon checking it found the side door on the south side.~o£~thi
building open. This door opens into s ~Zoreroom ~and~ from
kitchen. Uoon entering two roasted d~ickens were seen~ on
e of the build'Lug. One door ~o the ~sfrigerator was~
found open.. Theltwo men, Ooburn and Astunens were located~.in~an
Ice off the kitchen. T~ey had clossd the door and Coburn'was
omar. After demanding~hat they come out in thr
eral times Astun~ns stepped out of the office th
en~were searched for concealed weapons, none were
was.very slow and hesltan~ In doing as he was told and~had(~to
er of times ~o raise his hands. Efter~s~archin
Officer Farnham put a claw on Aetunens'an~ Officer
',Coburn to hold his hands'behind him so that he might
hand-cuffs. Officer Fleming shifted his ~un free, his ~i~ to his
left hand and~ a~temp~ed to put,the cuffs on the ri
He was unable to ~et the cuff on. as-the sleeve ~oa
the way. He told Coburn to put his hands further .and:
doing Coburn,s left handhit the ~ held by 0££1ce~?leming laud
,was discharged. The bullet struck C6burn in the back~and
the floor. The North Andover ~mbulance wes c~lled a nd'~$oburn
taken to the Lawrence General Hospital. Astuoens was locked
Officer parnham.
A pair of pliers and a small wrench were picked u~
of the smoreroom. ~n emnloyee of the "Thatched Roof~ said that~Jtheylf.
'did not belong there, and that they had no tools in the restaurant,s//
The car was ~arked about fifty feet sout of the south driveway,
on 0sgood~St.
Upon examining the pockets of the men
abo~t five dollars worth sf chan~e, pennies.
tars. Each had a small novelty Jacknife and
bone handled knife about four inches long.
Astupens removed it from his pocket.
the followingwere
nickles, dimes and
Astuoens~had~a~,white
2his kniefe was'~
T~L. 4876
JULIUS A. LAFFERT
L~, ~S.