The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-27

revolver. AS both men came together
their revolvers dropped, and Meyerswuns
his long club. He caught the thief in the
head. ana felled him to the Sidewalk.
Then Meyer gave him a couple Of more
whacks and. the thief cried.
"Ill quit; I'm done"
Meyers started with the bloodstained
prisoner for the police station. IN the
| meantime Gebhardt had expired in De-
| tective-K errigan's arms. He tried 10 say
| something. but what it was will never pc
| Known. Father Brown, of the @hurch OF
Our Lady of Grace, wanted to extend the
last rites to the dying policeman, but was
| too late. Michael Cannon, William SAN
| ders and Others lifted the dead policeman
| to the sidewalk, when the body was COW
| cred with a shroud until officers with a
| stretcher arrived from the Second pre-
cinct police station.
When it became known that Gebhardt
had been murdered the greatest difficulty
was experienced in getting the prisoner
to the police station. There were cries
of Lynch himl' and but for the ar
rival of Captain Tanning and several po-
licemen the prisoner would have Jared
badly. He was finally lodged in the Sec
ond precinct police station, where DR..
Childs dressed the scalp wounds inflicted
by Myers club.
When the prisoner was searched a com
plete kit Of burglars tools, which had
recently been in active service, were
found on him. When Captain Tanning
told him that he had murdered an officer
with a wife and five children, the prls-
oner said
fr j --y4- 80 - Lf-. HE T a.
feel sorry for his wife and children. /
can see my finish. l knew that If these
tools were found on me it meant seven
years, and 1 took a chance with my
gun
The dead officer was placed on a
stretcher in the patrolmen's room. Big
policemen glanced at the body and shed
tears. The dead officer hadn't an enemy
in the department, and many expressed
themselves as sorry that Myers had not
killed the murderer.
When Coroner Hoffmann's wagon rolled
up 10 the police station 10 get the body
fully 1000 people had gathered. Many in
the crowd We're in tears as the inailimate
form of the brave and popular officer was
carried into the dead wagon. About half
an hour later, with his head bandaged up
and cringing like a cur, the prisoner was
led out. The crowd pressed around the
patrol wagon yelling like mad, and the po-
lice had to use their clubs 10 keep the
crowd from making a forcible
ton against the miserable prisoner.
The news of the murder spread like
wildfire through the city. Detectives
Clark, Pierson and Dalton came from Jer-
sey City, and after looking at the pris-
oner, failed TO identity him. Tney all
agreed, however, that he Is a proiessiOnal
burglar and that he has a record. A
crowd of 5000 people surrounded the City
Hall and Police Headquarters. Nothing
but the murder was discussed. Reeor-
der stanton was notified, and said mat ne
woul hold court at night, an unusual pro-
ceeding for him.
AT eight O'clock the prisoner was led
into court by Captain Tanning Police
man Myers and Detective Kerfigan
Policeman Myers, William O~stendorff.
William Sanders, w. S. Perry, Michael
Cannon Alonzo Let's and Detective ker-
rigan testified and told the story as above.
Recorder Stanton then committed the fell
low to the County Jail on a charge of
murder.
A coach drove up to Police Headquarters
and conveyed the prisoner to the County
Jail. The police did not care to keep the
prisoner over night. Gebhardt was such
a public f~avorite and excitement was run
ming SO high that the police feared that
the prisoners presence at PoAee Head
quarters might precipitate trouble,
Word was sent to New York Police
Headquarters and New York detectives
will have a look at the prisoner and try
to identify him. It is said that his pic
ture adOrnS the New York Rogues Gal
lery.
Gebhardt was appointed a patrolnan in
1891, and has nsunblemished record in
the department, never having been cited
on charges, and was In line for promo
tion. 1t is said that a popular subscrip-
ton will be at once started for his wife
and five children, who have been left
penniless. His wife a short time ago I'M
derwent an operation at st. Mary's Hos
pital and is not yet eonvalescent
Late last night and early this morning
several New York Heaquarters detectives
called at Hoboken Police Headquarters
for the purpose of identifying tie pris-
oner. Some of the detectives We're
gruffly" treated at Hoboken Police Head
quarters, and returned to New York IN
a no amiable mood. Others visited the
County Jail and looked at the prisoner
but were unable to identify him
Detectives Kerrigan and Weinthal went
to New York Police Headquarters today,
to endeavor to ascertain Brown pedi-
gree. While looking over the photographs
in the rogues' gallery they recognized
Browns Immediately. His name is John
Jackson alias John Preston. He was ar
rested on June IA. 1895 for burglarizing a
house, at Park avenue and Thirty-second
street. New York. and was sentenced to
two and one-half years imprisonment. at
Sing Sing. He was released from Sing
Sing only six months ago.
He is labelled as a professional burglar,
and is one of the most daring men ever
arrested by the New York authorities.
During. the past ten years he has been
sent TO prison three times.