New-York tribune., 1896-05-08
DESPERATE THIEF CAUGHT
SURROUNDED IN HIS SISTERS HOUSE
AND FORCED TO SURRENDER.
EXCITING CHASE THROUGH THE STREETS OF
JERSEY cITY-HE SHOT AT HIS SISTER

EXCITING CHASE THROUGH THE STREETS OF
JERSEY cITY-HE SHOT AT HIS SISTER
AND KEPT THE CROWD AT BAY.
desperate thief was captured in Jersey City yes.
terday after exciting chase. The prisoner -
Thomas Dugan, alias the Judge" and the police
have for year endeavored TO lodge the fellow IN
Jail. He has been in hiding but was tempted to re-
turn to Jersey City to take up quarrel between
Frleda Baum IN whom he is interested. and MS SIS
ter Dugan Is a member Of a notorious family. Ills
sister who is known Mrs. Annie McDer-
mott but who was formerly called Jones. lives In
the rear tenement at No. 13s Rai.road-ave. The
Baum woman was boarding with her. Some trouble
occurred between the two women, and Dugan ran
the gantlet OF the police on Wednesday night ana
reached his sisters home. After a stormy nlght NJ
decided to transfer the Baum woman to his mothers
horne. at Park-ave and Newark-st.. Hoboken. ana
he engaged q truck to convey her trunk While
packing her effects the quarrel was renewed as Mrs
McDermott asserted that the Baum woman was ap-
proprating some Of her property. She attempted 70
prevent the removal of the trunk. and her brother
knocked her down and dragged the trunk to the
street. The enraged woman followed and he again
beat her and finally got the trunk into the wagon
The determined sister into the street and seized
the horse by the head and held on until Dugan
pulled cut his pistol and fred at her The bullet
grazed her head and the aff-ighted woman released
her hold upon the bride aad fell to the street in Q
swoon.
The driver whipped up his horse and started up
Railroad-ave followed by Deputy Sheriffs Herman.
Rocktopf and Frank Teel, who had witnessed the
shooting. A crowd was soon In pursuit The truck
man turned into Barrow-st. and then into Bay-st.
Rocktopf caught up with the horse as 1t turned into
Bay-st, and began to Chamber on the truck. out
Dugan presented the revolver and ordered him 70
drop off" He prudently dropped.
Tee was running alongside the horse and WaS
about to stop 1t when Dugan jumped from the
truck and threw his revolver so accurately at Teei
that IL struck him on the head cutting gash In
his scalp Teel fell. Dugan recovered his pistol
and then started like a sprinter down the street.
pursued by the crowd crying stop thief" He
scaled the fence and reached the railroad yard.
Rocktopf ran to Police Headquarters and Informed
Chief Of Police Murphy. who ordered the Second
Precinct police reserves out. They secured tho
railway yard. but failed to find the fugitive. VINO
had been identified the long-sought-for Dugan.
Chief Murphy then directed Captain McNulty, or
the Sixth Precinct to put under immediate sur
ye;llance the house of Dugan's sister Nettie. ae
No "A Ogden-ave., as he might take refuge there.
He reached there before the police. When Captain
McNulty entered, Dugan standing behind his
sister In the hail. with his revolver over her shoui-
der and with vile oath he threatened TO XIII the
first man who entered. The captain retreated, as
he knew the dangerous type OF criminal he was
dealing WITH but left policemen on guard at the
house to prevent an escape while he hurried to the
nearest patrol box to order additional men to the
scene He also consulted Chief Murphy whose
terse command was, Arrest that man..
The captain. after placing his men so as to close
escape, re-entered the house and adj
vsed Dugan to capitulate without further resistance
or adding another to his long list OF crimes as the
house was surrounded. The prisoner, by advice OF
his sister, surrendered and lodged IN cell IN inc
Sixth Precinct police station
Dugan Is wanted for number OF burg.aries. Inc
police believe that IL was he and Joseph Dudley, MS
brother-in-law, who committed the thefts In Jersey
City and vicinity several months ago, and II was
Dugan who shot John Smith, Of West Hoboken.
when Smith detected the thieves in his house. The
gan the police assert the burglar who fired at
woman in Pavonia ave. who awoke and tried 70 ins
tercept him while he robbing her dwelling.
Dugan Is also charged with having fired at Police
man Waters who interrupted him and dudley while
they were breaking into dwelling in Pail.
sade-ave The police had fixed these crimes on Du.
gan and had the homes Of his mother and sisters
under surveillance He learned the fact and has
been hiding In New-York. where he was also wanted
by the police. -
Dugan has served n term of five years for boldly
stealing a bar OF silver from truck at the Sub
Treasury In NewYork. His family Is notorious. He
has several sisters. all OF whom are known TO the
police The youngest, when ten years DID, displayed
her vicousness by stabbing little girl with whom
she quarrelied. The other members OF the family
have been In numerous escapades ana have peen ar
rested for robbing but succeeded invariably IN escap-
ing punishment by effecting settlements with the
victims. who disappeared when their presence was
who is believed to have been with Dugan in New
York They last evening arrested Dugans sister,
Annie Jones McDermott, Frieda Baum and john
Lynch the truckman.