New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-26
TWO CRIMES TRACED HOME.
DETECTIVES THINK THEY HAVE THE
POPE AND CRAWFORD MURDERERs.
BELIEVED TO BE AMONG A GANG OF FOUR
DESPERATE WESTERN CRIMINALS CAP
TuRED IN A RAID on A FLAT IN
NINETY EIGHTH-ST

NINETY EIGHTH ST.
Ths Central Office detectives believe that they
have at last run 10 earth the masked men who
killed Richard Pope. the bartender. while robbins
the Mott Haven saloon In 1897. and also the slayers
OF a woman at Crawford. y. j.. in December last
during the plundering OF the postonice at that
place The supposed murierers were caught early
on Tuesday morning In Il raid on flathouse at NO
9Oi East Ninety -eighth-st.. made by Detectives
Lang Butler Funston. McMinus and Valley. Four
well-known Western criminals were found IN inc
fat, well supplied with blasting powder drills ana
other tools for wrecking safes and "nippers ana
pickocks for ordinary housebreaking. They were
arrested and were identified Frank Avery, Peter
Murray alias Mccormick: James Williams alias
"Blnky." and John Hardy. Avery. who halls from
Alden, Iowa, is said to be the leader. ana the ue-
tectives say that 1t was he who Killed the par
tender Pope and that his companions In that crime
we're Morse and McElroy. who are now serving long
sentences for highway robbery In the Baltimore
Penltentisry. Singer" Brady another OF Avery's
comrades was recently sentenced to term OF six
and a half years Imprisonment for a saie roopery
at Elmira, ~ Y.
The detectives say that while the evidence against
Avery for the Pope assassination Is not yet OF tho
strongest kind. they expect to prove more easily
that he and his associates took part in tho murder
and postofflce robbery at Crawford. y. J. Peter
Murray alias Mccormick. Detective Valley says
will be shown 10 have been the person VINO kllleh
the woman. At the time OF the postofilce ropperN
two OF the thieves were each shot In tho left arm
while making their escape. Williams and Hardy
bear scars Of shot wounds but refuse 10 admit that
they received them in connection with the New
Jersey depreciation. Williams. alias 'Blinky, VINO
has only ono eve Is the smallest Of the quartet
He says that he comes from Des Mones. and admits
being several times I'm Jail In his possess wers
found letters from Morse since the latters conFlc-
ton in Baltimore In OF these Morse demanded
money, saying: You know | can say something
about you and Avery. and you should return me
come favor for keeping my mouth shut.
On the strength Of this declaration Williams look
up n collection among the crooks OF his acqualnt-
which is in tho possession OF the detectives. con.
tans the names Of nifty hobo" burglars ana OF
'Bloomer' well-knOwn pickpocket Wnnanis.
according 10 the detectives. was used az a. scout
by Avery. and planned oil the roobcries DAYS ne
fore they occurred. wi,
The four prisoners are n hard-looking SGT. Ihey
were arraigned before Magistrate Mott In the
nesses from Crawford y. J.. were not present. were
remanded until to-day. The detectives say thry
have heen operating I'm this part Of the country Tor
nearly four years. Avery was heard rom at th'
time OF the arrest Of Morse and McElroy hut the
detectives failed 10 discover his hiding place WIZ
Jams and Hardy were followed N the nat On Mon
day and n raid on the place was made
Captain Mct'lusky declined to say more an9ut
Ayrry's connection with the Pope murder Yesterday
than that he believed the man was IN ~. he-
sides the Crawford postoflce safe robn"ry ne s1id
however. he pretty sure OF connecting -ne prs
onnrs with n DosOfiice safe robbery at Nesiport'
Conn., a few months ago.