Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-09-15

h1ghWaymen whose deeds have ter
rorized the northern section of the
city for the past four weeks and
have furnished the most sensational
thrills of the day, were caught by
the police last night and are now
confined in the lookup. For four
weeks the police have been at their
heels, but the affair eliminated last
night when they met the highway
men face to face in a field at
Jeffreys and Jaques streets and Am
boy avenue The robbers were sur
prised. They drew revolvers and
opened fire at the police. Fully
fifteen shots were exchanged before
the trio of robbers turned and ran,
two heading south and one north
The latter was Robert Stakaway,
declared to be the leader of the
gang and desperate man. He was
later captured lying face down in
the flower patch of a house at Hall
avenue and Johnstone street.
Early this morning, somewhere
about O'Clock, the second man was
captured. He turned out to be John
Miller, and was found sleeping in a
barn at Hall avenue and Catherine
street. 1t was believed last night,
and is still thought, that the two
who escaped headed for South Am
boy. The police went across the
river early this morning in an auto
mobile. A search of the Swan Hill
Terra Gotta plant and the Applegate
ice houses, where 1t was. thought the
pair would seek shelter, failed to
disclose a trace of them, however.
Fired In Their Face.
How the police last night managed
to escape the bullets OF the bandits
is nothing short of miraculous. Less
than 100 feet separated the parties
when they met face to face, and the
thieves opened fire at once. Three
shots cracked from their revolyers,
followed by spits of fire from the
guns of the officers. Fearlessly the
police rushed in to corner their prey,
but the robbers were quicker. Stalk
away ran northward across field,
pursued by Patrolmen Joseph Gu
towskl, John Martin, Charles Quinn
and Nels Lybeck, firing as he ran.
Once he stumbled and fell, but
rapidly reaching his knees, he turn
ed and fired three shots point blank
at the police. Then he disappeared.
all OliICh w illldIu Odlflu anu
John Dunham pursued the two who
headed south, but they. were fleet of
foot and made their escape. They
had full 200 feet start on the
officers and disappeared as though
swallowed up by the earth.
Fifteen Police Detailed.
Fifteen police officers were de-
tailed by Chief Burke to search for
the men and bring them to police
headquarters. They were told not
to return until they had captured
the gang. Their orders were to take
them, If possible, alive. The entire
city was left sunpatrolled, with the
exception Of Patrolman Weitzen,
who was. called In from Maurer to
patrol the Smith street beat.
Shortly before 8 O'Clock they be-
gan manoeuvering towards the up
per end of Amboy avenue, leaving
the centre of the town in small
groups that, their intention might
not be defined. Earlier in the even
ing tip had come into police head
quarters that the men had been seen
in North Amboy, following the as
sault on a Hebrew peddIer yesterday
afternoon from whom they are said
to have secured 500, later beating
him over the head with a revolver.
Wore No Uniforms.
All of the officers were in civilian
clothes. About six men went first,
followed by Detective Sergeants Huff
and Long and several others. Short
1y before s O'Clock headquarters
was again notified concerning the
movements of the robbers. This
time they had been seen carrying a
can back and forth from a saloon to
an empty, partially-erected house at
Brace avenue and Groome street.
Reporters were despatched to carry
he information to the police
About g o'clock, after the saloon
aad. been searched, the police sur
rounded the house. With drawn
reyolyers they made concerted
rush toward the building, but their
efforts proved futile. The men were
not in the structure.
The Chase Begins.
The entire search force had by
this time assembled. In the party
were Detectives Huff and Long,
Roundsman John Morris, Patrolmen
xozusko, Calvin, Lybeck, Gsltowski,
9unham, Harding, MeGowan, Quinn,
Martin, Hartung, Hartmann and
Rymarczyk. 1t was decided, follow
ing the invasion on the house, to
separate and search in groups for
the men.
Rounasman Morris and squad
tArned westward. Detectives HUFF
and Long and several others went
in a northerly direction. Another
-1tefaehnent walked due east and
still another left In a southeasterly