New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-21
TRAMPS ATTACK A TRAIN.
THEY TRY TO TAKE POSSESSION OF
FREIGHT IN JERSEY CITY.
OFF BY THE CREW AND ONE IS SHOT
POLICE ARREST ruREE-R ANYWAY

ABOUT TWENTY BAD-LOOKING NoMADs FOUGHT
OFF BY THE CREW AND ONE IS SHOT
POLICE ARREST THREE-RAILwAY
OFFICIALS RETIcENT.
A gang Of tramps and thieves attempted to
take possession Of an Erie Railroad freight train
In Jersey City yesterday morning. The train,
bound west, left the yard few minutes after l
o'clock. 1t moved slowly until 1t reached Mon
mouth-st.. as the engineer that the red
signal was thrown. indicating that the preceding
train had not cleared the tunnel Only one train
at a time passes through the tunnel.
A gang Of about twenty OF the worst specimens
of tramps boarded the train. The crew ordered
them to get off. but they were defiant and ag-
gressive, and jostled the brakeman who at
tempted to prevent them from reaching the
roofs of the cars. The crew resorted to
force to eject the ntruders, but the latter started
to pummel the train hands, one of whom drew
a revolver and began to discharge 1t at the tramps
as they were crowding into the caboose The
tramps fed from the car.
Police-Sergeant Quinn and Policemen Barry,
Donovan, Lenahan and White. bearing the re-
port Of the pistol hurried to the railway but the
tramps were then running off. Three were
captured. of whom had bullet wound In
the calf of his left leg. This prisoner described
himself as Stephen Murphy. twenty six years DID,
Of No POS Broadway, South Boston, Mass lie
said that he had nothing to do with the raid
He said he came from Boston. and falling to ma
employment in New-York decided TO go to Bur
falo He entered the car. ne said, In the freight
ward and paid q brakeman 80 cents. all the
money he had to ride in the caboose to Buffalo.
When the cars were boarded by the tramps he
tried to assist the brakeman In ejecting them
hot bv he brakeman.
fired at the floor to brighten the intruders
The ball was extracted and Murphy, VINO Is
at the hospital, will be able to walk In Few
days.
The other two prisoners taken were Dahiei
Gallagher, twenty-five years old, and Johh
Kavanagh, twenty-nine years old, both OF NO;
515 Grove-st Jersey City. The character OF
these two prisoners led the ponce 10 lhe cohNN
ton that the trespassers intended stopping ana
robbing the train when they reached the nlead,
ows beyond Jersey City Both men nave served
terms in State Prison, and were recently as
charged Kavanagh was committed Tor nNe
wears for shooting a man in Newark. ana Gai,
il cher was committed for theft The police did
not learn any particulars Of the assault. and the
Erie Railway Companys officials would lmpart
no information, saying that no report OF the con-
fict had been received. The officials even said
they could not tell who composed the crew, De
cause they did not know which train had been
attacked. , -
Some Of the subordinate employees or the com,
panv say the struggle was severe ana cIupS anu
other missiles were used. None OF the railway
companys officers appeared IN Police justice
Potts's Court yesterday against EahasheI anu
Kavenagh. who were held for the action OF the
Grand Jury on the testimony Of the police VINO
could only swear that the prisoners had jumped
on the train and had fight with the crew