The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-07
EPIDEMIC CT THIEVES.
Big Haul OF Robbers Ar
Taigned This Morning
Before Justice Nevin.
LAVA BED GANG LEADER HELD
Says He Didn't Steal Anstett's
Watch But Knows Where 1t
ls-Numerous Assaults.

There was an epidemic of robberies in
lower Jersey City yesterday morning.
Several of the robbers were caught and
held for trial by Police Justice Nevin in
the First Criminal Court this morning.
At least two of them are old offenders,
and it will go hard with them if they are
convicted, as they probably will be, OF
the offences for which they were arrested.
In each case the victims offered resist
ance and the result was that both com
claimants and defendants appeared in
court this morning with black eyes and
marred visages. Early yesterday morn
ing Patrolman Feehan was near the head
of Ninth street when he heard a cry for
help. He rushed to the foot of the Hill,
and arrived just in time to see two men
rise from the ground, where a third man
was lying motionless and run towards
the swamps. Feehan ave chase but
could not catch the fugitives. He tired
several shots at them, but none of them
took effect. Returning to the scene OF
the hold up he found Michael Purcell of
No. AS Newark avenue. He was bleed
ing from several cuts about his face and
was badly dazed, partly from the effects
of drink and party from the beating ne
had received. He said he had been robbed
of 81. He was arrested for being drunk
His assaiiants were not arrested. In the
First Criminal Court this morning Pur-
cell was discharged, Justice Nevin say
ing tina he thought he had been SUM-
GENTLY punished for getting drunk
Fifty per cent. of the robberies would
not be committed said Justice Nevln,
4if men such as you did not get drunk
ard wander into lonely sections of the
city, presenting an opportunity which 1t
is difficult for those of thievish propensi-
ties to resist
James Featherstone. leader of the no.
torious Lava BED gang, was held for the
Grand Jury for iobbing John Anstett OF
No. 200 Mavne street of a silver watch
Featherstone and o man named smith
ragged Anstett into a hallway on Bruins
wick street early yesterday morning ana
while both assaulted him Featherstone
snatched the watcE from his pocket. he
was arrested by Tatrolman Dougherty.
II didn't steal the y atch,'' Featherstone
told Justice Nevin this morning, but L
know VINO did, and il Anstett is willing
to let up On me III get him back his
watch. 1 would be a fool to steal his
watch and then ran right into the arms
Of Dougherty. II I had wanted his watch
I could have rinehed it three weeks ago
/ did have it one night and put II back
in his pocket"
Rudolph Dirty of No 251 Twelfth street
reported to the police that as he was leav-
ing a grocery store at No. 5S1 Grove street
shortly before midnight Saturday night
he was set upon by six strangers and re-
caived q slight cut ever his left eye.
Do+,o1,oan n,,7p ar1u Sunday morn
ing. found Michael Shanahan, thirty-nine
years old. of No. 21s Ninth street, lying
in an unconscious condition in the hall
way of the house, No. 462 Henderson
street. He took him to the Seventh
street station, where a number of more
or less serious cuts were dressed by DR..
Hoffman. When he was r~ecovered some
what he said he had been assaulted at
Henderson and Seventh streets and had
been robbed of an open-faced> watch,
valued at 50 and 81 in cash. He was
taken home. Yesterday noon Philip
Lowery of No. 463 Henderson street, was
arrested for the assault and was identi-
fed by Shanahan Lowery admitted
striking Shanahan but denied the robbery
and declared that he a not thrown him
into the hallway where he was found by
1dlTOlludn DQIills L ooAo
sitting on the stoop at Henderson and
Seventh streets, talking to a woman
named Tessie Sullivan when Shanahan
came along and insisted on lighting. he
told him to go on and mind his own
business. S~hanahan, he swore, struck the
first blow. This Shanahan denied. Low
cry was held for trial.
Robert Murphy, of No. 22 Seventh
street, was on his way to work at the
foot of Sixth street at seven o'clock yes
terday morning when at Henderson ana
Sixth streets he was held up by two men
who demanded two cents of HIM He re-
fused to give them any money, where
upon they pitched into him and beat him
numerically. The assault was witnessed
by a Mrs. Barry, who was in the window
of her home across the street. one OIL
the men hit Murphy over the back OF the
head with a coupling pin. Murphy was
attended by DR.. Hoffman and went home.
News of the assault spread rapidly and IT
soon became known among the railroad
men that it had been committed by Geo.
Smith. of No. 452 Henderson street, and
William Kelly, of No. 231 Tenth street.
Kelly and Smith attempted to hide after
the assault, but the railroad employees,
VIII work with Murphy. found them out
and pursued them. Roundsman Toppin
and Patrolman Rourke found Smith and
Kelly covering along sid of a fence IN
the railroad yards. They were glad
enough to be arrested to escape the fury
of Murphy's companions. They were held
for the Grand Jury by Police Justice
nJevin This morning.