New-York tribune., 1876-12-29
WEST SIDE RUFFIANISM.

TUIFyRs-HOw TIE RANKS ARE RECRUITED
EXPLOITS OF THE MEMBERS.
For many years the Twentieth Precinct has
been infested by of the gangs OF r'ans ana young
thieves that from time to time have dehed the ponce ana
been terror to lawabldng citizens. This band is known
70 the police as the "Tentbaye. gang" The Twen-
teth Precinct is peculiarly well adapted TO the operations
of such gang as this The night posts are so long that
many OF them be trayersed by the patr0hah III
an hour There are all kinds Of rOOkeries and
strange hiding places where criminals may saiey
conceal themselves This s especially true along the
river front In the upper portion OF the precinct irom
Thiry-fourthst to F0rty-second-st, an extensive bs
ness is carried on in slaughterng hogs sheep, ana
cattle There are also many places where rendering Is
done The buildings have been erected apparently as
was most convenient and are intersected by passages
and intricate alleyways, known only To the htate"
Illicit tistlng has been carried on in this precinct to
consider able extent aud many Of tine inhabitants regard
revenue officers a. fair game. Even many OF the
children becom, lawlcss they are old enough
TO steal and when they grow UP are added to the
"Tcnthave. gang when they are out OF prison.
Capt Washburn, who commands the precinct said that
rs far "a rne young thieves concerned the ponce
would not have much difficulty in controlling them II the
police magistrates only would cooperate with tneu'
'Thcrc are many families in this precinct" added the
captain who never buy any fuel potasoes, and yet
they have an abundance for their use The potatoes
thnt are brought into this city by the Ncw-Iork
Central Railroad sold from the cara that are
switched into the yards near the depot at Thrteth
t. As the wagons loaded with potatoes are driven
out of 'he yard and start down the avenue, these
younc thieves lump up behind and throw on Into the
st-ccfs as many a they can; sometimes they utterly
clean ont wagon and the driver presunes 20 inter
frr they stone him. 1t Is almost impossible for the
police o secure evidence against these thieves aud when
they have been arrested and taken 10 court they haye
almost invariably been discharged. IL The magistrate
only would nc these boys dollar or two just enough
10 touch the parents pocket the whole matter would he
settled and the thieying so annoying would be
stopped"
'These boys are brought up 20 steal. AS they grow
older they become expert burglars and then their work
"a mostly done in other ncigborhoods because there Is
very LITTLE in this precinct worth burglars trouble
They make their homes In this ncighborhood when they
are not in prison. Herman Lcdcndorf better known rs
Dutch Harmon ior many years the leader OF the
'Tsnth-ayc. gang,' and under him it hourshed ana
lra.d the police some the other members OF this
gang were Joseph h. Cannon, now under two years
sentence In State Prison for burglary Charles Van
Barcorn aIinS Block yearsfor burglary; Frederick
Rink years, burglary; James Doviue, years, bur-
r,ay John Hcnnessy, alas James Iiarrgan, Dig years
burglary; Ralph McDOuOugh, years, burglary; ana
lanes White years, burglary A thor sentences eX
mir, they reurn 10 their old haunts. The aggregate OF
sentences since Capt Washburn was placed IN command
NJ this precinct is over years IN Snte Prison and
obou, 90 years in Pcntentary Most Of these sen
cr ccs we're for burglary and robbery on the highway
and thc criminals all belong to the 'Tenth-aye gang,
and their ages were from 10 10 25 years.
R0uudsman Carnack OF the Twentieth Precinct Police
told the following story of the capture OF Dutch Harmon
whose time Is nearly odt in the Trenton state Prison. to
uIusrnte now a criminal can be concealed in this pre-
rt by this gang OF outlaws. He had been convicted Of
burglary la NcwIcrsey, and after serving nine months
had escaped through scutte in the roof sliding to the
ground by tho ghtnng-rod 4" 1 had heard" said the
rounGsnan, that Harmon was seen hanging about this
precinct, and determined to capture bin. began my
search for BIN In April 1873 but for some time could
prf no ,Iew TO his hdlng-place. At length found
roun, woman who knew Harmon, aud sho was inter
cstcd in the case 10 help find him. Ii was aScertaned
that ne was IN The habit OF visiting Mrs McGOV'ru
Al No $50 West Twenty-ninthst IL was In This house
fb,t NcNamars was killed by Detective Leahey OF the
Police Central Oiice when they we're looknS for h9r-
mon: also one night, several months autlWidu, lilc
voung woman informed NE thar Harmon was NJ Mrs.
McGOvern's house. He called hlnseiI 'JaoH hehh5oy
watched the house every night, Dut IL was not Gi tue
night Of Feb o. ls that GOT Sn'ee 70 10 caCn @ n h ~
the place. On hat hSnt saw ono OF tne stng ", tne
window. tool. two policemen and ran up stars TO Mrs
Trst'e I'm tne roum, aud it was "A minute before
the door was opened by Mis-. McGoyern As entered
Funny Mccormick, who was atteEward shot wnIo
committing burglary at Dobbs Ferry Thomas Carter
rner n Tor brEia1y ana his wife; frank MeGovern and
his wife Mary Anu, and old Mrs MeGO'ern. MrS Me-
III
heard slight noise In the back rOOm and jumping In
there saw Dutch Harmon crouellng In the window,
ready 10 spung the ground. reached out to se!z
HIM when he placed pistol within iew inches OF my
breast ana pulled the trigger. Fortunately for me the
only eXpoded and the pistol was NOT d'schaISea, AZ
he moment he dropped Ia feet TO tle ground ahd
ran away. fired him as lie struck the ground, ana
again he climbing the fence hut missed hlin b0th
times and he escaped Two nights aitorward he visited
the same house again, coming IN by a BACK way.
On Fob. 49," the rOundsIuan continued the watch
man, Nicholas Swege killed IN the ltudsen RIVER
Raiiroad depot at Tnrtieh-s, and IL believed that
| All
,fIerv,rd NcNansla was shot On the night OF March
- nm ,lIs,,ss as "A labnring man and hunting for
Harmon was standing at Twenty eightfsG ana Tenth
G., talking with JIe young woman VINO was assisting
approached. Sac recognized the dog belonging to
l. BlcCOyern aud alterWard McGoVeru ahd Harmon Iney
walked TO twenty xt-st and followed closely There
MeGOyern lett Harmon. Before crossing the avenue,
Harmon put his haHd on cOOoX and pcered aefOss 20
see whether the coast clear lie had reasoa 10 be
cautious, for all the police in the city were looking FOR
| him. lie muifed up and had ON broad sOuched
hat lie he turned Gut did not recognize me,
aud resumed his survey OF the avenue just as ie ey
denty had made up bis mind that every thing AL right
and started 10 cross, seized his collar with my e hand
and placed the muzle OF revolver against hs iaee lie
SAID very cOoly aud quietly that he would go with me
He took TWO steps ON the sidewalk and InsD nc selg
the barrel OF the revolver, both went down on the
ground together lpuled the trigger ana Tue pistol was
| | feared we both would be preelpltated INTO the
cellar by. Two officers beard the shot
aud running up stood over u.s. They dd BOT know tha
officer, aud had NOT time 20 tel them, Tor We
were stu struggling for tue possession o. ths rexotSe
| 10 separate us, Harmon made desperate effort anf
freed himself As ho sPrang into tue street cried
That's Harmon shoot nm lie Was nrseSiea irS any D
held him until the others up. He still held my pis
tol by barrel He s serving his time ou IA IA,
Trenton State Prison. and received the reward 0Heeu
some of the other members OF the "Tenthave. gang
are BIZ" Mckenzie "Hea" LSnsppsa 20 Alias snsnShSs dr
Thomas Carter, Tim" AcGrath, alias the Kid" JON