The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-11-19
PLUCkY MARTIN
New Policeman Withstood
the Attack of a Gang
of Thugs.
PRETTY GOOD WORK FOR $50. PER
Sergeant. Finne Came to the
Rescue and Arrests
Followed.
PRETTY GOOD WORK FOR $50. PER

Chanceman Martin of the Second pre-
cinct police station, was on duty last night
on Second street, between Provost and
Henderson streets. He came upon
gang of thugs who were rushing the
srowler," and told them to get away.
They refused and started in to beat the
officer into insensibility. They were ener-
getically doing their best when Sergeant
Finnie of the same station arrived. He
went to the assistance of Martin and the
thugs were reinforced by their friends in
the neighborhood.
In few minutes the situation took on
the color of small riot and hurry calls
were sent to the First and Second pre-
cincts for assistance. A number of re-
serve men were dispatched to the scene,
and for few minutes the action was live
ly and the results painful. Four of the
gang landed in limbo.
The trouble started about o'clock. Mar
tin has been on the post only short time,
being new policeman. He is not very
rugged looking, and is chanceman of the
third class, as all new recruits are. His
salary is $50. and the crowd jeered him
first on this score. He proved himself
worthy of the uniform and earned the un-
undaunted courage.
Martin came upon the crowd first as
they were congregated in vacant lots.
They were noisy and rushing the
growler." The officer told them to move
on.
"G'wan! We don't let no $50 cop talk
t'us dat way. You're a cheap geezer,
an if ye don't wan trouble git away;
git away quick, see?' Thus spoke Ed
ward Roles, twenty years old, of No 1854
Grove street, who appeared to be the
leader of the gang. He was drunk and
evidently looking for trouble. Being
big. heavy German, with much breadth
of shoulders and having the slick looking
chanceman, who is a young man of neat
appearance outweighted. he started for
the minion Of the law. Several of his
companions tried to hold him back but
were unsuccessful, so they decided to aid
him.
Martin drew his club which was promp-
tly snatched from his grasp. Then he re-
sorted to his revolver. In the mean time
the gang were closing in on him and some
were throwing stones. Martin had his re-
volver leyelFed at the crowd when large
brick was sailed straight at his head. He
put up his arm to ward off the missile
and his revolver was knocked to the
ground. Then he stood alone and unarm-
ed facing the drunken mob bent on his de-
struction.
Roles reached the officer first and struck
at him. He was quickly grabbed by the
throat and the towards courage left him.
His companions tried to tear him away
m o4 NTar Tbpu throw stones
and used clubs. Martin was holding his
own when Sergeant Finnie arrived and
jumped into the middle of the melee. He
drew his pistol and took hold of Roles.
Roles bit Finnie's hand and put up a
fight but he was held. The others of the
gang ran away and secreted themselves
in houses and shops in the vicinity. Roles
was taken to the station house and placed
in cell. The crowd had scattered before
the reserve forces from the stations ar
rived. After locking Roles up Sergeant
Finnie and two other policemen went to
the scene of the trouble in plain clothes.
They arrested John Coyne, twenty-seven
Years old, of No. 156 First street; William
English, twenty-five years old, of No.. SlS
Henderson street, and John Stanley,
twenty-three years old, of Mo. 1858 Hender-
son street.
The prisoners were arraigned before
Police Justice Hoos this morning in the
First Criminal Court. Roles was fined
s15. Stanley was fined $40. English was
paroled because he was not fully identi-
fed as one of the gang, and Stanley was
allowed to go free because Martin testi-
fled that after the rest of the gang had
disappeared Stanley handed him his club
which had been thrown away by the
youth who grabbed it.