The New York herald., 1870-01-29
How JERSEY TREATS BURGLARS.
A Lesson to the Jimmy Fraternity
Twenty Years in State Prison-A
Rescue by New York Rowdies
Observation-Disclosures Bur.
glars Disposed Of

mol many days ago the HERALD published In full
the charge OF Judge Bede TO the Grand Jury OF Hud
son county, N. j., In which he urged prompt and
decisive action In the Of the burglars awaiting
the action or the Grand Jury. He promised that an
example would be made Of such ru0anS. That
promise was faithfully carried out by Judge Ran
dolph IN the Court OF Sessions yesterday. Two
chums OF Reddy the Blacksmith were placed on trial,
charged with burglary at the house or Ephraim s.
Johnson In Jersey City. Their names are Edward
Rogers and John 0'Neill. The latter gave the name
OF Fleming. The daring OF these fellows can best be
understood by review OF the evidence at the trial.
They carried OF clothing valued at S125.
Ephraim >. johnson, being sworn, said:- :-I reside
IN Mercer street. Jersey CITY; on the morning of the
22d 0. December last, about half.past two O'Clock.
was awakened by my wife, who SAID ''Papa, there
are two men In the house. and they have taken all
your clothing;' took my pistol, went down to the
basement. and found the rear door open; went into
the yard. and seeing no one fred my pistol to
alarm the officers; lost some clothing, napkin
rings and pocket coins; afterwards saw
handkerchief belonging to me, which was
taken from the prisoner Fleming; an ofcer came to
the door, and told him my house had been robbed;
the next morning l saw footprints in the yard; at
eight O'Clock / went to the Recorders Office md
identlied three pocket coins which had been taken
from Rogers as belonging to me; that evening /
went to the police station aud saw Fleming on his
an belonging to me.
Mrs. Jane Johnson sworn-I remember the night
O'clock A. NJ and saw two men in the room; ' lay lay
perfectly quiet; one OF the men stood holding ps-
tol IN one hand, pointed at my husbands head, md
holding lighted candle in the other; identify the
prisoner Rogers as the man; saw his face; saw the
other man ana identity him as Fleming; Rogers
stood with the pistol at my husbands head about
five minutes; looked at him. ne saw that was
awake, gave signal to the other man, when he
picked up the clothing and they went OUT got up
Vn1 th.l rnff fhA atrcs
Rogers held the pistol pointed backwards over his
shoulder; when they reached the foot OF the stairs
station house and recognzed Rogers as SIN the II man ian
that pointed the pistol; the next evening iden-
TILED Fleming as Tue man that was WIN Rogers; I
identify the handkerchief taken from him as belong
Onicer Doyne deposed-was on duty fhat night on
the house Of Mr. Johnson BY VIC report ns Of pistol; IL
came: On M afffisiSg al iK neqs 4i u, Johnson
there met officer Ryan, who told me that The PAy.
| glars had jumped over the fence; l then Went
over and saw their tracks In the mud; | then
| gave chase, and between NcCarty'S garden and
Montgomery street l picked up vest and after
wards found a coat on Varick street, l then went
down to Communipaw; went on the Central Rail
road track from there to the ferry; Rogers the pri-
soner at the bar, came into the ferry depot and
down; considering his suspicious appearance |
arrested hlm ana brought him TO the station house;
on being brought 10 the station house he was
seayeled and a Dill and some pennies iound in his
an hour p:sV1pns 70 Inv hearing the pistol shot.
Chief OF Police Fowler testified that Fleming came
to the police station the morning after the burglary
and asked Tor Rogers; ne was detained on suspicion
and was afterwards fully identified.
Counsel for defence called Peter Kerrigap. who
keeps gin-mill In Mott street, New York, ana who
swore that Fleming was sent over by him TO see
Rogers on the morning In question. The remainder
Of the testimony did not help the prisoners IN any
way 1t transpired. however. that they were init
mately acquainted with Reddy the Blacksmith.
The jury alter brief deiiDeration, found a YER
dict OF guilty against both OF the prisoners. In the
meantime information was given to the Court tnat
an attempt would be made TO rescue the prisoners
by an organized gang OF New York r0wdies who mad
come over for the purpose, ana VINO were dstrip.
outside. All the constables were lhereupon sum
moned to guard the passages, and members Of tht
Hudson City Police, armed with revolveTs, were
posted in convenient places outside. This precau
ton completely disconnected the plug uglIes, who
soon realized that there slight difference be-
| tween Jersey and New York
Judge Randolph addressed the prisoners and told
Rogers that the sentence or death would be the only
adequate punishment for his offence; but as the
law did not admit this he would sentence him tC
twenty years IN the state Prison at hard labor
O'Ne was sentenced to ten years at nard labor.
The prisoners were removed under a strong escort.
church burglars whose depredatiOns In Hudson
Union and hliddlesex counties and In Staten Island
were detailed In the HERALD some time ago, and
who were arrested In Hudson City, were tried and
convicted before Judge Couenhoven, at New Brlns-
Wick, on Wednesday. They were sentenced to four
teen years each ut hard labor la the State Prison.
Several other indictments hang over their heads