New-York tribune., 1877-08-04
RIVER PIR4TES.

DEPREDATIONS on PIERS AND VESSELS.
A DESPERATE AND BOLD CLASS or ruEvts-DiiFi-
Gully OF OBTAINING EVIDENCE AGAINST THEM.
fnfestng the tde-Waters Of NeW-YoTk, New
Jersey and Brooklyn perhaps tie most desperate set
OF meu in the counuy-the river thieves Familiar with
crime from birth and hardened by association with
criminals. they know law, and in the execution or
their purpose viii shoot down a man Ike a dog For
many years the Harbor Police have ocen on their tracks
but Notwithstanding the utmost vigilance property val
ued at many thousands of dollars nas been stolen from
lighters. blrgss and docks Many of these thieves have
fallen INTO the hands Of the law from time 10 ume but
s soon a, some severe penalty, meted out TO an old Of
fender has led authorities 10 hope for temporary
lief, a new depreciation more daring taan previous rob
berries has occurred calling for increased watchiulness
on the part of the police
At present the harbor is guarded by single parong
boat during the day, and by at ht, and the thieves
appreciate their advantage. After the patIoing-Ooat
has passed, they are 9be 10 accomplish a great many
things before It's It is often only by doubling"
or suddenly rowing back them, that they are caught
in the act OF robbery. Then they viii throw their
pluuder in the river in order 10 destroy al evidence
against themselves Tie majority of the river thieves
are old offenders ana wel-hn0wn 10 the police When
raw sugar is STOLEN from vessel, it is put by tne
thieves in their own bags, and nearly all raw sugar II
the same in appearance, &c would be remarkable person
who could swear TO his own property. Usually loaded
lighter is watched carefully during The div, if there
any probability Of its remaining untouched all night
Then the morning, early when the watchman perhaps
Is somewhat drowsy, they rob at their pleasure. They
usually do their work in gangs Of three. Sometimes,
in order steal cotton from the piers they row under
the wharves and cut into the flooring until the bales ia
through One Winter they carried oil property valued at
10000. Tie steamship and railroad companies are
Roundsman Jones who has distinguished himself by
ten wears efficient service ON the dibo Police, gave
TRIBUNE reporter the following description OF the most
notorious the river thieves list pa Ordct OF Nanf of
those whohave then head quarters n charlton ~ Is NJ en-
aeI Shauahan Al present. however he II under udct-
mcnt having been im cel n he SIX robbery from me
White Srar Line. with "By ODJy" who is serving
ont q nye and his o*esI ne-h5or ,lnnof recorcf
time when ne was not engaged IN some crImina. pro
ceeding As as lie was able 70 ruu the streets he
o.! oD."i'' ,ic%,eI FrpueI who Shot OI,aldwin thc
pueilist. accumulated considerable money, before
KS Innrier hy plying his thleyish trade on the
river After his release he worked i'm iron yard, but
he soon returned TO his old vocation. His brother is al
most as notorious himself for criminal deeds. JOHn
-urcu claims 10 he lighter b0atmau, but the police
well aware that ho is river pirate. Dutch
years Recently, in company with Michael Fen
mel, he visited a jersey per IA DIotu GAy-
light and stole boat loaded with plS H0n Inc
ficves we're chased by the pOiceboa 10 the Caualt.
dock The Jersey CITY authorities obtained te Doat ana
iron Michael Cassidy william acinl9n, Dihhie Grady;
''Con Mahony, now on Biackwrus island Tor two
and vino has served Ne years Tor lVcr imeVhS
and Peter Cough, '0ngshoreman who recently joined
two months on bl4ckWes island ar oiHI I!fni'eis Oh
the gang. Owing 10 want Of Work, 20 j, cared mat many
OF the lOle-tothlcu may JUN INV D"hN H'Hio i''fc
already done So
/ An exciting chase took place the North River on
the night OF Nav Il. ROuudsman Back, with Officers
! sclIer skuse and Farrell, pursued some suspected
thieves up river, and four shots fired before tue
men surrendered. Michael Shanahau VINO, with John
| Fenncn arrested said Two shots whisued close 10
lis head, and then he Thought 1t prudent 10 give up
Notulug found in the boat and as 10 evidence
i,trd against thcm they were discharged. John Fen
urI on the day of ms release. claimed the boat in
/ which he WIS arrested, and 10 was at once de-
| lycrcd to him. RouudsnUn Jones and officers
/ Rhodes aud Warum, While patfonng the A0rth
/ River on July D. discovered a boat uader Per
VI as with 20 pigs of lead in 1t. The boat proves
ia he the same one formerly pred and - now at police
beaioIIorters No Las appeared 10 claim 10. A.
Instance of the difficulty OF obtaining evidence against
e river thieves ROuudsuan Jones related The following
/ sforv. ON the morning OF July II, about o'clock,
/ Tonndsman Jones discovered john Fennell, Michael
-aannban and Michael Fcnncl under the sterI of the
steamep CIV Of Atlanta al Pier No - ana under the
how Henry Cornelius, J0nn sheen ana Michael CaVan-
arh ON the pier were MANY Dd-s OF cotce Whlch the
tbeycs undoubtedly, intending To steal Ihc police
boaf for when the thieves were watching passed Dy,
byf suddenly doubled" and the boats of the thieves
were discovered between piers No. p aud - They were
arrested but nothing found Oh ncn, and although
they cotadicted each other on the witness stand ana
well known river thieves, tAeJ were uIsri seu
Tor want OF evidence"