New-York tribune., 1903-04-09
POLICE FIGHT BURGLARS.
.Sirteen officers HAT IN Cemetery
for Hours IN Rain.
THREE SHOT; TWO CAUGHT.


about IL o'clock last night in Flower Hill Gene
terry. in North Bergen, Hudson County. n. j.. in
which fifteen or sixteen policemen from several
places took part. Two of the men were caught
of them wounded, and the third is supposed
70 he seriously and perhaps fatally wounded,
and TO be lying somewhere in the dark cemetery
and perhaps is dead.
1t was shortly after o'clock last night when
Chief Hayes OF Hoboken tipped off" that
the big safe in the Office of the Flower Hill
Cemetery would be blown upon last night, and
whatever money il contained stolen. The office
building stands in the cemetery. 1t is three
stories high and built of gray granite.
There was little time TO act, so, taking Chief
OF Detectives Nelson, Detective Kerrigan and
two other men with him, the chief started for
North Bergen. five miles away. Captain knight,
Of Union Hill, and men, some policemen
from West New-York and Chief Sullivan of
North Bergen and what he could pick up
5oned the Hoboken party on its way to the
cemetery and when the entrance was reached
fhe party consisted Of fifteen sixteen.
The building approached with caution,
end there appeared to be no sign Of life
about it the police decided that the burglars
had not arrived IL raining hard and was
cold, but the officers took stations around the
building. hiding behind tombstones, and where
other concealnlent was not found, having to lie
the main entrance and covered with sheet so
that in the darkness he looked like a small
white marble monument.
Then began long and weary wait for the
arrival Of the burglars Some of the men had
taken their stations soon after $50. and all
were posted within fifteen minutes afterward
1t lacked a few minutes of IL when the
watchers surprised to a flash Of light
through Of the windows. II is supposed
Iii, r.aFc
lantern so that the work accomplished on the
put into the mecha nisrn
The light showed that the burglars had been
there before the police, and that all through
the long wait the burglars had been working
the safe. The signal was given and the
officers closed in about the building Most at
1ention paid TO the front ana sides, but
the burglars had evidently planned to leave by
the rear. and. when the front door was tried
they made break out through the rear.
Chief Nelson and one or two were
there and when three men burst out of the door
they were ordered to stop. They responded with
pistol shots and the officers at once returned the
fire The burglars warm, while the Off
GERS were stiff and cold from their long ex-
posure. and besides were hampered by their
rubber coats.
The first exchange of shots does not appear
burst through the police line and started for
the gate. Nelson was close behind and fired.
One of the three spun around like top and
fell with a thud. Thinking he dead the
officers did not stop, but kept on after the
others Meanwhile Chief Hayes. Captain knight
and others had cut across the cemetery to head
off the robbers the gate. and when they
saw the officers ahead Of them the two men
fred on them. and their bullets whistled be-
fugitives then tried to get between the two
lines of officers and kept up a constant revolver
fire which the officers returned
This lasted for a minute two. the fugitives
dOdging about among the stones. The officers
were hampered by the danger Of hitting some
OF their party. Finally of the pur-
sued uttered a cry and gave up. He had been
shot in the chin His companion made break
10 dash through the police line which had now
surrounded him, but he thrown and over
powered.
With their two prisoners the police went back
1or the third man, who had been left for dead
He not where the officers thought he
should be. and a search was made ali about
No trace Of him found and he either man
aged 10 crawl away or the officers picked out
the wrong spot. 1t was too dark 10 search much
and lanterns did not give much aid when pro-
cured. il almost impossible 10 do any
thing amid many shadows. Nelson and the
others who were close up say the was
badly hit, as just after the shot he leaped into
the air and turned while in the air, and then
dropped in heap. They say he could not be
ehamming.
- The two prisoners were taken 70 the Union
Hill police station and locked up after the in
5ured mans hurt had been dressed. This man
gave his name John Matthews, thirty-sx
years old. moulder, of Albany. His companion
said he was John Coffee thirty-seven years old
also a n1oulGer. He refused to say where he
iived-
Inside the Office building the police found two
sets Of safebreaking tools. including drills bits
and braces, wedges and Jimmies. The explosive
was also found, and stored in an isolated
place Until daylight, when its nature will be in
vestigated. the safe had been bored into and
everything was in readiness for the insertion Of
the explosive.
Where the tip came from, except that IL was
from New-York, could not be learned this
morning. Chief Hayes still in the cene-
terry searching for the third or his body
and the officers who had been stationed bout
the boundaries refused TO allow any one to enter
the grounds explaining that IL would be dan
eerous, as he might be shot In mistake for the
missing man, shot by the hunted man in
mistake for officer.
The prisoners had not been questioned. 1t
was almost midnight when they Teaciled the sta
.ion IN Union Hill and turned over to the
eerseant in Aksrge. The party which took part
IA the b&ttls remaiSsd at tho cemetery.