The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-15
The Streets Of New Yori--Thesf 1nse'
cnrisy-Ercquent Assau1ts.

4 d
From The Correspondent Of the Boston Journal
Not day passes without some indiea-
ton Of the raign of terror in the city. As
saults, shooting, killing, and robbery, are
Of daily occurrence. 1t seems as II the
dcspcradoes of the continent had taken
possession Of New York. lt'wouid be bad
enough if these bloody deeds were confined
to the low pot-houses and disrepntable por-
tons OF the city. But the public convey
anccs are infested, and tho most fashionable
portions of the city are more unsafe at
nigh. than Five Points or the Bowcry. 1t
is very common practice for gangs OF
rowlics TO leap on car at night or in the
evening, rob the conductor and passengers,
and escape. Parties regard themselves
fortunate II they are not shot at or assault
ed. $ The Third and Eighth avenue cars q, are
especially dangerous in the night. The
arrival of the Eastern and Hudson River
trains afford fine field for the operations
Of desperadocs. Men and women are as
saul;cd and robbed of their money, watch
cs, and baggage, in their tramp from the
dcr6; TO the cars. fE 2
'ghc police know these plunderers, but
dare not arrest them, for fear of violence.
II PASSENGERS take hack late at night they
arc not safe from robbery. The fashion
aA!c part of New York known as Murray
}Ell is Just now the unsafest part Of our
city. Ii is badly lighted, and being desti-
tutc Of shops, is as dark and lonesome MS
can DO conceived. Few persons walk the
street, and the heavy porticoes OF fashion
able houses afford fine lurking place Tor
thieves. An entire row Of houses was
cleaned out, as the phrase is, the other
night. One Of our leading merchants sold
lis elegant mansion on Fifth avenue, and
took his family to board at q hotel. He
gave this reason for selling: I" / built my
house, at great expense, to suit me. l fur
rished it in the best style; it was all that
could desire. But am fond of society,
and / like to call On my neighbors in the
evening. l dare not 90 out. After 10
o'clock I walk down the side streets with
tie utmost terror, looking this way and
that, lest I should be knocked down sud-
denly, often running for my life, and twice
within three weeks | have been chased to
my very door. / am too old for this style
Of life, and have given it up"
A manager Of one of our theatres last
week rot into Il car, and was followed by
three rough looking fellows, mutfled up rs
il to disguise themselves. They watched
him closely, and he had no doubt they had
designs upon him. Twice he started to get
out q the car to test them. The rowdies
started ut the same time. 1t was II o'clock
at night, and he felt that his only safety
was in his fcctness. On reaching his street
he sprang from the car, ran along the street,
and with a night key entered his house just
rs the despcradoes reached his doorstep.
lis wife saw them plainly from her window.
One Of our oldest merchants was struck
down on his own doorstep, the other night,
and robbed of large sum of money.
4 gentleman crossed the Brooklyn ferry
and took u car to 60 home. A butchers
van. containing three men, followed the
car up. The gentleman left the car within
Ialf block of his house. He lives in the
most lcnsely populated part of Brooklyn.
The passengers saw the van turn into the
street after the gentleman. In sight of his
own ioor he was knocked senseless, robbed
o. $4,000, and though half dozen men
saw the assault, the robbers escaped, and
the man is still lying at the point of death.
Cuch is life in New York lust now.