The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-07-02
DHVINEAT DEATHS DOOR
He Makes an Ante-Mortem
Statement Regarding
His Injuries.
IT WAS THE BONNsVILLE GANG.
The Assault Upon Bent and De-
vine Charged to a Band Of
Rowdies.

Park Keeper Devine. who is lying at the
point of death in Hoboken in consequence
of mysterious assault upon him, as re-
ported in THE JERSEY CITY NEWS of yes
terday, was in the company of Captain
Bunt, of the ferryboat Paunpeck, at the
time he received his injuries, and after
the assault both were arrested and fined
by the Union Hill police authorities.
Sergeant Rathjen, of the Hoboken po-
lice. was sent for last night to take the
ante mortem statement of Park Keeper
Devine. DR.. Pitts had telephoned to the
police station that such course was de-
sirable.
Devine's skull is fractured at the base,
but when seen by the sergeant he was
conscious and could talk. Dr. Pitts ex-
planned that on previous occasion he had
man struck in Just such a manner, who
worked for three days after the injury,
but was dead from the result of it on the
fifth day.
Deyine was able to tell his story.
DEvrNE's ANTE-MoRTEM STATEMENT.
captain Bunt and l." said Devine.
went on Keely's chowder excursion. We
got back late in the evening, and, while
standing opposite the car stables, were
assailed by gang of rowdies, who ex-
claimed, Here's two of 'em,' and struck
both the Captain and myself to the
ground. They then made off. The noise
of the struggle evidently attracted po-
hceman, for when | regained conscious
ness few minutes later a gentleman in
blue was attempting to revive Captain
Bunt''
They were both taken to the police
station and were kept there all night,
Devine said, and to cap the climax they
were fined s. each in the morning. 1t
was on his way home yesterday morning
that Divine became unconscious from
his hurts when near his own door, and
some neighbors took him home. DIR.
Pitts was Immediately called and found
the injuries to be serious.
Much Indignation is felt at the inhu-
manity of the Union Hill police in arrest
ing two badly injured men and confining
them in the unventilated and most un-
comfortable lookup.
THE PoLICEMAN's STORY.
1t was Policeman William Stillwell, Of
the West Hoboken police, who arrested
Bunt and Devine. He said
Il was patrolling my beat on Railroad
avenue, Bonnsyille, about one o'clock
Monday morning, when heard yelling
and cursing in the neighborhood of the
car stables. / ran there as fast as / could,
over each other in the mud, while Bunt
had his assailant under him on the car
| track
"'Take that, you - - said one OF
them, as he heard me coming.
II blew my whistle for assistance and
number of car drivers came to my
assistance. AS soon as the fighters heard
the whistle they loosed their hold of
Devine and Bunk and ran away.
II arrested Devine and Bunt, brought
them to the station house, and when I
made a charge of being drunk and dis
orderly against them yesterday morning,
Recorder Goynes fined them each s..
THE TOWNSVILLE GANG.
The band of rowdies into whose hands
Bunt and Devine fell is considered to be
the worst gang in North Hudson. 1t num-
bers men who have done timep by the
score, and is the terror of all the respect
| able people in that section.
They are rarely seen in the day time,
but as soon as night falls they put in an
appearance, and watch their chance to
entrap the unsuspecting passerby.
| If he happens to be little intoxicated
so much the better. He can be robbed so
much easier.
The police appear to be powerless
in the present case, the poor dazed VIC
| tim is arrested and fined.
| A citizen of West Hoboken said to me,
when speaking of the gang
"This case is only one out of hundred
that have uot come to light. After rob-
| bing they intimidate their victim and thus
prevent him from making complaint. I
would not pass the car stables after dark
unless armed"
Captain Bunt and Mr.. Devine failed to
identify their assailants, and it will need
sharp detective work to find them in the
mazes of Bonnsville, where they have as
many places of coneealment as rats.