New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-02
DARING GANG OF BURGLARS.
ARREST OF GEORGE LENT, THE LEADER-THT
GANGS OPERATIONS.


GANGS OPERATIONS.
The arrest of George Lent, alias Shorty"
alias Wilson, by Inspector Murray on Wednesday last
Ia looked upon by the residents OF Queens County one
OF tho important made in long time Lent is one
Of the most daring thieves known to the police When
told what DO wanted by the Inspector he cooy
remarked If had known what you wanted me for,
would have killed you y
Lent about forty years old, and for several years
has been the leader OF gang the members OF which
have confined their operations chiefly to East New
York NewLOs, Cyprus Hills and jamaica; bOrnin East
EowY0rk and residing there most OF his lifetime, he is
well acquainted with the west end Of Long Island outside
OF the city of Brooklyn were also the members OF his
gang, which comprises James Larkins, one Hickey,
Mcclure taas Pigeon William schreer, John Squire,
and Thomas Clark talias "Buek y. The frequent
masked burglaries committed In NewLOts and Jamaica,
now that Lent has been arrested be traced directly
60 him and his gang, as well as many 0ther rODbeIcS
favOrite operation with them has been to stop farmers
going market with produce or returning home with
their proceeds generally on the turnpike between East
Eew-Yorx and Jamaica, aud rob them OF property or
money, sometimes abusing them shamefully when any
show OF resistance was made. Not long ago they
Der Of the gang fitted himself with pair Of boots, after
which they beat him numerically before they permitted
on the night Of November II. 1875, Lent with his
gang robbed the show window OF tho tewery store OF
Henry Knckman on the plank road at East New York
They watched Mr. Hickman until he went into bs Dach
on the store Ten y bs1 Ibay P Sgose IN me
window and stole iewey OF the value OF $1,000 ana ran
into the Cemetery OF the EYergreen5 near by. MT
Kmckman followed them. aud was close upon them
when of the gang turned and fired upon him, the
he was obliged to give up the chase thieves
capped Yesterday Lent was identified as one Of them
About month after this robbery, the gang, Masked
waited the Office OF the stables OF the East NcWNok
and Jamaica Horse Railroad Company at the Union
Course aud after binding the Waterman, named Beatty
robbed the safe of 81 200 Beatty who knew thoInembers
OF the gang Notwithstanding their DISCUSSES was AFRAID
10 appear against them, be was apprehensYe lhat
some member Of the gang would take his me , .,
70
IL visited aid robbed the house Of Abraham H. Rcmsen
one Of he town constabes The thieves were masked
ami after gathering together what articles OF value they
could, had lett the house when one OF them returned
A daughter OF Mr.. Remsen awakened and gave an
alarm and was threatened with death The stolen prop
erty was thrown into wagon standing by the roadside
IN waiting aud the party drove rapidly away 1he
wagon was aerward traced TO the house OF Schreier,
who Is pedder. For this burglary, Lent Schreer and
IArkms were arrested. Lont was denedb by Miss Dem
sen as the man who threatened her life and the three
men were indicted by the Queens County Grand Jury.
While in jail at North Hampstead awaiting iral' lhey
succeeded IN making their escape by climbing mp
chimney ue, jumping into the yard from me iooI ana
scaling the fence There little suspicion at the
time Of collision with some one inside the jail.
They reached the Sound and crossed in small boat TO
the Connecticut shore They were aerWtu feaTIts'eu
IN Boston Officers were sent from queens county 10
bring them back but before they could be got back they
I1st was arrested soon afterward in Buffalo for rob-
bling cRnabOa tried and sentenced to the state Prison
or five years lie succeeded I'm escaping aud during the
last few wetks been with Schreier, Lam ns and
Is asserted ne has frequently visited the Washington
Hotel, on the Jamaica plankroad, Kept 10y samuel samuel
Hampstead, was ailkeeper. Connected with the wash
ingtOn Hotel nayscales where farmers have thclr
hay weighed Not long ago Eyert Snedeker residing
near Jamaica South stopped on bis way home from the
city having m ms possession about 500 He was iOl-
lowed by the gang After had retired they
gained an entrance, and going TO ms bedroom WIN
drawn pistols demanded his money. lie refused 10 give
Il M when they beat him TO nsensiblty ana TOOK IT,
ne died soon aferward from the injuries II Is asserted,
Inflicted upon hm at that time, ana ne always salu mat
he recOgn zcd one Of the men as Lent ~,
About three months ago the gang paid visit 10 the
residence OF John Perry, milkman, living on TaioId-
Lawn, Jamaica. Perry poor, and number OF eau.
ing residents OF Jamaica subscribed for him sum OF
money With which he purchased two cows, and was
making comfortable living On the day before me gang
visited him. he had sold OF the cows Tor 500 ana
placed the money for safety in small trunk AS soon
were presented at mis- head by two Of them while trd
saving word, went directly To the place where
the trunk opened II and took out the money IheI
fbey gave tie old man sever2l kicks ana went away
Perrys description Of the man that TOOK lis money an
sWers 10 that OF Lent. . .
on the night of MAY 90 burglars entered the house of
John TOstnan oppressive East New YORK On reacl-
Ing the bedroom OF Mr. and Mrs. TOstnan, with drawn
pistols they demanded ali the money IN the house. when
was promptly given up. 20 the amount OF about 700
Three of tho gang visited the residence OF Michael
Hickey. ON Lsa-aye, East New-GOIk, on May ~.
Thsy ined entrance to his bedroom by means Of lad
der and while Of them held pistol 10 HlckcYs
head his companions arched the house ana secured
$50 and silver watch and chain. The latter were re-
covered by Inspector Murray by the aid OF pawn
ticket found on Lent aud Lent recognized by Mr.
Hickey as the man who held the pistol at his mead
esies lie above mentined rObberies, IL is now the
general belief that the members Of the same gang nave
for been rObbng the freight cars OF ine Long
Island Railroad Company, at the Jamaica StallOh VI
eggs, cigars, trunks, etc.