The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
FARMERS TURNING ROBBERS.
THE REMARKABLE Confession OF
NEW JERSEY BURGLAR

Since Dec. 10, 1873, n series of burglarles
and robberies. varying in importance from
chicken thefts to highway robbery. have been
committed in the little towns and in farm
houses in the ncighborhood OF Elizabeth. N. j.,
and until month ago who the burglars and
robbers were could not be guessed. On Jan. 30
Chief Keron OF the Elizabeth police aud Con-
stable Marsh OF Westneld. whilo hunting for
n clue rode past Adoph Minge's farm house in
Crawford township and noticed some white
chickens roosting on tho sill OF the garrett win
dow. Neither Mlngc nor his hired man. John
llaef. objected when. two days aitcrward. the
Chief presented n search warrant. and asked to
be shown to the garrett The birds had flown.
but the Chief found q carriage that was subse-
Quently identified as stolen property. Mingo
and Raef were arrested. and bailcd before JUS
tico Osborne in Elizabeth for trial. Minge's
| father being bondsman.
On tho night on which Minge and Raef were
released on bail. Jan. 81. seven houses in
| Roeelle. mile west OF Elizabeth. were other
broken into or attempted by burglars. First.
| Physician II. G. Persons back window catch
was snapped of by chisc thrust between tho
sashes. and the kitchen was entered and search
| ed. The only articles carried away were two
| black slouched hats. Postmaster Garthwates
| house was entered in the same way. and
| dozen and half OF plated silver spoons we're
| taken from the pantry. Then the catch Of Il.
| W. Cranes pantry window was pried OF. but
| house dog from tho inside drove the burglars
| away and awoke the Cranes, who went to sleep
again. Then Justice Noah Woodruff was
| awakened by the ratting OF his rear window.
He scampered down stairs in his stockings. and
found window half raised. His dog had
been scared away from the house by the
men. He went back to bed. Then the burglars
| got into Mr.. Thompsons cellar. and ate up all
the cold remnants from the previous, days
| meals. Next they went to WIN. Adkins house.
| Mr.. Adkin is an employee in Broadway dry
goods store He was not at home on that night.
| but his wife was. She heard in tho dead ~
| night rafting at the window down stairs. Lis
tening minute, and making Hp her mind that
s Sose one hey Ss SaoSnS wo W wae
hurry down stairs ~ Then she hurried a
pail, OF her husbands pantaloons. and went
| boldly down stairs and out OF tho front door.
| while the burglars in the rear. hearing the
noise. ran in wide circle and clambered over
her nelghbors; Il just wasn't going TO let any
body rob this house. thought I'd show 'em
Finally tho burglars tried Farmer Edwin
| Mlller's house. but found IL too well secured.
may prove q clue TO the robbers yet uncaught
| Tho proceeds Of these rohberes were not over
$50; On theneN night. Feb. I. the farm house
~ William Brant. who IL 81 years OF age. in
| Union township, was entered by! breaking n
window catch. Mr.. Brant has for, years lent
| money 20 the farmers living around him and
| taken their notes. His room was in the rear 81
the dwelling. and his secretary with valuahles
| and papers stood In one corner OF the sleeping
room. The window raised by the robbers WAS
| ~ tho front Of tho house occupied 10y Farmer
| Howard. Under the window on that night WIS
lying in a bed on floor boy ~ years OF age.
| Towards wite's brother. Henry Smith. ar
rested on Tuesday last for the crime. confessed
panons: Is this a boy or a giri 7" One re-
piled: = Never mind. we can soon make short
Entering Mr. Brants room. they first took his
silver watch from me mantel. Then the secre;,
out SO nolselrssy through the Kitchen that Mr..
Brant was not disturbed. Smith SAYS that II the
old man had been awakened he would probably
have boon killed. - the men had calculated on
getting 50. 900 In the secretary. Carrying II q
hundred yards from the house; the men kicked
| II open. They found only $50. mostly silver.
| and about peck OF promssory notes. The
notes were tossed about by the men and trodden
under foot. Old Mr., Brant has been wandering
| around the snowy lots nearly every day since the
robbery. kicking into every pile OF rubbish and
| running his cane under fences. in hopes OF fish,
| ing up some moro Of these notes. The notes
were many. because he loaned money In small
| amounts. The total amount Of the notes he
rcckons at 80 900. OF which 5000 worth have
| Alter Minge's and Raers release on bail
| Chief Keron learned that Henry Smith. Young
| man boarding at Martin Conrads. in Cranford
| Lad been long Intimate with them. Smith M
well rs Minge and Raef worked on farms in
the summer, hut In the winter. having little To
do. they visited each other. played cards and
dnminoes. and to all appearances seemed 10 be
Willing their time away in such pastimes.
Smith made no ado when arrested, but con-
mentioned. and also in those committed be-
tween Dee. - and Jan. %. He IL OF slight
build while Raef II over six ie"t tall. Smith
says that three others, making six IN all. nave
been connected with the crimes. He has given
the names OF the three not caught. and officers
are hunting for them. Their capture Is be-
lieved to be certain.
The first Of tho series Of robberes was that OF
some whiskey in Ross's dstiery In Linden.
four miles southwest from Elizabeth, An em-
ployeo ms cep in the distillery heard the men
breaking in and attempted to drive them away.
He was knocked down and kickcd 90 badly in
the face that he is disilgurcd Tor life. A reward
WIS offered but nothing came Of il. The men,
after the beating. carred away ten gallons Of
whiskey, The next TINT was heard Of the work
Of the robbers was on Jan. 10. when smith, with
Minge and two others. drove an old white horse
and long box sleigh in the night 10 the resi-
dence OF John Teese In Union. Three went 70
The np one in The Sleigh saw William sayles. col.
ored man. coming and whistled. The other
| three came running from the barn, and all four
attacked sayes. knocked him down and took
from his pocket knife. mitten. ten cents. and
bottle OF rum; This knife was picked up on
Mr.. Adkinss window. After beating Sayles so
that he could not interfere with them the men
returned to the barn and stole twosets OF double
harness aud two single harness. Smith.
when arrested, told where the two single har-
;Thursday last where he said they were under
n bridge across a road. They were unlnjured.
on that same night tho men stole in William
agent Wcatlakes carriage; and, on their way
| homeward IN Halscys Corners. they stole calf
| =
Less thAn a week afterward. in Rosee. they
stole forty chickens from one man, making two
trips with the old white horse. On the last trip,
| job \. Williams, Collector OF Union township.
going home met them. Two men were walking
ut the horses head.
What nre you doing there boys?" he cried.
oh" said ono, we're lust liking this old
| harness; :" and thcy walked slowly out Of sight.
A few nights afterward in Westneld John
Justices calf was taken. Loves, Arrays. and
Bindenbergs cothcslines were relieved. Mr..
TownIey lost his chickens, and in Craniord
Widow Denham. Mr.. Curtis. and Mr.. Ludlow
lost their beehives Of honey. On tho same
night the young farmers, Smith says. went Ia
Warren Randolphs place, near CRAWFORD
depot. and put into one big bag pig. Il duck
aud q rooster. The trio in the bag were still
until they were corred to the road, when thc
duck set up vigorous quncking, tho pic
squoaled vociferousy and the rooster crowed
and cackled. Smith says. in telling the story
that tho way the CAD was Laid 10 that old white
horses back WIS caution They carried
away the booty.
Soon afterward the party stole whips, blankets
and robes from carriages in tho sheds hehlnt
tho Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church
while the owners We're at worship on Sunday
evening. Twice Justice ShannOn's mill IL
Crawford was entered and n quantity OF tooll
taken.
The number Of thefts amounts. 1t is believed