New-York tribune., 1901-10-26
ROBBERS INFEST PARK ROW
ASSAULTS, THEFTS AND EVEN MURDERS
FAIL TO MOVE THE POLICE.
PATRoLMEN OF THE CITY HALL AND
oAK-sT. STATIONS SHIFT RESPONSE
'BILITY-DO NOT WANT TO LOSE
SLEEP OR TINE OFF

south, has been favorite place for the work of
thugs and robbers. Sometimes the robberies
ana assaults are committed that side of the
street nearer the City Hall. but more frequently
on the opposite SIDE The station whose force is
supposed to guard the City Hall Park and the
territory around the Postofice has jurisdiction
on that side of Park Row. and the police of the
Oak-st- station guard, in a way that is dis
grace TO the city. the side of the street which
are various newspaper offices and the entrance
to the Brooklyn Bridge. Between the two the
citizen who is assaulted falls to the ground so
far as police protection is concerned and the
thugs and robbers find safety Policemen on the
bridge side of Park Row plead non-jurisdction
for an assault committed on the City Hall side.
and the City Hall police furnish immunity to
the rascals on the ground.
IMMUNITY FOR MURDERERS.
A man was killed in Frankfort-st. within fif-
teen feet of Park Row the night of October
10. 1t seems impossible that the murderers
could have escaped without some assistance from
the police even though it was of a negative
character James Haggerty. of No. 30 Park
ave, Brooklyn witnessed the murder and tried
to stop the robbery. The thugs punched him
and knocked him down. He attracted the at
tention Of the police but no real effort
made 70 trace the murderers while their trail
was warm Since then apparently, the affair
has been allowed to drop. The police have not
made single arrest in the case. This is the
frst murder reported-but there was. too. first
robbery, and when the robbers found that they
were unmolested their depredations increased.
and they became bolder. The laxity OF the
police in the murder case argues that tbs capital
crime may be committed Park Row and the
perpetrators enjoy the same immunity from
punishment that is allowed to robbers.
ha 4
duty. and report to their stations the complaints
that are made TO them while they are on post
a list OF the crimes might be made out that
would show Park Row be as vile resort for
thieves as was the notorious Five Points IN its
most evi! days. As IL is. the blotters of the
stations indicate nothing OF criminal charac-
ter as occurring there. and to all appearances
the street is safe the best protected place
IN the city As consequence. persons who are
obliged 10 approach the bridge late AT night do
so unsuspectiagly, and thus easier marks
for the robbers.
The crimes range all the way from the muir
der that is ignored by the police to the robbery
OF newsboys. A short time ago a respectable
woman was accosted near the Franklin statue
by young rufian. who used vile language 20
her. When he found he could not force her into
an attack upon him, which his purpose he
struck her so violent a blow that she feU
Several men who witnessed the assault went %
her assistance The scoundrel escaped In
neighboring drugstore. where the woman was
taken for treatment the doctor found that one
OF her eyes had been completely smashed by the
blow So badly was she injured and so revolt
ing was the sight OF the crushed member that
the physician. whose profession had brought
experience in sickening sights. tainted after
treating the woman. The policeman who was
informed OF the outrage never reported IL the
station.
ROBBED OF MONEY. WATCH AND JEwELRY
printer while On his way home after his
nights work, attacked at point between
Beekman-st. and the Bridge and robbed Of 800
in money, a gold watch valued at $500 and a
diamond pin worth in the neighborhood of $500
The policeman whom complaint was made
refused to make an arrest because the robbery
was committed on his beat" No report was
made at the Oak st. station and an entry was
made the blotter only after the printer had
himself visited the station and made COM
plaint.
Captain Vredenburg laughed AT the idea of
the diamond being genuine. or the watch being
anything but cheap one. 1t is a fact how
ever that the printer bought the pawn tickets
for the watch and the diamond from an acquain-
tance. The watch was pawned for S125 and the
diamond for $50. Pawnbrokers are not in the
However. since the report of the theft the police
have done nothing toward recovering the stolen
articles.
An employe of a restaurant in Park Row.
whose duties keep him until late at night. was
assaulted a short time ago He resisted the
efforts Of the thugs 10 rob him of what little
money he had and. in the struggle that fol-
lowed, was stabbed thirteen times. IF you will
point out the robbers 1 will arrest them" said
he n n M
But he made report of the robbery and paid
no attention to it other than 10 make the remark
quoted.
Last week two newsboys were quarrelIing and
a crowd of other newsboys gathered to watch
them. A policeman was in front of The World" |
Building, not more than one hundred feet away. |
While the boys were shouting at each other and
threatening personal violence a young man
caught one of the Outstanding newsboys by the |
throat and held him while confederate went |
through his pockets and sole the poor amount |
of money he had earned by long days work at
selling papers They stole his hat also. and ran
down Frankfort the newsboy after them, |
shouting for the police. The policeman who was
standing near Frankfort-st. never looked TO see |
what the matter.
Early last Sunday morning two printers on |
their way home saw two young men teasing an
elderly who something the worse for |
drink. They showed him about and tried to |
make him after them. They succeeded in |
making the old man angry and he chased them |
into Frankfort-st. That was Just what they |
wanted. A blow on the head dropped him TO |
the sidewalk and, before the printers could |
reach them they had turned the pockets OF
their victim inside ont and away. From |
be useless to call a policeman so they attended |
10 the old themselves and started him on |
his way home after seeing that the wound on
his head was properly cared for
POLICEMEN WENT ON TALKING.
Not long ago two men who employed In
a newspaper office saw two men knock down |
another man. and rifle his pockets. directly In |
front of The Tribune Building They told two |