The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-13
THE POLICE AROUSED.
No.9rfous Den OF Thieves Broken Up
siI::<en Thieves NJ 1ns Hssi-A Ser

A No:.eyious Den OF Thieves Broken Up
siI.:<aA Thieves NJ 1ns Hagi-A Ser
geant That Deserves ProfnoiioIis *
At an early hour yesterday morning Offlcer Reid,
OF the Twenty-ninth precinct, while patrolling
Sixth avenue, discovered that the iron door in
front OF Ernst Schmidts cigar store, No. 526. mad
been forced open. hasty examination revealed
the fact that an entrance had been effected by bur
glars, who had carried on large lot OF property.
The oficer Immediately raped Tor assistance, ana
was quickly joined by Sergeant Carpenter, Rounds
man McNaIy. Detective Maloney and Officer Hill.
A consultation followed, Sergeant Carpenter ex-
pressing his opinion that the thieves could not
have carried their booty far, end advising q de-
scent on VIGOROUSLY bad house, kept by George
Johnson ana Peter Mclaughlin, just across the
street. Now, the establishment In question
has long been considered by the police
one OF the vilest dens in the city-a re-
sort tor thieves and disreputable characters
Of every stamp, and genuine, tul-nedged 'rence."
Captain Mccullough, Sergeant Carpenter and
Roundsman McNally have been watching the place
for two weeks past, but had never mad things
"dead TO rights" as the officers express It, AS
soon as the Sergeant found q burglary had been
committed IN the immediate neignbOrhood, he very
naturally came to the conclusion that the gang
from this "dive"-t is in a basement-were the
guilty parties. His advice was accepted by the
u
the den. One of their number cautiously ap-
preached the front door, and listening discovered
that large number Of men were Ell, INSIDE. TWO
volvers, awaited the result OF the assault at the
main entrance, at the same time prepared
should attempt to escape in that d.
recslon. The assault was quickly made,
as Ssng IN ns
the unsuspecting thieves in way they despise.
Every ONCE! VINO entered that den did 50 pre-.
pared to perfOrate any who might see tit to show
fight. But no manner OF resistance was made, the
thieves readily recognizing the persuasive argu-
ment adduced by the well conditioned six-shooters
which Carpenter and his friends handled with the
utmost carelessness, and instantly became meek
as lambs. Jmmies, bits, cold chises, maets,
masks, powder cans, and, indeed. every variety OF
burglarious Implement, was found in great album
dance. Snugly stored away in an Old closet were
Mr.. schmidts goods, which the thieves had
brought in but few minutes before the descent.
Every soul IN the den together with the stolen
properly and the burglarious Implements were re-
tou house, and at nine me-" O'CLOCK "o in the
morning the entire batch were marched over
to the Central Ofice. Here they were exhibited to
the Superintendent and the commissioners, after
which they were marched into the detective office,
where their names were taken. Mr.. Matsell
warmly congratulated the faithful officers who had
made the capture, and Then directed them to re-
move their prisoners TO the Jefferson Market 20.
lice Court.
viduals had cOngregated In the vicinity OF the Gen.
trail ONCE, each bent on having peep at the pris
OnerS and knowing tne why ana the wherefore OF
the arrest and all about 1t.
The prisoners were 10 in number, three Of them
being women. On arriving at the police court they
were arraigned before one OF those truly good and
learned magistrates who sit in Judgment at that
institution and fondly imagine they can dictate to
members OF the press what they shall and what they
shall not make known to the public. Johnson and
Mclaughlin were identified as thieves, as was also
one George Culkin. who ID said to be hack driver
goods. The two former were held in default OF
bail to the amount OF $2,500-$1,00 for receiving
stolen goods and ST. 500 Tor having in their posses
sion burglars tools. Two others-John Mclaughlin
and John McCOey-were each held In default Of
81, 500 on charge of burglary, Officer Hill having
recognized them as two men ne saw enter the
thieves den with some OF Mr.. Schmidt's goods just
q few moments before Otlicer Reid discovered that
burglary had been committed. George Stewart
was held for carrying sung snOt. The other
prisoners were allowed to depart in peace. Their
names are as ws:-GeOrge .Culkln Elliott
Johnson, Thomas J. Johnson, Patrick McDerm6tt
John Coddington, Andrew Elliott, Joseph FREEMAN
Thomas s. Harris, Maggie Fisher, Nettie Hoffman
and Mary Flynn.