The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-09
MASKED ROBBERS.
Career Of ths Notorious Criminal, Nike Law
less-Aurder, Arson and outrags-strsngs
Laxity On the Part Of the Authori-
tiss-A Community 0vsrswsd

lcss-Aurder, Arson and 0utrsge-Strsnge
Laxity On the Part Of the Authori
tiss-A Community 0vsrswsd
KINGSTON N. T., June 7, 1874
Mike Lawless. confined In Jail in this place
awaiting trial on several charges 1t is now known
was one OF the gang OF masked robbers engaged in
the robbery and outrage of the Post family ne ar
Catsktli. HIS criminal career has been extraor-
binary and bold The Lawiess family live IN Sau.
gerties. The name became obnoxious in this VI
cintty about the time tho war broke out. Chrtsty
Lawless, Mixes brother, then committed most
cowardly and c0id-bloodea murder. He took Of
renee at something . quarryman named Dennis
Flynn had said, and one morning he ioaded .
double barreiled shotgun and walked deliberately
to the quarry where Flynn was working, almost
In sight OF saugertles Going up to Flynn, Christy
told hum to take
TWO MINUTES TO PRHPARB FOR DEATH.
as he was going TO XIII him. Flynn fell on his
knees and begged to be spared the two minutes
passing Lawless raised his gun and fred the con-
fonts OF both barrels into Flynn's head, killing HIM
instantly. The bloody deed was witnessed BY Q
fellow quarryman, who was afraid to interfere.
Chrsty ned the place, and although the authorities
offered . large reward for HIM he was never
captured.
Soon afterwsrd Mike Lawless commenced his
career. He was boatman on the Hudson, run
ming between Albany and New York He became
notorious In the former place ny several bold rob-
beries and finally he shot o stranger dead in Q
saloon there and ned the city. He went home to
saugerties and was hid away by his mother for
some months After the Albany affair had quieted
down ne again made his appearance With
o pal" named Yves shears ne became the
terror OF Sangerties aud the surr0un ding country
n
dou0t he and Shears were the perpetrators, he &C.
cumulated enough to open saloon IN Saugerties.
Having acquired hatred against his mother be-
cause she was partial 10 his brother Tom, ne gave
her . fearful beating one day, which nearly proved
n-aw, man named Taylor. Things were begin
ming to get warm tor him In Saugerties, and ne
tben so Ie ont S an Of @ y and
few nights after ir burned down. The circum-
stances attending the fire seemed to point directly
to Nike Lawess as Its cause. but the insurance
was paid. and no investigation made He opened
another place, aud. soon after, midnight
FIRES BEGAN TO RAGE
In Saugerties. 1ney we're all believed TO be the
work OF Nike Lawless. L0renz LoerZel the
me er GVs he Mou sne oa
threatened to make his mothers house 'crack
around her head" Her shanty Adorned the fine
cember the latter was found to be In flames The
brewers family had barely time to escape with
ana the brewer lost $4,000 This IRE re- also de-
strOyed Mrs. LawleSs house, While the fire was
progressing Mike Lawless stood In his rumhole
and laughed at che ruin that was going on. 1t
became well known that he
HAD SET THE BUILDINGS ON FIRE.
pletely did the place stand in terror OF him. soon
afterwards Lawless committed two highway rob-
and lawyer rom New YrK ana roSped 1na%
both Of large sums OF money. For this he was ar
rested and held to ball. but the complainants we're
charged. About . year ago. without any provoca-
ton. Lawless shot 2 man named Freleigh in
He ran, and Lawless followed him, firing again,
but Freietgn reached place OF safety. Il WAS not
some months he Sos about asan NIKE w ,sls up
rested Tor this outrage. His brother-in-law went
his pail
and it was forfeited. LawiesS returned to
Saugerties aterward but nothing further was
done IN tine matter. Last TAIL Tom Lawless bought
OF poor German widow, named D0ty, $50 worth
Of hay. She lived alone, below Saugerties Mike
ngat he and Wes snears wens q the Wdo U1s
and broke into her mouse. They dragged her
from esa and demanded the $50 she reused 70
niture. cut her uetc,otnes in strips and violated
ner person. Being unaole TO nnd the money they
lett ner ior dead. il Was a long time before she
recovered. She recognized Nike Lawless IS one
OF her aSSallantS, and ne was arrested and In
dicted Tor the crime, which Indictment Is still to
be acted upon.
sent to state Prison Tor twenty ears for partici
Patton In the Post robbery, formerly lived IN Sau-
gorueS, ana ne ana LaWleS6 were In Innate lrend6
When he went to Nes York to live he introduced
Mike TO the gang OF masked ROBBERS, and ne became
one VI them, aud neiped to plan the numerous bur-
glarles tnat followed. Nike and one Of the gang
Saugertles, OF 5000. There Is abundant evidence
Of thls. The Post family now recognize and iden-
thy NIKE La wless as one Of the gang that robbed
them. ''Shang" Campbell, one VI the masked rob-
bers recently sent to PRISON from White Plains
says Lawle1S WAS one OF the Post robbers. Camp
bell says Nike took nearly all the bonds stolen ct
the rest OF the gang. After the Post robbery and
before the discovery OF the perpetrators Nike and
his con iederates planned
All the ARRANGEMENTS wero made for one night
last FEB nary. the gang got as far a. Tivoh, and
tue Ice prevented them crossing the river, and
they robbed Williams store AZ T1vOii instead.
About thus time circumstances placed the bank
0ncers on their guard. Nike got wind that he
was suspected and lett saugertIes. detectives
were placed on his track, but ne eiuded pursuit
until last March. One day In the latter part OF
that month ne was arrested IN New York by De-
tective Lyons, Of thai CITY, and Ofcer Crowley or
SaugertleS. Yves Shears was with him. but es-
capped. Lawless tried to shoot Detective Lyons
alter his arrest, he was brought to this place and
lodged In jail, al onefs OF bail being refused BY
Judges Westbr00k and Lawt0n. A lew nights
since
AN ATTKHPT TO RESCUE LAwLEss
was banned. Yves Shears was in town that day
with Tom Lawless and horse and carriage. They
~ some way smuggled TWO fine burglars saws to
Mixes cell. He was discovered about midnight by
one OF the Keepers saving the oars In mis- window.
One was on and the other nearly on. The saws
were taken from him, and ne was removed to diff
1erent quarters. Before his night Lawless mar
RED young girl living IN Saugerties. He abused
her so she left hun. few days since she VISITED
him IN his cell. He at once commenced to beat
ner and but for the interference OF Keepers would
no doubt, have KILLED ner. i Is the hope Of the
less may have an end put to his career by life
imprisonment HIS trial comes on az sne next
term OF Oyer and Terminer.