The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-03
BREAKING A ROBBER BAND.
THE GANG THAT HAS INFESTED THE
SUBURBS or BROOKLYN
The Arrest of the Lesder-The Outlaws OPP
Grafton. ON the Long Island Turnpikes-A
Masked Robbery ut the Uaion Course.


Grafton. On the Long Island Turnpikes-A
Masked Robbery nt the Union Course.
The arrest Of George Lent on Wednesday
last. and Michael Hickey's recognition Of Lent
rs one Of the burglars VINO robbed his house In
East New York on the night OF Decoration Day.
recalls the extraordinary history Of n gang OF
thieves and burglars, Of which Lent Is alleged to
have been tho leader. This gang has infested
the suburbs Of Brooklyn and the country roads
leading from the neighborng island villages
for a long time. and has made itself terror to
the residents .hcrcabouts. Lent. who is famil
iarly known as shorty and also under the name
Of Wilson. il about 40 years Of age. He was
born in East New York. and is well acquainted
at the west end OF Long Island.
favorite operation with the gang has been
stopping farmers on the country ronds. and
linking from them the money received for the
produce they had Just sold in the city markets
This was most frequently done on the turnpike
between East New York and Jamaica. Not long
ngo shoe pcddlcr was stopped Che turnpike
by several robbers. each Of whom fitted pair
beatcn and allowed to go. On the night Of Nov
II. 1875, Henry Kinchmnns iewelry store on
81 900 worth Of goods. Mr., Kinchman was
aroused. and he pursued the burglars into the
Cemetery Of the Evergrecns. but on having u
bullet fired through his hat he concluded to re.
trent. Yesterday l.ont wns recognized rs one OF
the men engaged in this burglary.
About month after the kinchmnn burglary
several masked men entered the Office OF the
East New YORK md jamaica Horse Railroad
Company ut the Union Course. and. after bind
ing the Waterman Beatty. robbed the safe Of
81 200. Beatty recognized the burglars. but was
afraid to testify against them. and 80 no arrests
In the winter OF 1876 several robberies were
committed in the village Of jamaica, Among
Abraham II. Remsen. A daughter Of Mr.. Rem
zen. who was awakened by the masked robbers
was threatened with death ifshe made IN outcry
They drove of with their booty in a wagon.
Lent William Schren. and James Larkin were
arrested f2T thiS burglary Lent was reG Ssd
threatened her life. The three were indicted in
Queens. county. but while awaiting trial in the
North Hampstead jail they escaped by climbing
upa chimney fue. jumping from the roof into
the yard, and then scaling the fence. They
crossed the Sound in II small boat and were AZ
terward arrested in Boston. Before the officers
sent from Queens county after the prisoners
reached Boston they again, escaped. Not long
after this Lent was arrested in Buffalo for rob
hing canal boat He was tried convicted. and
sentenced TO state prison for, five years. He
returned to Brooklyn and his old haunts
=, short time ago Grant Sncdecor Of Jamaica
room. and robbed Of 500 that he had been paid
for produce in the city, He resisted the rob
bers. and was beaten to insensibility. He died
shortly aiterward, N was alleged from the in
iuries suffered in his flghtwth tho robbers. He
always insisted that he recognized Lent as one
About two months ago the house Of John Per-
~. "A mikmnn. in jamaica was cnteredby burg
lars. Perry's neghbors had raised money by
subscription for him to buy two cows. On the
day before his house was broken into he sold
one Of his cows for $50. Two of the burglars
out saying a word. went straight to n small
trunk in which the SEQ was. and took the money.
Then they kicked the old man and went away.
perry's description Of the man who took his
money answers TO that of Lent
On the Doth Of May last three masked burglars
entered the home Of John Tostivan. on Cypress
avenue. East New York. They held pistols over
MIR. and Mrs. Tostivnn who were in bed. and
demanded all the money there was In the house.
dered. and the burglars went away.
Many other robberes in the suburbs OF Brook
lyn and along the west end OF the Long Island
Raj road are generally regarded as the work Of
single gang.