Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-28
SEEK BANDITS IN
GDISE Of TRAMPS
Detectives Scour Somerset
County for Armed Trio Who
Robbed Finderne Station.


SOMERvILLE, Nov. addressed
as tramps, detectives from the pres
eoutor's office and special detectives
of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
are securing the neighborhoed of
finderne, a small way station on the
Central, two miles east of this place,
for the three armed bandits who Sc
cured $500 at the point of their guns
after engaging in a desperate strug-
gle with the station agent, William T.
Van Fleet, and his family, Wednes-
day night.
Van Fleet, who is also postmaster
at Ftnderne, was at dinner in the sta
ton With his wife and two small chill
dren when two masked men, enter
ing the room through the kitchen,
with revolvers in hand, told him to
hand over his receipts,
The two children screamed. One of
the robbers came close to Van Fleet
and told him to quiet them. placing
his revolver against Van Fleets
stomach. The station agent grasped
the gun barrel, sprang up and, In try
ing to. turn the revolver against the
bandit, slipped and the robber fell on
top OF him. The other bandit, fish
ing around the office in search of
money. paid mo heed to the struggle
until Mrs Van Fleet came to her hus-
bands aid and, with a chair, struck
the intruder over the head.
Children I'm Right, Too.
The children, too. became active,
one of them hurting a sugar bowl at
the thief. This gave Van Fleet a
chance TO get up, but the robber rose
with him, and when they again fell
an Fleet had his man by the throat
and was choking him, when the sec
ond bandit rushed in and struck the
station agent with q blackjack.
Mrs. Van Fleet, not a bit awed,
pitched into the two robbers. while
the children tried TO wrestle them
down by the legs. Hampered in their
movements, the thieves We're on the
receiving end Of several smashes ad-
ministered with o. chair when a third
masked man, evidently posted outside
as 4 lookout, ran into the room, and,
seeing that Van Fleet was regaining
his feet, slashed him on the hand with
knife and then flourished the
weapon so threateningly that Mrs.
Van Fleet had his man by the throat
, safety TO the other side of the table.
You might as well give up" said
one OF the robbers. I'VE don't want
to hurt any one; all we want is
] money. We're going to get, 1t one
way or another and you might as
Wells give it MP peaceably.''
Airs. Van Fleet, terrorized. told her
| husband to drop the fight. but he was
still deteimined not to and had made
) a lunge for the revolver of the near
est man, when the other two, thrust
ing their weapons against his face,
exclaimed: tts-.@ ~
"That VIII do!''
Leads Bandits 10 Money.
1t was enoughfor Van Fleet, and he
+. led the bandits, they covering him
the while to a recess beneath the
stairway beyond the dining room,
I where he had placed the cash drawer.
containing $500, Just before dinner.
The drawer and its contents were
. taken by the. trio, who fed
A passenger train was passing when
the thieves ran, out, and Van Fleet
. tried to get the attention of somebody
on the train. but without success. He
] then telephoned to the railroad Office
In Jersey City. and a number of detec-
! tives were dispatched to Finderne. In
] looking for the bandits they found the
cash drawer, empty, In contractor
tool box outside the station.