New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-26
RUFFIANS ON STREET CARS.
AN ATTACK BY ROBBERS IN HARLEM.
SECOND AVENUE CAR BOARDED BY SIX MEN,
WHO ASSAULT AND ROB TWO PAssENGERs--
Er..nLE nErnnrs nE rLLE nnL 1cI,

\ Is
WHO ASSAULT AND ROB TWO PAssENGERs-
FEEBLE EFFORTS OF THE POLICE.
Two sleepy horses were hauling a car on the
Second ave. surface line, in which sat five
still mole sleepy passengers, when SIX
members of the " Battle Row Gang" of
ruffians got at Nlnety-niuth-st. and as
sauted two of the passengers dragged them
of and robbed them. After this the passengers be-
came wide awake and the horses tried to run away
under the lash of the drivers whip. This assault
and highway robbery occurred just before
midnight on Thursday and yet at late
hour last nght-twenty -four hours afterward-
the police had done comparatively nothing, except
to order the arrest Of the conductor of the car Just
why this order was issued could not be ascerfalned
The railroad company had also done nothing look
ing toward an investigation the president OF the
company only expressing astonshment that
such thing had taken place. But what
dill take place, as told by the unfortunate victims
and corroborlted by the conductor and driver of
tine car WIS learned last night by the reporter Of
The TRIBUNE.
Open car No. 1O1 arrived at the stables, at
Nnety-seyeuth-st. and -ecoud-aye., al fifteen
minutes past II O'clock on Thursday
night. As Il. was through ear, the
norses were changed tine conductor reported his ar
rival and David lllley the night starter, gave the
signal to move. Slowly the ear was pulled past the
stables, three and woman and young man
being the passengers. Al Nncty-1nt-st. the driver
heard a whistle down went the brakes and SIX men
got on About % block fur Ter on the conductor went
10 the front seat 10 collect the six fares They
refused The conductor told the driver 90 stop and
said he would wait untllthe SIX fares were paid.
At this the men 'ccame noisy, made threats and
seemed determined on having disturb
aucc. Af,cr delay Of two or three
minutes. two men sitting on the second
scat from the driv, r--the two who had been pas
scnecrs when the ear passed the stable-urged the
Others ro pay. saying: " Oh pay your fares, and
don't keep us here all night" A. II THIS was the
~i,ual Tor the attack, tine six ruiian- sprahg over
tho back of tine seat, some with open hands clu ch-
ing the hair and throats OF tncir victims. while
others with cleuched fists struck them anywhere
they could. The two IN n struggled aud foughti
but the highwaymen soon oEerP0Meird mem ana
dragged them 10 the street. lhS left the car
clear, and it passed on with the horses on the gal-
lop and the driver. the conductor and he third
man congratulated Themselves that they were SAFE.
They had not done as much rs the woman to assist
the victims of the robbers, for she screamed for
help with ihe full strength OF lu7ty voice. Her
screams, however, were 0i Little avail I'M that part
of >ecOnd-ayc., which Is here spa seiy bnt up ana
lonely. About SIX biOca- further On Two policemen
were seen. ihey were ioid a'olt lhe irouoIe aup
Immediately returned on passing car, out TOO late
t. DO any good as the robbers haG gone Whlle tAer
victim, had been assisted bl ptsscrs-o by.
Otto BeWheart was one OF those 80 assisted. lie
il 4 rather flcshy German. OF about medium height.
living mt so. 3Ol East observation-disclosures
st. His recolectious OF the attack struggle and
robbery were 7 pea ed last evening " One or my
boarders " is coming nome :" "Itl me last hishi' ne
car. A. we ncared ne-hundredth-st. SIX men got
on. They refused 10 pay their fares and the con-
ductor would lot allow the cdr To proceed. Inc
delay became annoying We were urea
ana wanted to 20 on, aud 80 we urged
tine men TO pay their fares, and not TO keep the car
and the rest of the passengers out all night. This
Ill, aid I'm g.lS fpO
ns more quickly than they did Crusn-
ing ny tat over my head and graoDIng
me by the throat, the first timing l
knew / was the groundan then became lnsen-
thongh Won sec have several bad bruises, do not
think / was Stulued. Here IN my neck they cut me
a httle. But OTTO Bachman, who was win me-
was more roughly handled. lie lost his watch,
while was robbed of what money l had-aOout
81 5O.' i'll
BarhnAu. his companion. showed rough treat
ment one OF his eyes was entirely closed up.
and his head and body were bruised AS
~ lao bonts lis version of the affair was about the
same a- Bernhcart's. He, however, declared tnat
the conductor had helped to pull him of the car.
Ihis was denied by the conductor, W liam B.
Adams who wears badge No. lOl. He said:
noticed the SIX when they got on the car,
near Nlnety-nntn-st and from the first ln!strustei
that something would happen. llev had evidently
be.u IN king Just enough To make them noisy They
were pretty well dressed, and. should Judge, were
oet,yecl the ages of eighteen and thirty. When l
asked for their they refused to pay. at once
told the driver To stop. and said would wait un-
I'll wa. p ID. | stepped mp on the front, where
fhe driver stands With the intention OF waiting
until help arrived. Then two male passengers
spoxe no and urged the SIX TO pay
over the back OF the seat the SIX men wen, pell-
NELL grabbing. striking and clutching at the two
who had interterrd, and in less time than II takes
To leu the story they pulled them OF the ear Ny
ear being clear. 1 gave the signal and OF we went
DO yOu think, Mr. Adams that the men would
have at aokcd you If tho passengers mad not IN
- think I would have been killed bad | at
tempted 10 do anything, as the gang evidently
meant mischief. saw blows struck on the car, DuJ
| did not see the robbery. ,..
" Dld YOU make any attempt 10 assist Jhe passeh-
gers who yOu say saved your
/ " No. did not"
Thomas brennan, the driver of the car. a stout-
looking Irlshmln, weighing abOut 100 pounds,
| rave substantially the same account a, Conductor
! Adams adding That the gang @ere q" "tough-lOoklng
customers the sort he did not care 10
/ nIeddlc with The third male passen-
ger. William T. Shepcer. who lives at
/ No 236 last Oue-hundr drad-Ind- -seVcnth-St., also
told his story to the reporter lie had Deen Ia the
ear aud had the fight but dId not care 70 assist
/ the men, If murder had been committed he coud
/ helped H.
/ Immediately after the attack was made the two
mea reported the case To the police NJ ne station
in hundred twenty y5lxth-st. The sergeant
On duty thought 1t necessary 10 send FOR Ponce sur
/ neOn = elnert who dressed the wounds OF the VIC
| tins The men We're then sent 10 the staIloh III
Elghrv-eghth to report the case 10 the proper
precinct Bcrnheart also reported the attack al ih
car stables At both places lie said he was laughed
William : Thorn, the president of the road, did
not think thar highway robbery mad been commit
ted. Tie said that a man had only lOst MS WHICH,
CAPTURING A CAR IN GOERCK-ST.