New-York tribune., 1891-02-06
BAND OF THIEVES BROKEN UP.
DETECTED BY NEW POLICE CAPTAIN AFTER
MONTHS OF DEPRECIATION.

A+@'s
MONTHS OF DEPRECIATION.
Captain Max schmttberger of the Twenty eighth
Precinct better known the steamboat squad has
inst ACCOMPLISHED another exceptonally clever piece of
detective work. since he entered into command OF his
new precinct. few weeks AGO, he has worked hnGe
reform I'm the condition OF the river front and now he
has succeeded in breaking up gang of thieves VINO
for many months have been rObbinc the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad Company with absolute immunity. The plan
OF operation pursued by this gang was to break into
cases Of merchandise in transit, take whatever goods
they wanted and then nail the up The shortage
would not be discovered until the goods reached their
destination, when of the shippers would be
compelled make good the loss They, I'm their turn
sought compensation from the railroad company
Although the company. aided by the steamboat
SQUAD police. had tried all to discover the
tieves their efforts had resulted in failure up TO the
time that Captain schmttbcrger came into the pre-
cnct. Two three days after his appointment thc
new captain, while engaged in making himself ac
quainted with the agents Of the steamboat ana railroad
companies In his precinct had II quiet talk WIN MAJ
colin Townsend, of the Pennsylvania Railroad. A.
result Of that talk Captain schmittbcreer made up MS
mind that the thieves would be found among the EN-
pIoycs of the company this side OF the North River
He found that no investigation had been made at PIERS
% and rs the company's principal local shipping po'
in this city. Tie day after his Interview "lth Mr.
Townsend new man was taken on by the company
weighing clerks Some one, however, discovered ulat
he was a policeman and he quickly taken away
again.
In his place came young man OF most engaging
manners who in a few days became extremely pop
ular with everybody, and readily entered into Inc
plan OF robbery that presently disclosed u
him. lie actually assisted in breaking open the cases
and stealing socks, hats, suSpenders and other small
articles. ON Wednesday night Captain schmlttberScr
paid second visit TO Mr. Townsend and handed TO
him list containing the names of the thieves. Mr.
Townsend decided to prosecute only the three ring
leadeis-all mere youths. Their names are Edward
Hinchey. sixteen years old weighing clerk. hvlns
al No. 81 DesbrOSSeS-St.. Patrick MClncrney also
weigher seventeen years old living at No 427 Green
wch- ST., and William MclndOe receiving
CLERK, twenty years old. Of No. III Tcnthave. AN
usual in these they denied all knowledge of the
robbery until thev confronted by the Captalns
array OF facts Then they broke down and c0nfesSe1
everything. Their plan of operation was 10 % %i3Tce
open the box of goods with wooden wedge Wlch
left no marks, and. having taken what articles they
wanted, nail il up again. The way-DlllS would he
sent to the customer the day the goods were re
reived at the pier but the goods themselves would be
detained until the following morning, with the view OF
creating confusion. The prisoners were locked up al
police headquarters and will be examined by magls-
trate this morning.