New-York tribune., 1873-03-19
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
AUDACIOUS CRIME.
sTREET-CAR RUFFIANIsM.

KNIVES.
The daring attack and robbery of passen.
ger OF the Fourth and Madson-ave. cars by tive
rufans armed with long knives, and their subsequent
capture by the police while plunderng a second car
load Of passer gers whom they had overawed -four
shng their weapons threatening with death those
offering resistance attracting almost much atten
tion as did the murder Of Avery d. Putnam by VIM.
Foster two years ago The absolute insecurity OF human
life on public conyeyances has again received special
demonstration but these only garing instances OF
species OF oense that has become painfully common OF
late all lines Of city travel Conductors and drivers
not only fail to protect the passengers, who are tenn
porariy placed under their charge from insult and In
jury, but they frequently head the assaultng parties
Another instance OF this species Of ruihanism was
brought TO public notice yesterday.
An upward-bound car OF the Thirdave. railway was
boarded by four at Eghth-st, at m yesterday,
who, owing to the crowded state Of the vehicle were
compelled to seek places upon the front platform The
conductor Patrick Farley appeared and asked FOR
his fares. One OF the replied tn himself
aud friends always rode free. Farley treated the reply
as attempted joke, but said that he was in hurry
and must have the fares at The strangers spoke to
Farley abusive aud said that he would get
money from them as they intended to nde
free that night. The car had by this time reached
Fifteenth-st, and Farley determined that they
should not ride any further without paying.
He ordered the driver to stop the car, and then
told them that they must get of. They refused, and
were then pushed Off the by Farley and the driver
The car was the point OF starting when one OF the
strangers leaped on the platform, caught the driver
around the waist and pulled him of into the street.
Farley at once leaped of the car and went 10 tho
drivers aid but Of the strangers pulled out pistol
and fired 1t almost In his face The pistol was badly
aimed, however, and the ball passed across Farleys
face inhicting slight wound upon his upper lip. The
man again fred. but the ball this time missed Farley,
oh NgaIn
boy, Of No. 800 East Thirty-third-st. Tic
men who had melted the afray then fled.
The wounded conductor was taken 10 his home and
the boy to Bellevue Hospital The Eighteenth Precinct
Police arrested, in the afternoon William Huke ofNo
334 East Thirty-secondst on charge OF having been
Of the persons who assaulted the driver He ac-
knowedged that he the car, and that he wit
messed the aray, but affirmed that he was not one OF
the who refused to pay fare. Huke was taken TO
Bellevue Hospital, and Mcguire at Identified him
one Of the unknown assailants. MCGUIRE said that
Huke cried out to the with the pistol "shoot hm
shoot him 70 and that then the man fred. Huke arrns
that he does not the who shot the conductor
Capt lyman OF the Eighteenth Precinct Police il making
every effort to ferret out the unknown assailants
At about $50 p. N. on Sunday drunken fellow got
upon the rear platform of secondave. Harlem and
after paying his fare the conductor requested him to
put the remainder Of his money in his pocket as be was
holding several bills loosely in hand He complied with
the conductors request swayng from side TO sde and
being imminent danger OF falling from the ear. Tho
conductor then requested him to sit straight" tell
ing him OF his danger An oath was the
reply. The conductor stopped the car, ordered
him of, and tried TO remove him. Ho selzed
the conductor by the throat and pushed him
through the car breaking the glass in the front door,
Passengers to the conductors aid and the fellow
was expelled He after the car for several books,
entering number OF liquor stores and calling on friends
for help. He was speedily followed by gang, and,
having caught stone, was about 10 throw 10 ut the
car when he suddenly stopped, a rapidly gathering
crowd and the prevailing excitement seeming 10 deter
him. In justice to the conductor may be said that the
fellow was not apparently drunk when he entered the
car and that after his eectment he able 10 and
keep up with the car. which was moving rapidly
number of ladies present aud the occurrence was
so alarming and the desperadOs action violent TO
terrfy them beyond expression.
Recently Lady and gentleman entered No ll2 Oftbe
Thirdaye. line at Broadway. On reaching Beekman-s
having gone Just block, the gentleman ascertaned
that they the wrong and pulling the check
strap, the horses stopped The gentleman aghted
and the lady about TO follow him, when the con-
ductof seized her by the shawl and demanded her fare
The gentleman turned back TO assist her. when the
ductor released his hold the lady and violently kicked
at her protector fortunately without hitting him.
O Grs policeman appeared On the ''eHe the car was
Recently man somewhat the worse for liquor got on
Sixthave. at Twenty-thrd-st. He not quarrel
some, but rather obstinate The conductor mpaueutly
demanded his fare The passenger advised him not 10
in hurry He had plenty of money he said and would
pay when he pleased few angry words followed, al
struck him IN the face with such violence that he fell IN
the middle of the street. at considerable distance from
the car.
Instances are frequent where passengers pushed
or thrown from front platforms, to the Imminent peril
of life aud limb. 1t only short time that con-
ductor and driver of the Crosstown Line were az
ragned before the Court OF General Sessions for causing
the death Of passenger by throwing him from The plat
form into the street IL shown the trial that tho
deceased had been stabbed previously during an anray
in East Side saloon but after passing several weeks IN
Bellevue Hospital was discharged as cured The vlo-
received the hands of the conductor and driver
reOpened the wound caused internal hemorrag, SO that
death followed In short time. In consequence OF tho
divided responsibility between those who inflicted tho
wound and those who reopened it the cuprts escaped
punishment
and allow their passengers 10 he robbed without even
offering remonstrance has long been known 10 all who
travel on certain lines. few nights ago party Of
three pickpockets got on the rear platform OF Ihd
ave. car as it was passing Twenty.eignthst Two OK
them planted themselves on either side OF the entrance
in such manner that any person who wished 10 enter
would have to squeeze through while the third was
who were trying pass into the Their object
apparent that several OF the passengers appealed
TO the conductor not 10 allow tue platform
to be bockaded IN that manner He did not even dclgn
make reply and the leader Of the thieves sneereda 10
the passengers and addressing an elderly weldressed
German, informed him that unless he shut up. quick"
he would have his ID Dutch jaw knocked Of"
This had the effect Of quoting not only the person
accosed but the remaining passengers and the thieves
remained undistur6ed on the platform until Fourteenth
on car bound up town. On an average OF two or thro
nights week this gang is to be the Of this
line, and its trade is known to the conductors
There are quite many Instances OF annoyance and
injury suffered by passengers through the
cowardce or indifference OF conductors through their
brutality An instance occurred not long since the
Eghthaye line where IL mad not been for the prompt
action of passenger many persons would have been
injured. came into the and upon taking his
seat be gan 70 make Insulting remarks in loud tone 10
lady opposite. The gentleman accompanying her
quesed him TO dest and told With oaths that II he
said word he would 60 have his head mashed" The
conductor urged by many passengers put the
rufian out, but trembngly asked What can 1 dol"
A gentleman hereupon r0se saying in frm tone, III
show you what 70 do" and went 10 the disordery pas
senger and commanded him 10 leave the He looked
fully capable OF enforcing his order, and the rufhana
ard like all OF his eassreco the fact Alter