The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-18
A STOOL PIGEON" KILLED.
The East lryingtOn Burglary and the Shoot
Ing of Austin 7. Rugg.
IAN UGLY PIECE OF BUSINESS"

many with brace of burglars who forcbly entered the
premises at a time when the police were In possession
The circumstances which led to this mans death
painful to relate and all credtable either to the
deceased other parties concerned
For a couple Of years series OF burglaries has
taken place at Hastings, Dobbs' Ferry, Irvington,
Tarrytown and other points along the Hudson River
so that the citizens who had become accustomed to
rcpetitions OF these outrages, would sometimes ask
each other, 'Who is to be robbed tonight" There
gang of thieves about Dobbs' Ferry, another in
YoDkers, in Tarrytown, and Irvngton
not exempt from the inroads OF these
enemies Of society. The cuprits lived
among the community The people them, but
unable to procure their conviction To try and
bring these evidoers justice it is claimed by SUI
pervisor A. o. wilsea-who is also treasurer OF the
Greenburg Savings Bank-and Captain Mangn, Of the
Yonkers police force, that Rugg, dentist or Irving
ton, was employed a spy. ''stoo pigeon, so that
he might get into the confidence OF the rob
bers, pretend TO cooperate with them and
then betray his victims to the authorities.
On Wednesday afternoon last Rugg went to Mr.
Willsea and informed him that two suspected charac-
iers named respectively John Connolly and Peter
MeLane, intended that night to rob the store OF
esquire" John r. Sullivan of East lrvngton. Willsea
at once telegraphed TO Captain Mangin, who accom-
panied by Sergeant Austin, Roundsmen Mclaughlin
and Quinn, and Patrolmen Springer and Reddng set
out from Yonkers the S:42 P. NJ train for the
of action, where they arrived at halfpast eleven
o'clock.
ESQUIRE"
is who has risen from the ranks of the people to
comfortable competence and some influence He
at oneTime laborer about Irvington, but started
small grocery and bar in East Irvngton He succeeded
we'll built house and is the of
large store. He has also been elected justice
OF the peace and is still comparatively
young man. When the police arrived at his
place the Squire helped to stow them
away second story the house and barn
side. Captain Mangn, Sergeant Austin and Patroman
Redding took possession Of the kitchen, which COM
manded the approach to the stairs and to a room in
which stood safe; Roundsman Mclaughlin, Patrol
Springer and volunteer called Eichhorn posted
themselves in barn a little to the right
and rear OF the house Sullivan was with
the men in the baru It agreed that
the burglars should be allowed the house. and
then upon signal whistle to be sounded by Captain
Mangin the thieves TO be captured in the of
carrying OF their plumber OF course it understood
ofa leading set OF outlaws to their doom should
not be molested, he was acting under instructions
from the police.
The hour at hand for the enactment OF a bloody
tragedy Rugg and the robbers approached the front
door OF the barroom which they forced, and entered
the room, struck light and began TO help themselves
what hand. The till rided of the few
stamps purposely left there and cigars were laid
hold Of and other portable articles collected in order to
be carried or For fully twenty minutes these i'll
starred wretches permitted to carry their
farous trade without being molested by the police who
were all this time
WATCHING THEIR MOVEMENTS
and all this time Rugg in the store with them.
The rlned drawer fell accidentally and made NOISE
which the robbers thought might have awakened
OF the inmates of the house. Either satisfy
themselves upon this point or to carry out their
thieves went up stairs aand flashed dark lantern
at the starhead doorway Through the aperture he
Sergeant Austin and suddenly bottled down stairs
The Sergeant followed il hot pursuit. and in the
element shot discharged from his revolver This
accidental shot upset the~ plans of Captain hangin,
and all now rushed toward the lower door, through
the grocery which Is the rear. OF the bar
room AT this exciting moment Sullivan would not be
restrained by the officers who were with HIM in the
barn He rushed toward the stoop pistol in hand, and
In the dull light which came through the barroom WIN
dow a man coming out from his house. He shot
ut the man; he believes IL the deceased and that
the wound Riggs right temple was caused by that
shot About eight other shots were fired,
one OF these striking Rugg IN the right
breast He fell the stoop without speaking
and expired IN few minutes aiterward In the con,
fusion OF the melee the two robbers escaped, and
Mclaughlin mistaking sullivan for OF the robbers
knocked him down The dead man was taken into the
grocery The police at once pursued the fugitive rob-
bers, whose names they knew sdvance and arrested
them IN bed az their homes, near Dobbs' Ferry.
Yesterday morning a scene of wild excitement
reigned in East Irvngton The approach to Suilvan's
place was blocked by a motley crowd. The stoop
rlotted and smeared with gore. Nr Rugg man
IN the store.
THE INQUEST
jury Of more than ordinary intelligence having
been impaneled by Coroner Hughes the following
linony relating to the awful tragedy elicted:-
A o. wIsea having been sworn, testified as fol
lows:-I Supervisor Of the town OF
Greenburg and knew the deceased; the last
time saw him alive was at about half
past O'Clock p. NJ on the 10th inst and IN
the bank At Dobbs Ferry; he then told that he
all ready to go up in company with others Squire Sui
uvan's he called at my house again at about ten p NJ
so be left a small satchel and said he would call when
was home; when he was talking with me in the
ing he said he was gong IN company with Peter
McLsne and John Connolly TO rob Jack Sullivan's
house, and that he would have the
shop at Dobbs Ferry that | could see them;
/ Connolly there, and passed him on the street
ut the time appointed; when | Mr. Rugg last
Friday he told me that the gang intended to waylsy
me on my way home from the bank; he also told
me that they had intended TO mask and come TO my
house for the purpose OF robbng last Sun
DAY evening, but that they finally postponed IL
Captain John Mangin, OF the Yonkers police force,
was next sworn, and dcposed:-I knew the deceased ,
saw him this morning at about halEpast O'Clock
lying on bis face front OF the house, dead;
notl1ed by Telegram from George B. Taylor at about
twenty i've minutes past eight O'Clock last
ing, that the burglary going 10 take place;
my house in Yonkers when received the message;
took I'VE members Of the police force up with me;
arrived here before the the burglarsl when they
the burglarsl arrived was in the. kitchen
scattered Quinn and Reddng on the upper
floor; Mclaughlin and Springer outside
shed designated by Mr sulvani dd not any OF the
men lburglarsl in the house, but heard them going
about they tried the kitchen door, which was locked
understood Rugg 10 be acting in the capacity OF de-
tectve on the OCCASION do know how deceased re-
ceived the wound which caused his death
Roundsman james Mclaughlin testified II came up
the e:42 train last night and arrived here about
halfpast eleven O'Clock; here an hour be-
fore | saw any one around the house; was IN lon
situated few feet south Of the building; about half
past twelve saw a man at the corner OF the house
he around softly, and then tried the door
on the south side did not him enter the building;
there with me another policeman, man named
Eichhorn, from Dobbs' Ferry, and Mr.. sullivan; We
we're 10 remain concealed until got a precOncerted
signal from the house could see a light moving in the
house could who carrying H. in
teen auerward heard crash the FIRST noor
sullivan thought We should go down and not let them
ret away; then went down and surrounded the
house, ABOUT twenty minutes aiterward heard the
report OF pistol up stairs rom where WAS could
L.. -. IL II.