The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-28
JUST LIKE BANDITTI.
How the Orme Gang of Thugs Was
Held Together.
All Bound by Secret Oath-Sworn TO
DO or Die for one Another.

Tho revelations resulting from tho ar
rest of John Orme, James Williams and
Michael Monahan at Detroit are among
the most sensational ever brought To light
by police operations i'm Chicago. The evil
denco now in possession Of Chief Badenocb
leads that official 70 state That there can be
no doubt that these men, who are under
81 years of age, werc the head and front OF
a criminal cabal which they conceived and
organized while inmates of the state re-
formatory at Pontiac, Ills, from which
they were recently released on parole for
good behavior.
That these precious young dosperadocs,
while on their good behavior, associated
with themselves, under a solemn oath and
compact, a number Of other equally des-
perate inmates of the reformatory, and
there laid the plans for the many daring
robberlcs which have recently terrorized
Chicago is, in the mind Of Chief Baden
och, fact also thoroughly established by
the testimony secured through the fortu-
nate arrests of the three leaders and OF
Thomas MCGOWAN, william alias "Red"
Sullivan, Barney Hunt. Alfred alias
"Sleepyn Burke, Joseph Gordon and John
McIane
The robbery Of tho Golden Rule at 3S5
NtSb 0llulSOn tlItCJ 10 Nlit ODly blio VI
these recent and daring "hold ups'' and
robberies in this city for which members
of this organized gang are not held ac-
countable. To their hands the police do
partment has traced the bold and dashing
'jobs" which have passed into tho Grim
inal annals of Chicago as the Innis and
Bowman hold ups, the Ackerman case, the
RUPERT, Klein and Metropolitan 81" sta
rrblnptoa thu flfarnasqfao pf loIfn6rtae
and drug stores throughout the city and
the robberies which resulted In securing
5000 in money and S25, 900 in bonds from
Miser Christopher Schrage and 81, 760 from
the New York Biscuit company's cstab
lishment..
In all of these sensational and dashing
exploits the work of this secret order of
young criminals is clearly traced. In some
cases not more than two Of them are be-
licved TO have taken part, but in others tho
membership was numerously represented.
The rules of this secret order of banditti,
as laid bare by the chief of police, provide
for a pro rata distribution of plunder and
for tho reservation out of general spoils Of
a fund for defense in case of arrest. The
cold blooded and abandoned villainy Of
this oath bound order is revealed in un-
mistakablc evidence showing that its men,
hers were sworn 10 meto out instant death
TO any Of their number who should If ar
rested, weaken under police pressure and
betray his companion in crime.
More than this, thorough plans for the
liberation -es eaei- -ef the fraternity us
should be captured but remain true TO their
colors were provided and their execution
made obligatory upon all parties TO the
compact who should cvade arrest. IL neces-
sary, the latter wero TO make dash into
the courtroom, shoot down bailiffs and
officers and effect the liberation of their
fellow criminal on trial at any sacrifice of
life.
The scheme for rescue also includes as n
last resort the attempt TO hold up any train
on which a member OF the gang, after con-
viction, might be en- route for final incar-
ceration IN state penal institution. They
were to resist all attempts To arrest them
by shooting down without hesitation the
officers who might undertake that desper-
ate task. The well nigh fatal shooting of
Sergeant Saucr by "Rcd" Sullivan, from
whom most of the information in regard
TO the existence and membership of the
secret society was obtained, Is proof that
there was no lack of nerve for the cxecu-
tion of these bloody regulations.
The archives of the state reformatory, at
Pontiac, contain the following terse entries
concerning the history and personality OF
Orme Monahan and Williams, the found
ers Of this remarkable organization Of
young criminals:
John Orme. alias William Milton. aged js,
height feet ~ inches. weight l35 pounds,
brown hair, fair complexion, marked with
scars. Arrested for burglary by the Chicago
police Jan. IL, lSa3 and sent TO Pontiac, Po-
hcomen Howard and Wossio made the arrest.
Michael Monahan, aged 10, height feet
inches, weight l30 pounds light brown hair.
dark complexion, tattoood with an American
eagle, name also tattooed on right forearm.
James Williams alias james Dempsey, 10
years old, height feet 8 inches weight 40
pounds fair complexion, blue eyes, has scars
on his body.
"Red" Sullivan and MCGOWAN are also
under 90 years of age. That Orne was the
dominating genius in the organization of
this Juvenile band Of highwaymen there
can be little doubt that he was ably Sec
onded by both Monahan and Williams is
equally certain. Orme is held TO be the
notorious "long man. Had this trio not
been arrested in Detroit Monday, st is prac-
tically certain that another robbery-that
of the Stevenson Steam Valve company OF
Detroit--would have been added 20 their
list, as It was carefully planned to take
place at noon, when the money for tho
payment of its employees was expected 20
be ready for distribution.
John Orme was conditionally liberated
by the parole commission OF the Pontiac
reformatory Nov. %, 1898, and reports OF
his employer, William Wnlthor, 1854 Will
cox avenue, were received by Major Nc
Claughry, superintendent Of the reforma-
tory, until June 80, 1896. His number
was 500.
Chief Badenoch IL said 10 havo nban-
doncd tho hope that some provision In tho
law might be found which would send
them at once 10 state prison, but as
they will enter the third class in the ro-
formatory when sent back and will have
60 cut granite without the slightest chance
Of reducing their long term Of years the
chief has the comforting assurance that
their punishment viii not be light. Chi
cago Post.