New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-22
THE REAL THIEVES CAUGHT.
THE INNOCENCE OF MR. BARGUET PROVED

CONFESSION OF THREE BURGLARS WHO COM
M1TTED THE MT. VERNON ROBBERY.
Three professional thieves who committed the
burglary at the house of Charles Tier in Mount
Vernon, early on the morning of February 16 were
prisoners at Police Headquarters yesterday. As
they confessed their guilt and gave to Inspector
Byrnes a detailed account of the crime, there is
no longer any reason to doubt the innocence OF
Pascal T. Barguet, the statoner Of Mount Vernon
who was arrested and held on the false charge
of helping to rob his neighbor's house The in
formation in the possession of the police shows
that Miss Elizabeth Mapes was mistaken when
she swore so positively that she recognized Mr..
Barguet as one of the burglars.
On Friday night Detective-Sergeants O'Bren
and McCauley, while standing at Third-ave. and
One.hundred-and-twenty -ffthst., saw three rogues
leave the station of the elevated railway at that
point and 20 to the Harlem Railroad station,
Llock away The rogues werJ Joseph Murphy,
Charles Peck and Adolph A. Oster, all ex-con-
victs The detectives inquired at the ticket
Office and learned that the suspected men mad
bought tickets to Mount Vernon. When the In
formation of the burglary in Mr.. Tiers mouse
reached Police Headquarters, the detectives began
a search for Murphy, Peck and Oster ana tne
search was not abated after the arrest Oh ME-
Barguet On Wednesday night the thieves were
found and locked up. Yesterday Murphy, VINO
was found to be wounded in one toe, made con-
fession.
He said that Oster, who lived part of the time
in Mt Vernon, had planned robbery IN that
place and had engaged Peck and himself to assist
in the Job. They went to the One-hundred-and-
twenty-ffth-st. station of the Harlem Kali
road on Friday night, expecting to get on the
train for Mount Vernon without attracting tne
attention of the police. Oster had stipulated
thas Peck and Murphy were not TO speak
10 him on the train because he might be recog
nized by other passengers going to his native place.
When they got to Mount Vernon Oster led the way
to tho house Of wealthy man, but it was niled
with guests at reception, and tho thieves were
nonplussed. After hiding themselves in freight
car near the railroad station until o'clock on
Saturday morning. the thieves went back to the
house 10 find il still lighted up.
Then Oster decided to try Mr. Tiers house, not
far distant. Murphy and Peck got in through
rear window while Oster watched outside. Peck
entered the room occupied by Miss Mapes and her
grandmother, and took some things from dress
ing case. Murphy went to the room occupied ny
Mr. Tier who jumped out OF bed and began 10
shooS The two burglars got out OF the mouse
unhurt, but in tho yard Murphy was struck "a ana
wounded in the toe by bullet which Mr. Tier
fired from q window. TAsgAvound was bandaged
after the thieves had got far enough from the
house 10 feel safe and they walked all the way to
Harlem Bridge, where they got on the elevated
road.
Peck and Oster, when confronted with Murphy's S
statement yesterday, also made CONFESSIONS teIllns
the same story The detectives took TO Mt YER
non a Jimmy which was found in Pecks pocket
and il fitted the marks the window OF MI
Tiers house. II is said that Peck bears close
resemblance 10 Mr.. Barguet and wears an ~, uls,er 5
like the one belonging 10 the stationer Today
the prisoners will be taken 10 Mt Vernon for trial.
and Mr. Barguet viii be free from letters ana from
suspicion.