New-York tribune., 1902-07-22
BOLD ROBBERS BIG HAUL.
THEY TERRORIZE EMPLOYEES AND
CRACK SAFE IN RAILWAY OFFICE
AT PORT CHESTER.

one of the most daring robberles that have
taken place in this neighborhoOd in a long time
was committed early yesterday morning in Port
Chester by a band OF masked men who visited
the carbarns OF the New-York and Stamford
Railroad Company, on the outskirts of the town,
and after binding and bndfodng two of the
men on guard there, and holding up three others
with revolvers blew open the safe in the COM
panys office with nitro-glycerine and carried
away in bags the contents. composed mostly of
the money collected during the rush on Sat
urday and Sunday. There were five of the
burglars and all escaped.
The amount of cash the trolley company had
on hand at the time of the robbery was about
81 900 but President Charles A. Singer says
that the robbers did not get all of this. as
large part of it was locked up in another safe
In a carshed adjacent to the office. Mr.. Singer
says that until the books gone over 1t will
not be known exactly how much was taken. lie
places the amount obtained at $500 also some
checks and valuable pap rs. 1t is rumored that
the thieves carried away about $1,000.
The robbers kept three of the trolley men pris-
oners in the back room for two hours while
two of their accomplices drilled the safe and
gave it six blasts with o-glycerine. Another
robber kept guard outside. The explosions shook
the building. but failed to attract the attention
of three other who were at work in an
adjoining shed cleaning cars. The safe Is a
complete wreck
Frank Turpening. "a conductor. who lives IN
Rye was the first person who saw the robbers.
He reached the carbarn at a. m. and while
waiting TO go duty on the first car In the
morning which leaves at D o'clock. lay down
a bench in the mems lounging room which
is in the rear of the office building. The room
was in darkness, the power had been cut
off Turpening had been lying down only few
minutes when he saw two men come into the
door. He supposed that they were conductors
and motormen who were coming to work. and
said to them:
What are you fellows doing here so early?'
Nothing" answered one Of the men gruff1y.
AS the men approached Turpening he noticed
that they both wore masks and carried big
revolvers He made attempt to spring up
but before he could rise the robbers pounced
on him, and threw him in chair. binding and
blindfolding him.
After Turpening had been under guard for
about twenty minutes r. L. Curtis. another
conductor. who lives in South Norwalk. arrived
He had barely stepped in the door when two
masked men confronted him. Curtis realized at
once that they were robbers, and quick as
flash he swung a lantern which he was carry
ing and struck one OF the men on the heau.
The burglar cursed and staggered, but before
the conductor could hit him again an accom-
plice landed blow with blackjack on the
back of Curtiss neck and knocked MN sense
less The two men dragged him to a chair and
tied him Curtis was tied so tightly that he
could scarcely breathe. one OF the cords was
drawn across his neck tightly that every
time he swallowed it caught his Adams apple
and nearly choked him. For some unknown
reason the burglars did not take the trouble
to blindfold Curtis.
While one OF the robbers was guarding Curtis
he heard a noise outside and sprang to the door.
Some ole with a distinct Irish brogue was sing
ing Good morning. Carrie Who Is THAR?
demanded the robber. That's jim McGeen.
superintendent OF the barn.. replied Curtis.
Wen have to get him. said the burglar TO his
accomplce The minute Mctie~n stepped In the
door the two robbers covered him with their
reVolverS, and told him not TO move. Then
they escorted him TO "A chair. and one OF them
sat facing him while the safe being blown.
The captive conductors and superintendent say
in the office got the safe open. Then the
robbers started of down the tracks toward rye,
II Is believed that the burglars after reaching
Rye. escaped either in a wagon or "a boat.
The only things they left behind them that may
serve 5 a Clew TWO horse blankets, which
were wrapped about the safe, and a safe blow
er's outnt. consisting OF Jimmy. n brace and n
steel drill None OF the men succeeded In get
ting a good description Of the burglars. They
say that four OF the men were Of medium
build. and one was tall They all wore good
clothing.
II was reported last night that three men were
seen driving at rapid rate early yesterday
morning through the outskirts OF White Plains
toward the Croton watershed. At kensico an
a abandoned rig found which IL Is thought
the robbers stole at Port Chester and drove
away The company has offered a reward OF
80 for the capture OF the thieves. They are
said TO be the same gang that has been looting
stores and places In New-Hsven Bridgeport and
stamford.