The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-02-12
TWO BACCED
Gentlemanly Burglars Caught
in This City and
New York.
IDENTIFIED BY VICTIMS
Operations in Jersey City and
Orange Confessed By
the Prisoners.
CLEVER DETECTIVE WORK
One Marauder Became Bride
groom on sunday--some
Property Found.
CLEVER DETECTIVE WORK


CHIEF Murphy has in his official clutches
enc Of the ~gent.emanly burglars wno
have beensyery busy with houses in this
city and the Oranges during the past Jew
weeks. The story of his capture was told
by the Chief this morning. as folloWs;,-
AT FIVE o'csock yesterday afternoon
Acting Patrolman Eugene J. Lyons, sec
ond precinct. arrested Thomas F..
croughan at No. 1873 Thirteenth street.
Croughan is one of the three burglars
whom the newspapers have chosen 70
name The Gentlemen Burglars" Lyons
had been watching the house on Thir-
teenth street by direction of Captain John
y Kelly. A good description Of the three
burglars was furnished to Lyons and just
before five o'clock the policeman saw a
man go into the house he was watching
answering the description of one Of the
men wanted. Lyons, who was in plain
clothes, followed him up to the second
floor TO the apartments of John Broder-
ic--, an uncle of Croughan.
croughan noticed ne was being followed
and locked the door before the policeman
could get in. Lyons knew that there was
an elevator in the house and hurriedly
went to the cellar just in time to see
Croughan step out of the elevator. The
policeman had 7,is revolver in his hand
and although Croughan attempted TO
draw a revolver Lyons was too quick for
him; closing in and pointing his revolver
at the prisoners head made him throw
up his hands and took revolver from
Croughan's hip pocket Lyons brought
his prisoner to the station house.
When searched marriage. certificate
81.
married on Sunday night last A gold pin
with an eagle, Roman cross and crown,
crossed swords and igttess K c. E.. ms an
ing Knights OF Golden Eagle, badge of
the the American Detective Association
of Indianapolis, set of loaded dice and
razor were also found, on him The
prisoner wore very fine overcoat. On
examination Of this coat showed it to
have been made by Fielder & Co.. South
Orange and Springfield avenues. Newark,
and made for William H. F. Fielder, De-
cember 10. 1909.
Chief Murphy, Inspector Archibald, Cap
tains John F. Kelly and John Kelly were
by this time present. and the chief pro-
ceeded to take statement from CROUCH
an. He told about his having been
born at Newport, r. T., twenty five years
vate in Battery D. Fifth Artillery, at the
breaking out Of the Spanish-Anerican
War. and serving honorabiy until the end
Of his enlistment. He said he Joined the
Buffalo Bill Wild West show as an expert
horseman, and was with the show until
the railroad accident in which a number
Of horses were killed. the prisoner when
charged with burglary denied his guilt.
He related his marriage on Sunday night
last to young lady whose name the
police don't wish to diyulge.
The prisoner was asked to tell where he
bought the clothing he had ons oommen-
cling with his patent leather low soes
and each article Of clothing being in
quired about as to where it came from
When asked as to where he got the over
coat he said he had bought it in Chicago
last April He was then shown the ma
ker's and the owners name as referred tc
above, when a noticeable change came
over the countenance Of the prisoner. H
saw he was trapped
The Chief then took Croughan into d
room alone, explained to him. the use
lessness of holding out any longer
Croughan said he would tell all he knew
He said he drfted to New York when hs
left the show business where he met hi.
brother Louis, three years his junior
They made the acquaintance Of some
house burglars and started in to rol
houses after midnight. The brothers
each purchased a revolver which by tn,
way Croughan said he never INTENDED
to use unless he had to, excepting to III
tirnidate the people in the houses HI
admits the correctness of the story as t
fha rabherv of Mrs Ginnicnio's house Oh