New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-06
YEGCS SLIP NET AFTER
NIGHT DUEL WITH POLICE
Gordon of ConStabIeS Around
Seaford Woods Fails to Hold
WOuId-Be LO0terS.
TRIED TO ROB POST0FFICE
Surprised, They Are Pursued,
but with Revolvers Turn Back
Officers, and Later Elude
Reinforcements.

The police Of Freeport. Long Island. and
all the surrounding towns and villages
are searching. with little hope OF sue
cess, for three yeggmen who slipped
through their fingers early yesterday
when the men were surprised while try
ing TO rob the postofiice at Seaford, Long
Island. a few miles from Freeport. After
lively revolver skirmish with consta-
bles during which they once had the
officers at their mercy. the marauders
were apparently surrounded in stretch
Of woods. but escaped.
The efforts OF the thieves TO rob the
postofIice were frustrated by the neigh
ing Of horse This animal, together
with a wagon. had been stolen from the
Adams Express Company's stable at Sea
ford, and was left outside the postofhce
while the thieves tried to enter the build
ing and rob the safe.
George Weeks, the postmaster, who
lives rext door to the postofiice, was
awakened at an early hour by the loud
neighing of a horse. He arose, and on
seeing the door Of the postoffice open he
shouted. Three men ran from the build
ing. sprang into the wagon and drove of.
The postmaster telephoned to Constable
Thomas Murray. at Freeport. Murray
procured an automobile from neighbour
ing garage and, with milford Newton
and Harry Chiffon as assistants. hurried
TO Seaford. On the way Murray passed
the express wagon containing the yegS-
men. but he did not know It then.
Stopping only long enough at Seaford
to see that the postoffics safe was still
intact. although there was hole in the
door where drilling had been begun, Muir
ray, Newton and Chiffon started after
the thieves.
The automobile with Murray caught up
with the wagon at Bellmore. AS the ma
chine decreased It's speed and Murray and
Chiffon were preparing to spring into the
wagon. the yeggmen made the first
move AS Murray ordered the driver Of
the express wagon TO halt the muzzles OF
three revolyers were poked in his face.
Turn your machine around and beat
it," ordered one Of the thieves. after he
made sure that the hands Of Murray
Chiffon and Newton. who had been driv-
ing the car. were elevated.
After the express wagon was out OF
sight Murray again took up the pursuit.
He was the onl" one armed, however, so
he telephoned 10 Freeport for reinforce
mcnts. Elmer Raynor. Constable Frances
Smith and numerous citizens. armed with
rifles. rcvolvers or clubs. responded. Then
the automobile with the police made a de-
tour ahead Of the wagon and waited for
IL. The thieves saw the headlights OF the
car. and. deserving their vehicle. fed.
Dozens Of shots were fred at them. and
they turned and blazed away merrily In
return. So far as is known, nobody was
hit
The thieves were finally chased into a
dense wood north OF Frceport. Hundreds
OF citizens formed a circle about the
wood. and at daylight went In after the
thieves. But. although It had been
thought impossible boy the police. the
yeggs had managed TO slip through the
line Of guards somewhere. and no trace
has since been found OF them.
One Of the thieves wore a brown suit
and derby hat the second wore a dark
SUIT and straw hat. and the third a DARK
suit and gray cap