New-York tribune., 1900-09-24
AMATEUR POLICE on PATROL.
RESIDENTS OF HUGUENOT AND ANNA
DALE, STATEN ISLAND SPEND
THE NIGHTS LOOKING
FOR BURGLARS
FOR BURGLARS.

Alarmed and spurred into action by frequent petty
burglar1es and the sleepless nights spent by the
women OF their households. residents Of Huguenot
and AnnadaIe. Staten Island, have for two weeks
patroed faithfully. but far fritessly the lonely
roadways OF those quiet little settlements. There
are more than dozen Of these amateur policemen,
and II any midnight marauder is captured his pun
ishme1t VIII be swift and sure they say. One OF
the residents said: The boys will not bother about
arrests. for there are plenty OF rope and trees
hereabouts"
Each member Of the patrol IS armed with two or
more sef-cockng revolvers and carries dark Ian
and club There stories Of peaceful citizens
who have been suddenly confronted with the cold,
gittering rnuzzIe Of z revolver, Of Vigilance Com
mttteenen inspecting yards Of residences being
suddenly confronted by e shotgun in the hands OF
the wakesuI and watchtul householder. and even Of
the committeeman who were out patrol bring
iug each other TO bay with finger at trigger.
The regular police force has also been active in
an attempt 10 run down the miscreants but those
residents Of Richmond Borough who understand
the conditions do not entirely blame the police for
their failure 70 make captures. Richmond Borough
has hfty-four square miles OF territory. and only
about forty policemen who can be called upon for
regular patrol duty. The Fifth Ward formerly
the town Of westAeld) where the thieves have
been operating includes one-fourrh the area OF
the whole borough. and there are only five patrol
men for day and night duty in the whole territory
Recognizing how impotent this little police
force Edward Z. Androvith, a broker, doing bust
ness az No. IS EultOn-st-, Manhattan, ana living
at Hug7ienot called upon his neighbors 70 volun-
Ceer for police duty There were ready responses
and the Rev. David Junior, pastor Of the Re-
formed Church at Huguenot: Albert Housman. c.
Tobin Charles Wright. William II. Matthews
George W Kesner James r. Eddy Pau T.
Murphy William Walters, E. Brunsk1u and several
Others iofned the Vigilance Committee. From four
20 six OF these men night soon after
midnight and patrol until daylight For two weeks
IRE parroI has been maintained, and while tne
coTnr1itteemen complain OF lost sleep they point
-o11dIv 70 the fact that there has been no robbery
n +he district covered by them for week or more
TIE robberies have occurred in all parts OF the
yrard James r. Eddy. at Annacale, was aroused
a. Tnidrtgh- 10 find two working az his front
door He chased them with a revolver. nring sew
ersi shofs out they escaped. Fabian Light az An
nsdeIe was aroused by crying child ana next
rro-n.ng found an open window and bundle Of
siIve-ware ready for packing on the dining room
table A window Of Herman CroPseys mouse; aL
FI.gIenot was forced, and 80 in money ana Jew
airy were stolen Burglars entered tae nome OF
Dr. Andrew NJ Eagan. al Fresh Kills, and got
800 worth OF plunder. - -, -. v,-,-.. r,.,
The home Of Thomas r Byrnes, at Princes bay'
vves entered and the burglars visited the oed-
rooms getting $32 in cash and two Watches e5eoEge
TEreiI's house az Princes Bay, was entered out
The thieves were frightened away. The handsoInc
ors Of William Sharrott the Pleasant PANS ice
nan vas entered, but the family was aroused and
10 thieves were driven away with pistols
The police believe that the gang IS engaInpeu @
so-nevy5ere in tho woods and that they VIII soon
be run down