The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-28
qHIEF'S FIERCE Fight.
A Negroes Desperate Attempt
to Escape From the Hobo
ken Police s. His
Penitenee.

The Hoboken police received a telephone
message from the police of East Orange
| about eight o'clock Saturday evening, no
tifying them that a team of bay horses
and a phaeton had been stolen from the
stable of Edward Green, an accountant,
who lives on Washington street, East
| Orange, and that the thief had driven the
rig towards Hoboken, A general alarm
was sent out to the police of all the
adjacent cities and towns to be on the out
| look for theistolen rig.
Detective Sergeant Nelson and Special
Officer Messenkopf were stationed at the
lower Hoboken ferry for several hours
on the outlook for the rig. They finally
decided that the thief had taken another
route and would not cross the river by
way of Hoboken. They were walking
along Hudson street when they saw a
man driving a rig which closely answered
the description of the stolen property.
They tried to intercept the driver, but
he whipped up his horses and drove down
Hudson street towards the Terry az a
the man had stolen the rig and gave
chase, followed by M~essenkopf. At the
Christopher street ferry entrance they
overlook the rig. The driver, who was a
large, burly negro, about six feet tall,
said that the rig belonged to his employer
in New York. Nelson saw that the wheels
of the phaetOn were covered with 'Jer-
sey clay" and decided to arrest the man
on suspicion.
my God!' exclaimed the driver, don't
arrest me. I am no thief. My boss is
waiting for me in New York"
Nelson decided to arrest the man, and
getting into the phaeton directed the ne
gro to drive to Headquarters, notwith-
standing the latter's objections. At River
and Newark streets, nearly opposite the
Postofice, Nelson noticed that the driver
tried to turn the corner abruptly for the
purpose Of upsetting the carriage.
What are you doing?" exclaimed Nell
son, don't you know how to driver
"Ill show you what l am DOING re-
piled the driver as he grabbed Nelson by
the neck and tried to throw him out of
the phaeton. Special Officer Messenkopf
was on the rear seat and before he could
so to Nelson's rescue the driver struck
the horses with a whip and throwing the
reins over their backs. Jumped from the
carriage.
The team ran up Newark street at a
lively gait and Nelson was unable to
stop them. He feared that he would col
Tide with other vehicles in the street un-
less he brought the horses to a stand
still, so climbing over the dashboard he
crept along the pole and Selling the reins
finally succeeded in bringing them to a
standstill.
When the driver jumped out of the
phaeton after struggling with Nelson in
his efforts to escape, Messenkopf jumped
after him. The policeman saw the negro
running along River street and started
after him. AT First and River streets he
caught him. The big burly negro showed
fight and it was going hard with Messen-
kopf when Chanceman Schaeffer came to
his assistance and the negro was taken to
Police Headquarters.
He said he was Robert Brown, thirty
five years old, of East Orange. He de-
MED that he had stolen the rig, but was
locked up pending investigation. Word
was sent to East Orange and about mid
night Chief Blount and Edward Green,
the oWneF- of the team accompanled. Dy
a stableman, came to headquarters. They
identified the horses and phaeton as be-
longing to Green.
When Brown was accused of having
stolen the property from GREEN'S stable,
he broke down and confessed. He asked
to be permitted to talk with Mr.. Green
a few moments and the police consented.
Brown begged Mr.. Green to be easy on
him. He said he had walked all over
the Orange Mountains, looking for work,
but could not find it. When he saw Mr..
GREEN'S stable door pen he crawled in
the hay loft and went to sleep. When
he aWoke he saw no one arouifd and he
hitched up the team and drove off. Mr..
Green told the police that he employed
three stablemen and two drivers and he
could not understand how Brown got
away without being seen. Brown was
arraigned before the Recorder and said
hi was guilty, but he hoped the Lord
would help him. He was turned over
to the East Orange authorities and lock-
ed up in the Essex County Jail. The
horses and phaeton were taken to Orange
by Mr.. Green.