New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-12
ROBBERS CAVES ON LONG ISLAND.
ONE FITTED UP WITH CHINA AND sILVERWARE
AND THE ENTRANCES CONCEALED.

ONE FITTED UP WITH CHINA AND sILVERWARE
AND THE ENTRANCES CONCEALED.
The recent discovery of two robbers caves IN the
swamps ON TIE outskirts Of Isip, l.. L. has thoroughly
aroused the residents of that town. In the last year
numerous robberes have been committed in lslp ana
its vicinity Among the places robbed were those OF
ex-Supervisor VAIL Frank r. Lawrence, who has me
house there, and Howard Glib, Brooklyn merchalI'
who also lives there in the summer. coored man
named Jackson arrested suspicion and he Is now
in the Riverhead Jail awaiting trial The cluzens
who had been robbed offered rewards amounting 10
IL $50 for the arrest and CONVICTION of the theVeS'
II was generally believed that all the rOooenes I'D"
been committed by the same person.
Lop benjamin, fisherman, aud ALEX" CoOmbs
while out in the woods about week ago had thelr
attention attracted to some smoke curling up nom
bushes near SaXtOn's swamp. They made an Ill
vestigaton and found fireplace with dinner beng
cooked In boiling pot. About 200 feet from the hrc
place q cave was discovered There was wooden
cover over the entrance, which was hole large enough
for a man TO crawl into The cover was concealed Dy
brush and grass spread upon It. Deputy Sheriff Ed
bert BENJAMIN was Informed and he cIawled into the
cave with lantern. He found the cave nVied up
With bed and table, and sheets were hung up arUhd
the Sides There were sheets of paper scattered about
and on one of the sheets was the printed name Of
Frank p Lawrence Property belonging to persons
In Islp was also found. On Of the pieces OF paper
was written "'TOm and Fannie" These papers were
delivered to Justice Henry Clock, of lslp.
suspicion fell upon Thomas Richardson. sonin-law
Of Police Justice Waller, of Bay shore Justice Wal
Ter has refused to recognize Richardson. and inc
atter's wife is living at the house of her father
Richardson was not SLOWED TO sec his wife, dnd he
frequently wrote her letters. When it became known
that the robbers cave had bccp discovered large
number Of summer residents and farmers Of the South
shore drove ont IL the cave 10 inspect it. so much
interest was aroused In Tom Richardson that
party Of citizens organized searching party 10 try
to effect his capture. For the last few DAYS party
Of armed men have searched through the woods and
the swamps, but to no purpose
James Richardson, brother Of "Tom,' was ar
rested on Wednesday last The authorities kept
his arrest secret, as they thought by doing
this they would be better able to arrest "TOm.'
James, who has heretofore borne a good rtputati'h
has for some time been employed IN the Howard
Newns mems furnishing store, In Islip. Mr.. Ncw1ns
said he considered James honest and was surprised at
his arrest. When James accused Of participating
with his brother In the robbeTes he denied it, but
finally told the officers something about his brothers
movements lie also admitted that lie regularly com
municated with his brother, and told how lie did this
by their leaving letters for each other IN old hollow
tree in the woods lie also told the officers that he
and his brother had a calling signal which they re
sorted 10 when they wanted to talk with each other IN
INC WINS IiC uAcu lHH eEldl W Slt pi'titI ~
come out of the cave or from his place OF hiding The
officers and those engaged in the search for Tom
Richardson haYe tried to lure Tom into capture by
using the signal given by James but the rse was not
successful.
A second cave discovered near the country
place of W. Rayard Cutting not far from the Central
sp road. Joseph Marvin discovered this cave, which
fitted up in similar manner TO the other one
Both caves ventilated by stem OF tin tubes
the ends of which partially covered with moss
and dry brush. The second cave was fitted up In a
more prctcntious manner than the first one, and was
even supplied with china and silverware, which had
been stolen from the fine country houses along the
south shore. There chain found in this
II is cOnjectured that "TOm" Richardson had fitted up
this cave for the exclusive OF his wife, whom
thought he Intended to ahduct from her fathers house
The Richardson brothers born on the William
Gains estate Isp, while their father employe1
as the gardener Tom is said to be thirty Years
cid and James about ten years younger. When their
parents moved away from Islip, some years ago.
"T3m" went to Tuxas, where he lived the life OF
COWBOY