Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-04-05
BRIDGEPORT POST
OFFICE ROBBED.
Three Hundred Dollars In Cash and
Fifty Dollars in Stamps Stolen.
Farmers Horse also Stolen.

The village of Bridgeport had It's ex-
perienee with robbers last Friday night,
and that they escaped with she people hot
on their trail, is one of the greatest OF the
surprises.
The post Office is located in a large three
story frame building in the centre of the
town, that is also occupied by John Nc
Twain as wheelwright and blacksmith
shop. On the third floor are lodge rooms.
About three O'Clock on Saturday morn
ing the town was aroused by an explosion.
Harry Springer, son Of ex-Sherif Frank
D. Springer, who owns the post Office build
ing, lives right across the street from it.
He sprang from bed and threw open his
window. a glance revealed a man in
long rain coat and slouch hat at the door Of
the post Office. No sooner did the man
notice Springer leaning from the open
window than he drew a revolver and opened
fire. Instinctively Springer, lodged back
into the room and then concealing himself
behind the shutters kept an eye on the
future proceedings.
He said that he did not believe the man
shot directly at him, but added that he
was not taking any chances. A few seconds
later another man crawled from a window
Of the post Office The two ran toward the
church.
Hastily putting on few garments,
Springer hurried down to the street and
was soon joined by those Others who bad
ventured ont after the explosion. A hur-
Eried investigation showed thas the post
ofiee lad been robbed, she safe having
i5s;s.n blonn e 5I@gmeats wish dynamite,
probably ii nitFo-al yeeline would not have
shattered Is 50 conpletely The doors and
windows had been fastened with copper
wire, all save the one through which the
second burglar escaped, probably to guard
against an unexpected interruption while
the safe was being attacked. The cracks
men obtained a little more than $500 in
cash, and $50 in stamps, but missed several
hundred dollars worth Of stamps. The in
terror of the post Office looked as though
struck by cyclone and the damage done
far exceeds the amount of money stolen.
SHOT AT AGED WOMAN.
Like Springer, Mrs. Sarah Brown, wo-
man seventy years Of age, was made a
target by one Of she burglars. Mrs. Brown
lives on the second floor Of the post office
building. She was awakened by the ex-
ploslon about three o'clock. Not dreaming
that burglars were at work, she lighted a
lamp and started dows stairs to investi-
gate. When she opened the door leading
to the lower floor, Mrs Brown saw light
streaming from door leading 70 the post
office.
Realizing that something was wrong she
returned to her room locked thedoor and
looked out of the front window. The noise
made by raising the sash attracted the at
tention Of man standing below and as
Mrs. Brown stuck her head out, the strang-
er fred at her. The bullet whizzed past her
head aud buried itself in the ceiling of the
room. Mrs. Brown retreated to what she
thought was a safe distance and shrieked
for all she was worth. Then going to a
rear window she pounded on a skylight
over the post Office and broke the glass with
her hands.
BY this time the citizens were beginning
to flock around and man crawled through
side window in the post office, joined the
one who was evidently on guard in front,
and both ran along side street. three
blocks TO the Methodist Church, where
team was standing. Mrs. William J.
Helms, who resides just back of the post
Office. saw the man come through the win
dow. aud had fair look at them as they
both ran past her house. The early dawn
was too misty for her to see the men plain
enough to notice details Of their features,
hut she said that one was fully six feet
tall, had on white collar, a long gray coat
and derby hat. He was smooth shaved.
His companion was not so tall, was more
heavily built, and seemed to have strag-
Cling beard. He wore short light over
coat
That the men had planted themselves in
position to work as soon as the coast
seemed clear is the opinion Of George
Ryder, who conducts a pool room opposite
the post Office. He did not close his place
until about half-past two O'Clock, because
some Of she local sports were having q
i1.1 a