The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-02
ORGANIZED PILLAGE.

GANG OF THIEVES
The people residing IN Queens county are greatly
elated over the arrest oil Georse Lent alias 'Shorty"
alias Wilson. IN tn Guy "Wednesday by Inspsc-
tor Murray they say II Is the iniiaory step toward
breaking up daring and successful band Of despera-
does at whose hands laey nave suffered numerous
outraaes. According to ,nem Lent was the
leader oil gang OF ousilroals who deHed
tho law. could DO ilin.dalcd by nothing and
tor months had actually tcrrorzed the county.
Nany and thrilling are the stories they toll oil thia
nurderous gang. and now that the rin.ieader IL In
custody and likely to stay there Tor time. they
breathe moro freely than they have tor some time,
and look forward 10 days Of comparative peace Sub
joined Is narrative OF some OF the ou,rages com-
mitted by this iawless band, aud It will be not iced
that Lents uamo is no. in!requcntly mentoned:-
a CHAPTER or CRIME.
favorIte operation with this gang OF despcradoes
was 10 stop farmers gong to market with produce
returning home with the proceeds, generally on tho
turnpike between East New YORK and Jamaica, and
rob them OF property or money, sometimes abusing
thoni shamefulIy whoa any show OF Resistance
maze. Not long ago tncy stopped poor shoe pedlcr
on this road ana each member OF the gang fitted
himself with par OF boots after which they beat
blm unmerci.uily before they permitted dim 10 20.
On the night OF tho l7th of November, 1875, they
robbed the show window OF the Jowcry store OF Mr.
Henry Knicknan, the Plank road, at East New
York. Tney watched Mr. Knickman until he went
his back OIL the store, when they fastened
tho store door from the outside with strong ropc
tied the doorknob. They MAD with them larss
fet hat, with very deep crown, which would hold
noarly peck. The inside oil this hat Weighted
with sheet cadt end Oh tue outer rim piece ol heuvy
telegraph WIRE sewod, he t"o ends bong tightly
twisted together and forming handle After iastcn.
ing the door he gang broke la tho window ana with
the hat, whcn they uscd as scoop tboy cleaned tho
wiraLw OF jewciry to the vaiue o. $1,000 ana ran
f.n nj rhn lfy.r tlu
pos siDs--boing compelled 10 20 around tho
back way-Mr. knicknan followed them ana
upon nin, the bullet gong through his haL Bssng
aioae and unarmed he was opnsed gave up tne
chase, and The thieves escaped. Yesterday Lent
| identified as one OF them.
oUrRAGEs.
About month alter th:s ROBBERY the gang, heavily
masked, visited the Ollie. stables OF tnc
Eas, New York ana Jamaica Horse Rliisoad Compsoy
The Union Course, and after bndihg me watcnan,
named beatty. rob1e. the sufe oil s.. go in money
Beatty, VINO knew The gang wei, commissioning
their sguiscs, was arad 10 appear against tLem
he was apprehensvo that som, OF them woIla take
| his liie and 80 thoy again e-capsd arrest.
During tue winter o: 1876 sno gang, loo, u is said,
by Lent, committed seyerai loooercs la the village Vt
1 Jamaica. Among other places, they visited aud
robued the house OF Mr. Abraham II. kensen one OF
| the town conslabiea rue party were all masked,
and aer gathering together what articles OF vaiue
they could had loft the house, when one oil them
| turned. A daughter OF Mr.. Reuiseu was a~ak sned
| and gave alarm and was threatened with instant
standing by the roadside IN waiting ana The parry
drove rapidly away. Tue wagon Was aiterwaTd Traced
|
burglary, Lent, schreicr ana man named I.arkia
we're arrested. Lent WIS identified by Miss Rernaea
| as the man who threatened her life aId the three
wero ind clcd by the Queens county GraId Jury.
JAiLS CANNOT HOLD TEEN.
While IN fail ut Nortu istpnd awaiting trial they
all succeeded In maxng .heir escape ov cimo'ns up
a chimney hue, jumping INTO the yard from the root
aud scaling TIE fence. There was strong suspicion
at tho time collision with n-
sido the jail 1hoy reached Long Island Sound and
small boat TO the Connecticut shore. Tnsy
were aitcrward re-arrested IN Bosion. Officers were
IRON Queens oOunty 10 BRING them back. but b.
lore they could brought back they again broke Ji
Shortly alter TINS Lent was arrested Ia Buffalo Tor
roofing canal boat, tried and sentenced 10 the STATE
Prison at Auourn for ave years. He succeeded ia
tunncliing oil that institution, and during the past
| lew months has, with Scurier, LarsiDs and oihcrs
been around his old haunts 1t Eas, New York.
| MURDER ADDED TO THEi. cRiNas
Not long since Mv. Thomas Snedcxer, residing mean
Jamaica SCUM, stopped Ut East New York his WY
home tran the city, having In his possession about
500 He was followed 10 his mouse by the gang
After he had retired they gained an entrance and
his money He refused to givo up. when they beat
hun 10 iusepsiom,y and took H. he Nied shortly
aittrward asacsed from the injuries inlicted upon
HIM at inns time and no always sad tnat he recog.
nizcd one OF the men as Lont
TO the residence OF Mr. john Perry mil man,
living Taiourd Lava, Jsmaica- Hrs habit o.
| living Was well known to tncm Perry was poor and
a Number OF tho loading residents OF Jama,ca sao
scrbod for him sum oil money, with winch ne pur'
chased Two COWS, and was making a comfortable
| LIVING. On the day before the gang visited him he
had sold OF hts cows tor 500 anu placed tue money
for safety In small trunk. AS soon as tney gained
| his heud by two OF tnom. whilc third, without
saying a word, went directly TO tho place wher5
the trunk WAS opened II and look out tho mouey.
| Then they the old man several kicks ana lott.
Perry's description OF the man that took his money
answers TO tnnt OF Lent.
| MASKS
ON The night OF the 10Th OF Nay Inst, three masked
burglars entered the house OF Ms. Jonn Postwar,
Cypress avenue, East New York. On Reaching the
bedroom OF Dir. and Mrs. Postwar, with drawu. pis
tols thcy demanded all The money In the house, which
was promptly given up--abou. 81 000-and they lett,
being tue premises nearly halt an hour. Mr.
Postwar contractor, and II alleged g. ~ Lent
was aware OF fact that Mr.. Tosiiyan fcccvci a
considerable sum OF money day or Two prior 70 the
robbery.
| HICKEY ROBBERY.
On the night OF tho 10Th three OF tho gang visited
the residence OF Mr. Michael Hickey, In Lea avenue
Eust New York They gained entrance TO his bod
room by means OF ladder. and while one OF them
held N pistol to Hckcy's head his companions
searched thu houso and secured S5a IN money and .
silver watch anu chain. The latter recovered by
Inspector Murray Wy the AID OF pawnticEct found On
Lent, and Lent recognized by Ar. Hickey AZ tue
who held th- pistol 10 his head whiio the houss
was beng Tansacked ana rObOsd
| Besides the above mentioned robberics, IL Is pow
the general occi that the members OF the same gang
have for some m0past been robbng tue freight cars
OF the Long Island Railroad Company at the Jamaica
station OF cggf cigars and trunks, IN ono case new
car intended Tor ono Of the Concy islaad roaus ocng
entirely stripped OF curtains and otncr upholstery
, | work.
ssncr.y" Lent is ABOUT tory years old, and Tor .
NUMBER oi years past has, Is alleged on all sdes,
been tho OF this gang, the members OF which
have confined thcr operations CHIEFLY 10 kast New
YORK. Nsw LOss Cypress Hills AMI jana Ca. Born az
East New York. and reaiding there most of bis lila
time no was ~cii acquainted with that entire section
OF couniry which comprises the west ond oil Long
island outside oil the CITY oil brooklyn.