New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-13
BOLD RAID OF BANDITS.
THEY HOLD UP 4 TRAIN.
Dynamite a Safe in Station-PistoL
Duel 1cith Policemen
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrBuxE.I

DSCC NtH HOHcemen
lBT TELEGRAPH THE rRrBUSEl
Camden. N J.. Dec 12-Five bandits r,.aa
d" exceptionally bold raid in this city early this
morning. They held up the keepers % tro
bridges across Cooper's Creek. blew Omen +bo
SAFE IN the Pavonia station Of the Pennsylvania
railroad threatened to kill the signal tower
man near the station, and finally engaged in a
lively pistol duel with the police and escanad
All they got was Sl5 from the railroad station
The authorities believe that they were part of
the gang that has been spreading terror along
the lines OF the Reading Railroad in Pennsyl-
Vania' numbering one towerman. robbing rail-
road stations and wrecking trains.
The gangs operations here began at the State
ST bridge when the last trolley car for the night
had passed. Oscar TIL. the night keeper. had
put out the lights Of his little watch house, and
turned in for nap, when he heard voices. He
look his pistol from under the pillow and await
ed developments. Two masked men threw their
weight against the door. It gave way with
crash and the next instant the bridge tender
was gazing into the barrels OF three pistols
TIL surrendered and walked into his office with
his hands over his head. This took place IN
almost complete darkness.
While the two masked men covered Till, the
third man lighted a lamp Come on, quick
now, shell out; want your money said one
o. lne men t1OiQ Up, spoke up another, who
was unmasked. Il want my face covered and
don't know Of any better than that man
to do it." He pulled a handkerchief from his
pocket placed it in THIS hands and. turning
his back TO the bridge tender ordered him 10
adjust IT, and do it right. Till complied, and
during the operation the other two men pressed
the muzzles Of their pistols against THIS tenn
PIE, each side. Then cAy began TO
search him for money. Before they reached his
! 49,
roll Of bills and in the other his revolver. the
two men watch outside announced the ap-
proach Of a trolley car which proved to be an
extra" returning to the car barn. The light
was quickly extinguished Finally they or
dered TIL back 10 bed. and cautioned him not
TO move, under penalty Of death.
CUT TELEPHONE WIRES.
The bandits then cut the telephone wires at
the bridge house and left Till. Till kept quiet
until he felt safe and then he summoned his
partner Joseph Lougheed, who had gone to
his boathouse below the bridge Word was
carried 10 the police station and Patrolman Sell
reached the scene half an hour later.
In the interval the robbers had been busy
They crossed TO the Federal-st. bridge just
below. where they held up the keeper. John
Epic, took his watch and a small sum of
money and cut all the wires. They then hur-
ried across TO PavOnia, stopping in an all
night saloon for few drinks. They broke into
the ticket compartment OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad station, and had begun work the
safe there when a drill train stopped at the
station. Two OF the robbers. on guard on the
platform covered the engineer. Howard Truax.
and the fireman, Allen Stewart, and after one
OF them had cut the engine loose ordered Truax
to proceed up the road and remain a while.
Next minute came the explosion of the safe,
which the other robbers had been busy with
dynamite AS II held only SIS they were poor
~ rewarded.
Ralph Haines, OF No. 761 Line-st., the night
operator in the tower house. which stands at
the end Of the station. heard the explosion and
raised a window TO see what it was. AS he
poked his head out Of the window of the
robbers doing guard duty yelled, Put your
head in" and at the same time fred twice
Both came near Haines Haines dropped to the
floor and, crawling on his knees to the ticker,
informed the main Office in this city.
TWELVE POLICEMEN OUT.
Soon dozen policemen were sent out. At
River Road and State-st Patroren Sell and
Schmidt saw the bandits hurrying along, and
Sell ordered them to hold up their hands. Each
man flashed a pistol and opened fire on the Off
GERS. The latter returned the fire. but
compelled 10 retreat, az the odds were largely
against them one Of the bullets had passed
lieved that the gang boarded outgoing
freight. The robbers are all described as young
men. The police are Of the opinion that these
bandits are the same who attacked the post
Office at Clarksboro. Gloucester County. a week
ago and who escaped after hot running pistol
duel with the postmaster and a posse Of citizens.
At o'clock this morning another gang blew
open the safe in the Pennsylvania Railroad sta
ton at Marion nine miles further on the road
They got away with the contents Of the safe.
The robbery was not discovered until the sta
ton opened this morning.