The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-03-23
CAR ROBBERS ARE
CAUGHT WITH
GOODS ON
Headquarters of Gang Found in
HoOsick Falls
SIX SUSPECTS ROUNDED UP
Chief McManaway Of Hoosick Falls
Appears to Have Gathered 10
the Gang.
SIX SUSPECTS ROUNDED UP

For the past three months the Bos-
ton and Maine railroad has suffered
from freight losses sustained by rob-
berries OF sealed cars at HoOsick iunc-
ton and along the line to Williams
town The last theft happened one
week ago Saturday evening and Dttec-
tive William Even of the railroad ,ol-
Ice was furnished with list of stolen
articles amounting to over $2u0 He
sought the aid of the Hoosick Falls
police and at 10 o'clock Saturday even
ing Officer Chapman got tip that
there were several men with goods in
Mike Romainis' saloon, known as the
Whirlpool" located near the east
bound B. and M. tracks. Going
around the corner near McDonoughs
barber shop, he saw three men making
their way out of an alley. He grabbed
the two biggest, the third running
away. Chapman landed his rnen in
the chiefs Office and made search.
He got three pairs of Crossett 81
shoes off each man. They gave
their names as James Sweeney of Lam
caster, N Y, 20. single and a shoe.
maker by trade, Thomas Moran of
Newark, n. j., 81, single and a lahorcr.
They denied knowledge to Chapman
of any other goods.
Chapman decided to get the other
man who started over the river. but
did not get across the bridge before
he caught him. A search brought to
light four pairs of Easter style shoes
of the same manufacture as the other
two carried. His name was given as
James Murray of Boston, IL, single
and buffer by trade. He is much
older than IL however and husky
hobo. Officer Chapman then went
after Policeman Edward McGrath and
armed with search warrant the two
went with Chief McManaway to the
Polanders saloon. McGrath arrested
Joseph Bugdon. Pole, %, laborer
in the Walter A. Wood works, for re-
ceiving and retaining stolen goods. It
is stated that 81 shoes have been sell
ing there for so cents. Chief McMan-
away picked out Mike Romainis as his
choice on the same charge. Romainis
is IA and is the proprietor of the
Whirlpool" Chapman got Frank Me-
gam. 81, out of bed, and arrested him
on the same charge as the other two
Polanders. The latter were later
bailed out by Frank Riley and Peter
Gaffney of Hoosick Falls
When the first three were locked
up together they decided to peach,
| Murray acting as speaker. The three
had come to the Whirlpool a week ago
| Friday night and, Murray said. the Po-
landers had the scheme worked out for
| robbing the freight cars at HOOsick
Junction, Romainis giving the exact
information and promising that all
| goods would be taken out Of their
hands. The three men broke open
seals, entered the cars and returned
to the saloon where they sold suits
of clothes, l6 quart bottles of whiskey.
2 quarts OF gin. quarts of rum and
2 of alcohol. This does not account for
whole cases of shoes that were stolen,
nor the quantities of boys pants and
ladies shoes which inventoried to
over 5000.
The railroad has suffered severely
and officers Stapleton, Even and
Murray of the railroads police corps
have been working at points between
Hoosick Junction and North Adams for
some tome, trying to break up the
gang and 1t is thought that policeman
Chapman's quick work of Saturday
night has gone far toward that result.
add car robbers
Sweeney, Moran and Murray were
arraigned in police court this morn
ing Chief McManaway appeared and
stated that District Attorney OBrien
could not be present and asked fer
postponement to Friday which was or
dered and the men were sent to the
county Jail at Troy until that time
The hearing in the case of the three
Polanders will also occur Friday.
AS an aftermath, Polander named
Mike Wall was arrested on Sunday by
Officer Willis on charge of assault in
the third degree. He had been look
ing for Dominick Motwell Pole, who
had furnished the tip on Saturday
night that the saloon was salesplace
for stolen goods. Wall threatened to
stab Motwell II he found him and the
latter complained to the police, say
ing that he was afraid of being killed
by Wall and his friends Wall is an
old offender, having been arrested here
before for an assault in which he used
a knife but was not indicted There
is 10 doubt that Motwell will be done
up if good chance is offered It has
been learned that Sweeny, Moran and
Murray stayed at Romainis' saloon
on Friday, March 49, The police be-
lieve that the other goods will be un-
covered before long and that Romainis
will be able to give all the informa-
ton.
This morning Wall was brought into
court and pleaded guilty to assault in
the third degree and was sentenced to
six months at hard labor in the Albany
penitentiary.