The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-04
Attacked in Paterson, Hulii-
mel, Ex-DetectiVe Chief,
, Had Routed TwOOf Gang.
FOUGHT THUGS in TUNNEL.
Finally Got Blow That Put Him
to Sleep--Money and Watch
Gone When He Regained.
Senses..BIOOd Smeared,
lie Reports to Police.

Former Chief Of Prosecutors Detec-
tives Charles f. Hummel, who lives at
81 New street, Bloomfield, was held up
and robbed by five highwayrnen in the
Sandy Hill section of Paterson between
n:80 and II O'clock Monday night, but
wasn't in a hurry to tell about it.
Although the odds were FIVE to one
against him Hummel, who is now en-
gagged by New York detective agency.
managed to best two of his assailants,
and gave them a severe beating.
A sandbag which was swung by one
of trio of thugs from the rear stunned
Hummel, however, and while he lay in
a semi-conscious condition on the street
his pockets We're rifled and SIS and a
gold watch and chain were stolen.
When he came to he rushed to police
headquarters In Paterson and reported
the holdup, and out Of professional
courtesy and with the hope of being
able to round up some of the quintet,
the SILK City authorities withheld the
story until late last night, when 1t
leaked out.
When interviewed by an EVENING
STAR reporter today Hummel did not
then hesitate to give his side of the
story, and was inclined to believe that
the Paterson authorities would sue
ceed in making several arrests.
The former head of the Essex County
staff of detectives went to Paterson
Monday afternoon-te investigate i'm
portant case to which he had been as
signed. He was unaccompanied, and
after working the greater part OF the
afternoon and well into the night on
the case he started for the Erie Rail-
road station, and as a short cut to it he
passed through the Essex street tunnel.
Having plenty of spare time he was
walking slowly, and although the light
was rather dim, he felt sure that no one
was liz the secluded place at the time
but himself.
Hummel had just about passed half
way through the tunnel when two men
sprang in front of him and three be-
hind him and demanded all that he
possessed. The Essex man was not the
sort to lay down, and being backed UP
by an athletic training and weight and
strength added to it, he decided to put
up fight.
The attack came so Unexpectedly that
he had not time to draw his blackjack
or revolver from his hip pocket, and
was thus forced to depend upon his
fists for defense. He managed to swing
his right and left in rapid-hre style
and forced the pair of highwaymen
who tackled him from the front to re-
treat This did not meet with the ap-
proval of the defeated pairs pals, and
one of the latter swung his sandbag
with force sufficient to send the Bloom
fielder into dreamland. That finished
Hummefs resistance, and when he
came to he found that his wad and
much treasured watch and chain were
gone.
The hold-up was not the first in the
tunnel or in that section of Paterson.
and the police have been doing their
best to break up the gang, but ap-
parently have failed.
II made no outcry," said Mr.. Hummel
today, because 1 feared not two men,
but when I discovered, after l fin
ished them, that there were three 9TH
ers, it was different. When 1 entered
the tunnel, which is poorly lighted,
COulQnL SEQ Il SOul III SlSnt. WAS
on my way to get the train, and as
/ had plenty of time I took 1t easy.
never dreamt Of being held UP.
was unable to get even a glimpse of the
fellows, it all happened so quickly, and
] am not sure whether I'd be able to
identify any of them. 1 feel positive
that none of the party knew me-"
When asked If it might not have
been possible that one of the thugs
had been prosecuted by him while he
was at the head Of the county bureau
and recognized him, Hunmel said; mo,
I hardly think so, and I feel that
was unknown to them"
1t was enormously reported in Pater-
son yesterday that Hummel had been
robbed of $500. It struck the Silk City
police as a joke that a detective could
be robbed. The appearance of blood on
hands, which were also
bruised, showed that he put up a game
fight.