New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-16
OUTLA US or DUTCH HILL.
ARENDEZVOUS OF THIEVES.

A REGION IN NEw-1oRK WHERE NEITHER PROT
ERTY NOR LIFE Is SECURE AND WHERE THE
POLICE ARE rowEILEss
An extraordinary state of things is reported AT
Police Headquarters as existing on the GaSI o'vf ol
pItal mt Twcnty-slxthsr 10 the saughter-houses at
Foriy-thrd-st. The East Side rly"r precincts are
always ds0ldery, and the most difficult task WIN
which the police are charged IL to, keep
their turbulent population IN cheek lnspec,
tor Murray has since he took command
oppostion 10 the lawless element to make 1t larry
habitable; but the forces at his command appear
to lie entirely inadequate to the emergency anu Tue
evil is of too long standing TO be suppressed easily
The region is embraced within the Iwenty-lrst IRE
cinct Here a nursery Of thIeves and cnt-throais OF
the worst description Is reported as eXiStihg.
The residents of the nelGhborhood complain
that neither they themselves nor Their prop
cry safe from the depredations Oh an
organized baud of thieves against whom
the police are poweress R0bberies are OF daly
occurrences and assaults on peaccabc citizens ana
wandering peddlers are so frequent as ardiv 10
excite passing notice. Women are assaulted. YES
sells living at the docks are plundered ana The SAB
bath is desecrated by the hideous revelrles OF the
ruans, who hesitate at nothing ne a 4II
docks and the rocks of "Dnich llill," or
as oO Iha hiding '' places Of the band, who
Gr1 IL easy 10 cyade the police and secrete their
plunder From the docks they make plratlcal eX-
cursions to the vessels IN the rivers. On the hll
they herd together in wreicned shantles, saie from
| surprise IN the company of dl&'oIute women, VINO
Inv day 90 begging about the city and gather iood.
The land comprises ruians of all ages, from the
man of thirty to the boy hardly IL his Teens VINO Is
serving his apprenticeship IN vice and crime.
Dcsulte the thinning-out Of the ranks ny an Occa
sonal arrest and conviction, the thieves decrease IN
number only temporarily Inc return OF tneT oid
cOmpanons from prison or fresh accesSl0ns from tue
suns of the population reinforce their ranks lhelr
dcpredations have driven several storekeeperS from
the neighboThood. ,,,. 49,,
dealers at Nos. 66S and go Frst-ave. took
TRIBUNE reporter through ms yard TO tne river
front and showed him where the thieves had broken
into the engine-house during the summer and stolen
a large portion of the hosting machinery. Inc dock
at this point is OPEN and boats can he run under IT,
Here" said Mr.. Lucas, the fellows broke
hole i'm the pier and let down fifty tons OF small coal
Not satisfied with this they burrowed under the
fence from Thirty-cghth-st., and broke through IT.
that way Thew stole even the ience-Doards.
The watchmen occasionally catch one, but
dare do them no harm lor lear Oh tnelr
nrompt and savage revenge 10 report the ro0DeHeS
othe noce does no good they are ataid OF the rut-
ians. These men are terrorzlng the people on the
| avenue. You can think OF no outrage they are hot
| eoual to or guilty Of"
| 4This according TO the foreman in large lumber
ward near by, is also the opinion OF captain Ryan,
| who commands the police of the precinct. Whena
rohbery was reported TO him recently. his simple
answer was: "Thcy are capable of anythInR'
NJ Adams of the firm of Wilson & Adams, whose
n,nher-vard extends from FlrSt-ave. to the river
between Thirty.nlnth and Foriy-sec0nd-sts., fully
supported Mr.. Lucas's statements. Inc firm has
| been compelled recently to erect very tall close
nrnnertv against the thieves. Mr. Adams bears
nnn his face the deep sears of blows received III An
| orcounter with the band upon his own premises.
| lie was rescued by his employees. who 90 always
aruen with revolvers At night his yard is guarded
against assaults from the river by waichmen and
several large dogs. The only man. said Mr..
Adams. who ever could keep bis band in check
was Captan Williams. when he was here short
! time He sent 50 many away to prison that we be-
%nn 70 experience relief Since he left, they have
| returned with renewed force. Assaults ana robber-
les everyday occurrences IN tne sire e. mere.
! A few weeks ago the stableman of the firm was
seriously injured 10y the thieves, who stoned him.
! TIC emplovfs III the yard tell almost incredible
! stories of outrages committed III broad daylight.
| The firm of Heilbronncr, Josephs d Co, cigar
manufacturers occupy SIX buildings ~ the block on
! Frst-avc between lhIFty-iIinlh ana foie'prs's'
| They have been in business there since last Feb
! ruarv and employ large number OF workmen.
| Their factory has been the object Of repeated at
! tacks. Two weeks ago thleyts broke through the
| scuttle III the roof and stole quantity OF cigars
! On Sunday night they forced the front door on
First ave and gain on Monday night. but ana not
| obtain any plumber. Workmen were repairing and
! STRENGTHENING the door when the reporter visited
| the office Mr.. Hcilbronner and his partner exhb-
| tied great reluctance speak about their troubles
We dare not" said the 1oiner; II were to tell
what have seen here neither l nor
thcso men would kill us" Mr.. Heilbronner
spoke with AN earnestness that left doubt of his
sincerity. we have great interests here lie
| Only let me say TO you That have been IN Mexico
| and among the savages, and never have seen the
outIaees equaled that are committed here to my
wer, speak freely Of il our tenants would leave u.s.
! Mr. eibromner is Il foreigner He appeared TO be
perfectly terrorsricken ~ the mere mention OF the
! thieves OF " Dutch HIM. Inc reporter continued
/ his injuries among tho manufacturers and store
keepcrs of the precinct: the testimony OF all were
| in confederation of what has been given above.
| Cnptan Ryan's administration has made slight
change for the better, but much more radical one
| il needed.