Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-14
[UNDREDS HUNT
clyI DwELLER, ROBBIR AND PROB
ABLY WORSE
h.utsOf Islip, Long Island, Excitsd-Ssut Away
I'm His VITA Il Was Feared BE Intended to
KiSusu Her and Then KuHdr HT-Lying
in Wait for Him.

HIP. L. l., July 1S.-This town has
Variable sensation, one that has kept |
|.s5reds of armed men on foot and on
k.iseback securing the dense woods and
..&rching the swamps for some days and
k|thts. As yet they have not found the
IA, ect of their quest, and it is doubtful
Il fhey will.
Il is a very picturesque sensation, too.
nhere is a dashing robber who lives in
.stes handsomely furnished with the
nroceeds of his raids; and it looks very
mhch as though part of his plan was to
bstry off a we'll known young woman OF
tte village-whO, by the way, is bis
uife-and take her to one Of his sub
tsfranean retreats, there to force her
ehher to live with him, or, as some say,
10 murder her.
For the last six months the people
here and in the neighbOrhood for miles
mound have suffered from the depreda-
Nons of mysterious burglar. lie was
not very particular, for he was house
hreaker and animal and chicken THIEF.
TIC first of his victims was Frank Law
rance, the uncle Of the newly made
LADY William Gordon Cumming. The
fhief generally took away house FUR
nisbings and did not seem 10 care for
The more valuable articles, which he
might easily have taken.
The townspeODle soon became terror
nd. but the people kept the troubles
nom the outside world by order of the
4hsticeS Of the peace, who feared by
tnblic hue and cry to put the thief upon
s guard.
HIS IDENTITY ESTABLISHED.
At last the robbers identity has been
Established lie is Tom Richardson,
naive Of Islip township, former con-
liable OF the place, popular, temperate,
& dead shot with pistol and rifle, noted
teaux and altogether about the last
NJ that would be suspected. DiSclOS-
res brought 10 light to-day in careful
Investigation of his hiding places deep
Ia The woods Indicate that he had a
tcheme OF atrOciOus villainy behind his
Expectations.
Tom was born on farm near here
md is the eldest of large family Of
children, several of whom are still here.
HIS brother James, q youth Of twenty,
Is employed in a store here, and it was
Through his reluctant revelations that
the elder brothers guilt was established.
Tn early youth Tom abandoned the
home OF his father and went West. He
frifted TO Texas, where he worked as
fOwboy, and finally returned 70 Islip
AbOut a wear and half ago.
IN dress, manner and accomplish
neutS he embodied the popular idea OF
lhe dashing plainsman of the far West.
with rifle or pistol he could cut the eagle
IRON a silver quarter OF a dolalr at fifty
yards. He wore clothes Of rakish cow
boy cut and sported an expansive SOM
OrerO.
Soon after his arIsSal he married the
daughter OF Justice Waller, of Bay
lhOre-whO, By the way, was formerly
New York policeman.
After the wedding he went to live
with his father-in-law, but soon con-
tracted the bad habit of running in
iebt. At last Justice Waller sent him
out into the world to earn the money to
hay his debts and then 10 return for
bis wife. Tom went and thereafter
WaS not seen in the town again until
lust at nightfall one day last week
Some one came into town with the news
lhat Tom Richardson had been seen on
Rhe outskirts of the village moving to-
ward the great SaxtOu Swamp.
His presence was reported TO the
police and the conclusion was reached
That the mysterious rObber was none
NDther than Tom Richardson, This con-
le,usion once arrived al the town author
Mites made up their minds to arrest
young jim Richardson IS an accessory
20 his brothers. crimes. This young
man was taken into custody on We'd
EneSday night and promptly revealed
4 euoueh 20 convince Justice OF the
+ Peace Clock that Tom was the guilty
man.
The younger brother admitted that
4 Tom had been in the neighbOrhood for
Il months, living ne knew not where, do
4iug he knew not what beyond taking
s from him all the money that ne could
|raise.
Then the search Of the swamp and
4 woodland commenced for the hiding
8 place Of the rObbCr.
ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE.
The wild country back of Islip was
4 thoroughly searched, until in the mid
i Idle of SaxtOn'S Swamp the seekers
& noticed a tuft Of grass running appar-
/ ently where no verdure should by right
|exiSt. One pull at the suspicious tuft
brought up a square of turf and reveal
. ed passageway, which upon iLveStiga-
+ ton was found 10 lead TO small cave,
I equiDDed with a stove, table, mattress
and bedclO;heS.
. it had been lately occupied, and tell
A tale letters scattered over the table
proved its inhabitant TO have been Tom
\ Richardson.
The matter was kept secret for day
or two and a strict watch was kept on
the cave by armed men but Richardson
. failed 10 materialiZe.
He was seen. however, by several
Villagers at different points in the
woods, and gradually his connection
with the robberies leaked out, and
general hue and cry was raised against
+ him.
Two days ago at least three hundred
armed men, on foot and horseback,
started out TO run him down, but
failed.
ANOTHER CAVE FOUND.
As great good luck would have it,
however, they succeeded in locating |
Gave No. ., which was undoubtedly |
4 richardson's stronghold. About three
miles back of Islip aud close to the old |
Suffolk County fair grounds is long |
|disused charcoal pit. The spot was
nearly surrounded by stumped cedars'