Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-19
A BATTLE WITH TRAMPS
Police Chased the Desperadoes
 on a Locomotive.
ONE TRIED TO KILL THE JUDGE.
After . Fierce Fight tho outIaws Were Arrested, Only to Renew the Battle In tho Courtroom-Thelr Sentences Imme- dIateIy Doubled.

KINGSTON, N. Y., Dee. 19 V ee of the most desperate tramps that have struck this town in a long while are now confined in jail awaiting free passage to tic Albany penitentiary, where they will spend year or more. They attempted to annihilate several members of the police force and as a result are suffering from sore heads and bodies.
 As Policeman William Vogt was patrol ling Broadway he was informed that three tramps had stolen some articles from a clothesline in the yard of a family named Roose on Prospect street. The messenger said the men were bold and defiant, and the people in the vicinity were afraid of them. Policemen NoRt hastened to inves- tigate. The men had started down the West Shore railroad toward the Wilbur tunnel. The policeman went in pursuit with drawn revolver and found them walk ing alongside fence which surrounds cemetery.
 The policeman shout for them to halt and ordered them to Lod up their hands. One of the tramps, instead of complying, told Vogt to put up his gun, and they would go peaceably with him. He unsus- pectedly complied, but he had no sooner got the weapon into his pocket than all three men bounced upon him, took his club and the pistol away and then beat and kicked him.
 Pincky Policeman.
 Thinking that they had disabled Vogt, the tramps ran away up the railroad track leading out of the city. Nogt, who was de termined not to let hls assailants escape, gave chase the blood streaming from his nose and cuts and scratches upon his face. Word had in the meantime been telephoned to police headquarters, and. Chief Hood sent Sergeant Cahill and Policeman Sulli- van to the assistance of Vogt. As Cahill and Sullivan were taking their way down the railroad track the yard en- zine came along, and they boarded it and gave chase toward the Wilbur tunnel. As the engine neared the tunnel tho tramps separated. The youngest of tho lot was passed, it being certain there would be no trouble in securing his arrest later, and the engine pushed on after the more des- | perate of the gang.
 A short distance from the tunnel the po- icemen came upon one of the tramps, and Cahill, with drawn revolver, stood on the side of the engine cab and called on the tramp to halt. He faced Cahill and put his hand to his hip pocket for the pur- pose of drawing the weapon he had taken | from Vogt. The sergeant, however, gave | him to understand that if he raised his hand he would be shot,
 Cahill and Sullivan then got off the en- l zine to arrest the fellew, but he was not so willing to be taken into custody and show ed fight, whereupon he was beaten into ] submission. Nogt walked back on the track, and overtaking the youngest of the three took him into custody. i The most desperate of the trio was still 1 at large. The policeman saw him in q l field a short distance away. Leaving the l tramp they had overcome in the charge of a railroad hand, they started for him. | Policeman Sullivan, who is one of the sturdiest members of the force, seized the | fellow, who did not submit to arrest until l after a lively tussle.
 Tho men were taken to police headquar- 1 ters, where they gave their names and ages | as follows: Joseph Higgins, aged 30; Frank Stone, %, and John Costello, 10.
 They were at once arraigned before Re corder Clare and sentenced to six months in the Albany penitentiary and to each pay a $50 fine.
 Fought In Court.
 This dose was more than they had ex- pected, and notwithstanding that Costello and Higgins were handcuffed together the former jumped at the recorder, dragging his companion with him, and attempted to assault him, threatening to take his life when he secured his liberty. Policeman | Sullivan grabbed the prisoner, and one of the bloodicst and most exciting scenes that has ever occurred in a courtroom ensued. Policeman and prisoner, each of whom weighed about l15 pounds, rolled over and over, and Costello, with open mouth, tried hard to get either the officers nose or ear ! in his teeth.
 Higgins cried with pain and shouted that his arm, which was shackled to Cos tello, was being broken. Policemen Cahill and Hoffman and Chief Hood took part. l Costello fought desperately and not until ] Is,,r bH-E .l, repeated blows did he give in. The floor after the fracas resembled that of slaugh- 1 ter house.
 Recorder Clare then doubled the term of imprisonment, making it year in the pen itentiary and Sl00 fine.