The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-05
G7HE police station at Providence
was thrown into furore OF ex-
element Thursday night by the
Ill .k,N o, attatny,t would ha


citement Thursday night by the
u report that An attempt would be
made that night to burn the LSggets
Creek breaker of the Delaware and
Hudson Canal company, and that dur
ing the excitement gang of crooks
would burglSrize number OF stores in
the locality.
The story was started by one James
Mulloy, boy, who claimed he over
heard r conversation between two of
the gang, was discovered and after.
ward roughly handled by the two men
until be promised to remain silent
Up to this time the affair has been
known only to the police and the prin-
cipal parties concerned The story OF
the case as told by the boy Mulloy is "a
follows
THE DIABOLlCAL PLOT.
On Thursday evening about o'clock
while he was going to his home Mt the
Leggett's Creek shaft from Providence
he overheard two men plotting the de-
struction of the Leggett's Creek
breaker in the vicinity. They were ait.
ting under the edge OF the bank near
the railroad, within 100 yards Of the
shaft at the time aud spoke in sup
pressed and Whispered tone. They
peeped cautiously around, lest anybody
might be within hearing distance, aud
in doing so oil served there was an in
truder on their privacy. Knowing
that their disbolicsl plot was no longer
secret, they sprsng on Mulloy with
the ferocity of desperation. knocked
him down and kicked him and would
evidently have killed him but for the
lpportune suggestion Of one OF tae ruff
fans. who intimpted that II he (Mul-
10y would pledge himself solemnly not
to reveal anything he had seen or
heard they would spare his life.
He was glad to give the required as
surances and went his way badly used
up and just ~ badly scared.
He went Immediately to the residence
OF Mine Foreman F. +. Ross, and de-
scribed tie whole transaction. Mr.
Ross went directly to the police sta
ton, accompanied by Mulloy. and re-.
ported the matter in detail to Lien
tenant Spellman. The lieutenant pro-
ceeded 20 the scene OF all the excite.
ment. but could find no trace OF the
would be iucendaries.
EXCITEMENT AT THE SHAFT.
At the shaft all was excitement, and
dozen or so Of extra watchmeu were
carefully guarding the company's prop.
erty.
Mulloy said the rufians intended TO
fire the breaker in several places, and
when the crowd would Assem- mble, get in
among them and pick their pockets in
Discriminatory, They figured on every
body having money owing to it being
pay day at the Creek mine Mulloy
dt scribes the two men as being tall and
thin. with peculiar broad-rimmed hats
Of tine cowboy pattern They had their
features disguised TO such an extent
that he couldn't describe them. Ae-
cording to Mulloy, the gang also pro-
posed to rob Providence stores during
the excitement
1t is supposed they are members OF n
pang OF toughs that infest Dutch Gap.
During the past winter several depre-
Gatious were committed in the vi
cinily of Marvine patch. About two
months ago William Harrington was
held up about II o'clock by two foot.
pads near the Charles street bridge
and $3 taken from him. About the
same time three men, one Of whom car
lied a shotgun. were seen prowling
around the residence OF Mr., Ross, but
were foiled in their evident designs to
burglarize by the vigilance Of Mr. Ross,
who, with the assistance OF his father
put them to flight.
Last night the Delaware and Hudson
company renewed their watehfulness
at the breaker, notwithstanding the
assertion that Mulloys story has
fishy odor In fact, it has been sug
gested that the whole matter ia hoax,
perpetrated for the purpose OF winning
the good graces of the corporation and
incidentally securing job for Mulloy
On the other hand. the boy may have
been honest in his narration, but the
victim of the parties who used him In
the manner set forth, who told him
the story merely to frigbten him.
VIGILANCE NOT RELAXED.
Last night, however, the vigilance
Of the police was not relaxed and they
propose apprehending the men,
whether their intentions were evil or
otherwise.