New-York tribune., 1878-09-28
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

BREAKING UP A BAND OF RIVER THIEVES.
~ "EoRTH RIVER PIRATES" AFTER MANY
TUEFTs WORK PEACEFULLY IN NEw-JERsEY
PRISONS.
For ten years, and until very recently, the
. North River Pirates" band of nine adrOit and
a.sneate river thieves carried their operations along
.ns waterfront Of NewYork and Jersey City, and the
ue of the property stolen from steamships and YES
AL, amounted to not less than 100000. Their head
oparters we're Charlton and Weststs and the police
sv that the band the terror Of the neighbOrhodd
sbs mebers were bold, and never hesitated shoot
AoUn a watchman II their plunder was endangered or
fbeir escape lmperied They we're often pursued by
che barbor patrol but only empty boats or unarmed
boatmen rewarded the police for their pursuit No
proofs sufficient to convict found about them
Tbe river proved convenient accomplish, and TO throw
aver stolen goods or unlawful weapons quick work
Among the most indefahgabe OF the pursueTs Of the
pirates Roundsman James Jones, Of the Harbor
Police. The band warned him repeatedly that II he
ever fired upon them they should return his fire, but
they never did although Jones gave them ample oppor
tunty The roundsman is a stalwart man, whose face
says that he would be dangerous man to trife with
when aroused
The events that led directly to the first capture and
final destruction OF the " North River band
follows: Jones, who had long watched their move
mens discovered where they kept their boats and one
day in October last missed two OF them Early on October
10 dock Of the Bremen Steamship Company at HO-
boken was robbed Of silks velves valued 81 800
boat with two men was near the place by the
rOundsman while patrOllng in small boat. He hailed
them and receiving reply, fred and the men hastily
pulled away. They after abandoned the boatwhch
was filed with the pluuder. The fugitiyes were recog
nzed by Officer Kehoe. and subsequently Chief DOnO-
van Of HOboken, arrested William ScanOn and Michael
Cassidy and locked them up the Hudson County Jail
They proved to be old frequenters Of Backwes Island
During their imprisonment they sent TO the band for
money defend their case and by watching the mes
sages the others were found TO be Mike" Cay9nagh,
John Sheehey, alias "Sheehan," William Grady, young
I'm" MahOney, John Finnel. Big Nike" Snanahan
and "Lttle Nike" ShanahaD. BY twOs and slngly
Jones aud his colleagues captured the fugiyes. Big
Mike" and Grady went TO Buffalo. descent was made
upon their house " Big Mike" leaped from fourth
story window and escaped, but Grady was captured.
Cavauagh. Little Mike and Sheehey captured by
Chief Donovan, Superintendent WalliDg Captain Ken
nedy, Sergeant, now Captain Schultz, and others.
"YOuug Tim Mahoney fed 20 Chicago; Finnen, brother
of the who shot Ned" O'Badwin the Irish Giant,
chased through Pennsylvania and found refuge in
California.
scanon, Cassidy, Cavanagh, Little Mike shanahan,
Sbeehey end Grady all Of whom except the hrst two
captured in this STATE, were taken to NewJersey
requstiOn by ROundsman Jones' were convicted or
robbery and each received sentence OF ten years III the
EewJersey State Prison at hard labor When too late,
OF them tried to clear themselves by betraying
their comrades but they gained nothing by their treaoh-