The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-11
CAN'T FOOL UNCLE SAM
Hoboken Man Tries to I'M
personate a U. S. Deputy
Marshal.

Charles A. Tyler, repairer of canal
boats, living and doing business in Ho-
boken, learned lesson this morning.
He found out at the cost of his personal
liberty that it is a very grave offense to
say that you area Deputy United States
Marshal when you don't happen to pos
sess the proper authority. Tyler is now
in the Hudson County Jail, committed
this morning by United States Commis-
sioner Isaac S. Romaine, to await the
deliberations of the United States Grand
Jury at Trenton. on the charge of false
ly impersonating a United States Deputy
Marshal.
How Tyler jumped into such an awk-
ward predicament came about thus
Not many days ago Johann Svenson, who
has a dry dock in the Morris Canal basin
of Jersey City. sold three canal boats to
the Consolidated Ice Company of New
York. These canal boats, worth about
SIS, 600 each, were going on the Cornell
tow to Catskill. Just before starting 1t
was discovered that one of the boats leak
ed, and this fact being communicated to
the Ice Company, they telephoned to
Svenson to look after the boat, put it into
shape and send her with the others on the
tow. BY that time, however, the boats
had left Jersey City, and arrived in Ho-
boken, at which place Svenson arranged
to stop the boats He engaged Tyler to
spike planking on the hull and then to ac-
company the boats to Catskill, as care
taker. SEenson agreed to pay Tyler SlS
for the repairs and time as care taker,
and gave him 50 on account, and an order
for SIG on the Consolidated Ice Company's $
agent at Catskill.
Instead of going to that place with the
boats as agreed, Tyler, it is said, went
over to New York to the Ice Company $
head offices and presented the order for
payment. The Company's officials refus-
ed to pay the draft, telling Tyler that
when he took up the boats to Catskill as
agreed, and carried out the agreement
made by Svenson, their agent, they would
honor the order. Tyler then refused to al
low the boats to leave Hoboken The
Ice Company at once telephoned
to Svenson in Jersey City, in
structing him to secure the boats and
put her in the tow. Svensen sought the ad-
vice of Counselor Linsly Rowe of the Da-
wilson Building, who told him to go 70
Hoboken and get the boat. Deputy U. s.
Marshal Robert Thomas accompanied
him. When they reached the boat lney
found that Tyler had secured it with a
stout cable and a paddock.
1--WE want this boat, said Thomas
81 have papers which authorize me in
holding her. replied Tyler.
.'On what authority" asked Thomas.
I'm a Deputy United States Marshal, =
returned Tyler, putting bold face on the
matter.
IF you are what you say you can show
me your authority" said Thomas, but
Tyler refused to and when Thomas walk
ed up to him to put him under arrest Ty-
Ter picked up an axe and rushed at the
officer, and drove him from the boat.
Svenson and Thomas rushed off to JUS
tice of the Peace Seymour and procured
a warrant for Tyler'S arrest on charge
of assault and battery. 1t was not until
after a determined fight that Tyler was
overpowered and locked up
Counselor Rowe further put the screws
on by having a complaint made against
Tyler for irnpersonatng falsely q United
States Deputy Marshal and u S. Commis-
sioner Romaine issued the necessary war
rant.
This morning Tyler was arraigned be-
fore Commissioner Romaine in his Office in
the Weldon Building on Uncle Sam $
complaint. The prisoner was defended by
Counselor A C. Young of Hoboken, who
made the corridors of the building ring
with his eloquence in fiercely, denouncing
the arrest as an outrage. 1t was no go,
the case was too plain and Tyler was
committed to the Hudson County Jail, not
having $500 in his pocket to put up for the
required bond.