The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-05
NORTH RIVER PIRATES.

CAPTURE AND CONVICTION OF THE LAST OF
THE GANG-A SUCCESSFUL TEN YEARS OF
CRIME
me gang Of river thieves known "ths North
River piratesn who dsring the pasI ten years have
made their headquarters a. the corner Of Charlton
and West streets. under the leadership OF William
ODay have At last been efectually broken up, six OF
their having been sent to The State Prison at
Trenton, n. j., and the remaining three being
fugiivss from justice and liable at any moment
to arrest O'Day, the leader OF the gang, is now in
Sing Sang serving i've years. Tor stealing $4,000
worth oil silk from ths White Star dock During the
years of ihis gang is estimated by the
police that they plundsred steamship companies
vessels In the North River OF at least 100000
worth OF properly. The steamship companies were
robbed OF OF silks and satin and other valuable
goods 1t Is asserted that the losses OF the Bremen
Company reach Sis, 900, the Hamburg Company
$4,000 the Eagle Company $40, Co., the Cunard Com
pasy $4,000 aud he remaining steamship lines IN
about equal proportion. In some instances the
sides oil dock house were cut open, and In others
the Waterman was decoyeo away while the cases OF
waiting. In no instance, however, was convection
OF the Obtained The present capture accord
ingly assumes additional importance.
A GENERAL PURSUIT..
On the morning OF October 10, 1877, tho dock OF
Srokea opsp BY river thieves and rosbsd Of silks ana
vsivets valued at 81, 500. On tho Same morning
Roundsman Jones' OF the Harbor Police, fired on two
men IN . boat who refused to answer his matt
Soon after officer Kehoe OF tho Eghth precinct. saw
the Two men abandon the boat, which contained Inc
stolen property. From the description OF the men
furnished by Officer Kshoe Chief Charles Donovan, OF
Hoboksn. identaed and arrested William scanion aud
Michael CASSIDY Scapion Is OF Tho oldest and most
desperate RIVER thieves in the country. He rs about
forty-two years OF age we'll buh, dark complexion
ana six lee. in height When arrested he said no
q boslman, living the corner Of Washington
and Spring streets Cassidy thirty elgnt
years od vSs on ROM ae men were
locked up In the Hudson County IN J.) jan. Scan
| Ion Is usdsr indictment in the District Attorneys
once here tor felonious assault and both hmseE ana
Cassidy have boon repeatedly arrested for stealing
and have served various terms on Blsckwels lsana.
applied to SAe other manosrs OF the gang Tor money
10 hep phen out VI snstg di@calty, aud no AID
manner. Of conducting. > buaines. BY watching
| thar mssseAgers Chlsl Donovan learned that
John snssasy, alias sheensn; " lillian Grady Young
Tim AaAonsy, John Fianelt 'Big Nike Shanahsn
taken 20 the OF those, the worst me m
bers OF tbs gang and Caief Donovan WAS ably aided
by superintendent Waliing ana Detective Dorsey. Of
Police ana Captain Kennedy and Detective O'Neil
Of lho Ninth precinci. Cavanagh, Little
| tue corner OF King and West streets and taken to
New Jersey. Shsnahan offered desperate resistance
ana was only subaued by main force He lived In
| Charlton, near Washington street The other Two
| lived In King street, near West.
ssBIG NIKE" ESCAPES.
All the efforts OF the officers bont securing
''Big Nike" Shsnshau. the king OF the river thieves
Grady young Tim hshoosy and FinnclL they
leaf big Aiks aud Grady had located them
selves IN Buffalo, and going there secured the aid o
| Colonel Burns, The Buffalo Chiet Of Police A raid
| was made on the suspected house and Grady cap
| lursd. "Big Mike" jumped out Of a fourth story
| window and ESCAPED. There are now In DisIrict
Attorney Phelps Office. no less than Ave indictments
| against Big Mike-ons for robbing the White Star
dock two felonious assault, one for burglary and
| one Tor cigar robbery on the river Bag Nike Is
rusticatiDg in Canada, having proceeded there
| VIA The Erie Canal. Young Tim Maboney was traced
as lar Pt.sDurg and there all track of him was
lost IL has since been learned that he went TO
Ch,cago Finneli, who. IS brother OF
the man who shot Ned o'Baidw,o, the
Irish Giant, Was chased Dy Chief Donovan,
sheriff LAverfy, and officer LAWYER, OF the
rver police Danvils, Pa, $50 miles from this CITY
He succeeded In making his escape through the RAFT
ing country ana reached California On Friday last
SC4alou. Cass,dy, Cavanagh, Little Nike Shanahan,
Shoehey Grady having been convicted OF robbery,
were arrngned before ustce Garreson tor sentence
In q few words narraiing their long career OF crime
aud the damage they nad Inflicted the community,
he sent them the Prison for the term Of ton
years cach, hard labor This is The end OF ''ths
North River aplratee.b