The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-07
PRIVILEGED MURDER Frs.
NEWBURGH 0AN0 THAT ROBS
AND KILLS. As IT PLEASES


the Newburgh CHIEF or PoIIoe-Is II sol
Tho Bridge bandits OF Newburgh are a
rang OF Young sneak thieves burglars, high
vaymen, and all around blscklegs, with head
quarters at the stone bridge over the Quassaick
Creek on the southwestern boundary OF the
city. The gang was organized about five years
ago since then its members have committed
innumerabe burgiarios oil all Sorts from chick
an stealInG to safe blowing. They have
tbrashed unofTendinR citizens, and have repeat
eddy mobbed the police. They have terrified
into almost accomplishing submission tho
ntopkeepers OF Nowburgh and the farmers OF
tho surrounding country on whom they have
preyed INCREASINGLY. They are generally be-
ioved to have killed two men. and are
auspectod OF having killed four or five Others
Although score or moro of them have been
sent to the pontentiRry their ranks are still all
but unbroken. Railway trRmps. New York
city bummers star rufflans OF other gangs
In tho small towns above and below on the
Hudson. and the maturing young loafers OF
Newburgh have filled all vacancies rs fast rs
they have occurred With the assistance OF
such recruits the bandits have boon able. de-
spite tho spasmodic prosecutions OF the Now
burgh police to add each month to their long
and varied list OF crimes
The Bridge Bandits are not. however, plain.
ordinary thieves and highwaymon OF the every
day tramp style. They arc genuine bandits.
with all the dino novel appendsgos Of bandits.
They have recognized loader. n rendezvous.
. sentry. record. and Il training school for
their youthful hangors-on. Their leader Is
usually member who has been so utterly
reckless In crime that the police couldn't help
catching him. Tho present leader OF the gang
has passed four and half years at Sing Sing.
and Is now temporarily absent from Newburgh
to escape another term Tor trying to shoot
down policemen In tho street. The leaders,
duties consist in planning the moro elaborate
burHlaries, guiding and presiding over the
councils, and personally conducting the gang
IN any special enterprise.
The rendezvous OF the bandits 10 tho whole
region lust before tho Newburgh entrance TO
the New Windsor bridge. 1t includes tho
Happy Lands" meadows. whore the bandits
GUN themselves on pleasant days. the banks
under and beside the bridge, whore the bandits
smoke, gamble, and plot on rainy days. and
Bummers Hill, considerable knoll at tho
right OF tho bridge entrance. Tho most storled
spot OF all is the Bummers' Hill. 1t is almost
bare OF bushes and trees. and on the side facing
New Windsor has, near the top. grassy basin.
This basin has long been the scene OF the
bandits darkest councils. A sentry at the crest
OF the hill warns them OF any approaching in
terruption or danger All members OF the gang
have their individual paths and hiding places
III the neigh borhOod. so that at n moments no.
lce they can scatter and disappear like SPUR
reis ordinarily; b however; the sentry gives no
and scneme over their camp fire whom they
shull rob, how they. shall do 1t. who must be
waylaid. and who must do it. where the plunder
ehail 10 80 d or pawnnd. and which one shall
go to new iock to dispose OF 1t. The leader
must also tell what he has learned from Erie
and Pennsy vania tramps. OF friendly gangs OF
bandits in Pat on. Port Jervis, Scranton, and
h9T Sa her
tome OF tho bandits might not better start out
~ starring tour through the Erie and Penn
lions or after ,toraginG party is sent out
TO- the nearest barns and iarmhouses to
When they return. their pinnder Is V cooked
pver big Camp fire IN the middle OF the
basin T,bdB Hi eaten savage
Aewburgh saloon or grocery BY, the bandits on
smoke their cigars and pines. also products Of
their semi monthly, raids, and disperse to
Houses. Those bandits who live In town with
their parents. generally amuse themselves on
lively quiet evening reunions on Bummers
hill by smashing windows. beating inofensiye
citizens. and making off with all the portable
The record OF the bridge bandits is unique.
II is kept on the two high wooden wings at the
the most scholarly bandits have carved the
memorable dates in the bandit life of the
Liunuut. of Bummers HILL the Mechanics Of
the burglars in chief, and a mass OF cabalistic
characters TO Indicate TO the initiated the
rlars. movements. and successes Of their pals.
A few OF the inscriptions on the records
wooden pages are inteiliGlhle to ali, and have
given many hints to the police as to the muta-
Of its best men so They tel Of SeFsnton zoe
South 81 &c sent n1'S Gp
lSS9," and q the innumerahle vicissit,ndes, Of
and FST ca BSeyf IN
the East and West, in Aewburgh, Sing sing.
md New York. Among tho names are roughly
dozens Of other characters beyond the under
ST!"GdG Of Al without the charmed circle OF
the traIri..g school OF the bridge bandits has
nother the formal organization nor general
recognitl9n OF some OF their other institutions.
working lat9rers and factory hands who live
borhood have been fascinated ny the yellow
covered mystery OF tho dolngs OF the bridge
mers lIil., and by the notorloty OF the perioll-
cai raids Of tho bandits in Newburgh and New
Windsor. They hang about the bridge almost
characters on the gangs wooden record, and
burglars of al their information as to
70 houses and doings OF wei!-to-do reople in
show NATURAL nrttnIe G Tor tolectn n such linz n
formation and provo thor prowcss OCCASION
ally Oy n sneak thelt they are gradually re-
cn!ye into the confidence and membership. OF
tho GhnE Thi' ha" oI = been tho process by
%uirn me bandits have obtained their New
ourEh and New - indsor recruits.
NJ" l0rEe'S iecontly saw good illustration
CT tho efficiency OF this sort OF criminal train
Ink. Jimmy Reilly, WHO helped lead u revolt
f. he liandnlls Island ioformutory last Feb
Tla,y was half finished pupil Of the Bridge
Bandlts' school. Young Reilly is Tie son OF an
l. most, hard-workmG blacksmith in New
windsor. TWO ,yerrs ago VIII II ho WINS but
II years old, +, l-!mnton Kelly a country
gen !eman. with residence about fifty rods
from tho New Windsor END Of the bridge be-
cGno interested! In him. lodged MIN fed. and
81 thed him, md srEt him 10 school, Rsilly's
MaT 70 school La across the bridge. He met
tho ha! dlts alnioSi uhi!y. Rnl soon began
paying hooEoy s" that lie might get moro OF
iSr3 Hs c@a6o to him. Tecauso H. ri Ko nit had
ne reputation OF being II, r,"h man
,eG ,hcm how, when, and rom What
point they could most advaniacPoLsry
roh hi- house After lew moath- Of his hob
no"hlng with the bandits lie rs q saprcarel
from New NiIdsur About tou weeks after his
departure Mr; ,K"l received from lin n ictes
dRtod at the MHyvie all Reilly expIAinol in
this ,etor now h." hpl STATE gut 1" bo loA!