Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-06-03
JOS. Cunningham
Now in Local
County Jail.
MUCH EVIDENCE
Special TO the EVENING NEWS.

South Amboy, June 3;-Exactly 3
tWenty-four hours after the county
prosecutors office had been notified
of the finding of the body of Cap
tain John Herlyn, Joseph Cunning
ham, captain of the river boat
Edward McClain,' was arrested at
South Norwalk, Conn, and is now
confined in the county Jail following
a hearing at $50 o'clock this morn
ing before Justice Birmingham, who
held him without bail on a charge
of murder. The man protested his
innocence, but Assistant Prosecutor
Joseph e. Stricken, who is handling
the states side of the case, declares
that the circumstantial evidence
against Cunningham is almost COM
plete.
The credit of the capture goes to
Chief of Police James Mcdonald,
who followed the course mapped out
by Mr.. Stricken. Detective Richard
A. Peltier and the local police
force are doing all in their power to
apprehend two alleged thugs who
are supposed to have been on the
Stricken in company with Chief
NICDOllhlu huu JoSSpu AuSSlO Itll
at noon Saturday to follow the route
of the "McClain."
Leaving South Amboy the trio went
to New York and looked over the
feet Of boats lying about the har-
Dor. Unsuccessful in their search
they then proceeded to Jamaica, Ii.
Here they learned that the boat they
were seeking had sailed for Erie
Basin. Hurrying to that place the
officials learned that the boat had
been there but had gone to Newton
Creek. Following out their course
the Creek and Stamford, Conn,
were reached but without success.
Find Boat at South Norwalk.
Mr.. Stricken knew that the boat
was consigned to South Norwalk
and to this place they fastened.
After working for several hours the
boat was located and after leaving
instructions as to how to capture
the accused men Mr.. Stricker left
for home. 1t was figured that the
saloons and dives in South Norwalk
would be closed about midnight end
Chief Mcdonald. in company with
Captain Gibson, of the Norwalk
police force, set the time of going to
the boat for 1870 o'clock.
After a row of four miles the
police officers boarded the boat and
got Cunningham out Of bed. After
producing the warrant the officers
asked Cunningham If he would
come back of his own free will and
stand trial. This the prisoner con-
sented to do. Cunningham was
taken to New Brunswick yesterday
and put through the third degree by
Prosecutor George Silzer and his
assistant.
Cunningham after the gruelling
told his questioners that he did not
know Herlyn and furthermore did
not have the two companions with
him on Sunday night as the officials
of the Pennsylvania company assert,
Cunningham is twentyntne years
old and comes from Paterson. The
prisoner admits that he went to
South Amboy on the Sunday night
in question to make purchases but
that he was with two friends who
were not on his boat. The prisoner
sticks to his original story and as
yet no part of confession has been
Forthcoming.
In Hold When Boat Left.
The county officials learned that
when the "McClain" left this city
Cunningham was not on the deck of
his boat but was in the hold of the
craft. This, he explains, was due to
his falling overheard. He says his
clothes were drying and he had to
stay in bed until he could again don
the one suit he had with him.
The man also admits that he did
not sleep aboard his own boat on
the night the murder is supposed to
have been committed. Cunningham
says that the night was very cool
and that he was chilly. Having no
fire aboard he says he went to the
boat of a friend and remained all
night beside q roaring fire. Several
parts of the mans story which are
disconnected, Detective Peitier and
Mr.. Stricken are today investigating.
Nearly all of the large river boat
concerns in New York will be asked
to assist the local police in aiding
them to capture the thugs who are
supposed to have been on the boat
with Cunningham. Too much credit
cannot be given Chief Mcdonald for
his efficient work In the capture Of
Cunningham. Although he has been
chief for the past thirteen years
this is the first murder mystery that
has confronted him.
Body is Exhumed.
Yesterday the body of Herlyn was
inferred at the suggestion of the
Board of Health. This order was
contrary to the one issued by the
prosecutors office. This morning
the body was exhumed and will be
taken to Brooklyn today by son Of
the dead man. The prosecutors
office is highly incensed over the
action taken by the local Board of
Health in burying the body without
the permission of the county author
tiles.
Mr.. Stricken says that he believes
In the story told by John Dooltng, a
night watchman at the Pennsylvania
railroad. Dooling claims that Herlyn
told him three men were on the
"McClain" and had assaulted him on
Sunday night. Mr.. Stricken has
proof to substantiate these state
ments and will do all in his power
+o 1ond rho other two men,