The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-01-19
STIRRING GUN FIGHT OF YEARS
 AGO RECALLED Birmingham, Arnold and ! Cronan Principals Tn
 Desperate Encounter DOUGHERTY GIVES
 CREDIT IN MEMOIRS Episode Which Showed the Stuff These Valiant Of
 ficers Had Tn Them

The capture of William Stanley, known in the criminal world as stSt. Paul Tip, and his notorious gang of vegas in Bridgeport 1 5 years ago, one of the most brilliant coupes and des- perate battles in the history of the Bo- cal department, is recalled in the memoirs of Second Deputy Police Commissioner George S. Dougherty, of New York, then one of the most fam ous of the Pinkertons The chapter was published in yesterdays New r ork Herald and the circumstances are we'll rem nernbered by Superintend- ent of Police Eugene Birmingham Captain of Detectives George H. Arr mold, Detective Sergeant Edward Cronan, Doorman Fred H. Marco and several others taking part in the oc- currence.
 In addition to Stanley. there were James Curran, alias Troy Joe,'' Jo- seph McCa1oe, alias John McAdann George Brown, alias Milwaukee Kid'' and William Thompson, alias Sleepy John' in the gang. All were notorious and dangerous vegas and gun men. It was in this battle that Dougherty be- Heves he came nearer meeting death than almost any other during his career. Credit is deserved1y given to the work of the Bridgeport officers
 Trailing the gang to Bridgeport it was believed that an attempt was@to be made to overpower the night cash fer at the old car barns and get away before the day force came on. The assistance of the local authorities was asked and members of the gang were located on Fairfield avenue and Water street soon after leaving the boat which look them here from New York, Dough herty having. beaten them to the city, coming by train.
 Troy Joe,', one of the most des~ perate of the gang escaped temper arily but was afterwards caught in Fairfield by Marco who held him at the point of gun.
 Sleepy John' was pinned to the counter in the old Shelton drug store where Meigs building now stands by Sergeant Cronan before he realized what was happening. The others of the gang engaged in revolver practice in the street and a. desperate encoun- ter with the police ensued, it being consi dered miraculous that the bullets failed to kill or dnjure those taking part or the onfookers. Birmingham and Dougherty went after eSt. Paul Tip, the leader and a. famous shot. For time the encounter went on desperately until assistance came and he was overpowered. Captain Arnold secured Milwaukee Red" only after another desperate encounter. Super-]
 
 erty and also engaged in personal en- counter with other members of the gang. Commissioner #Dougherty ire quently said that he considered his escaping without injury and the cap ture of the crooks was due to the quick and nervy work of Superintend- ent Bdr1nin gha1n and his men, | The capture of the gang resulted in .SS calibre revolvers of the latest | type with plenty of ammunition be- inE found on them. The revolver of | St Paul Tip,'' said to have been re- sponsibie for bringing death to a mum l Der throughout the country and with the number filed off on this account, was presented to Superintendent l Birmingham in recognition of his work in the case and is still at police | aeadquarters as gruesome souvenir The battle was one of the most deadly md keenest in uperintendent Birrn- ngham's long career as one Of the pest known and efficient police com in the country.
 Commissioner Dougherty pays high credit to the local department in that hey not only did efficient work but Id not finch in the least in the face ,f probable death. It is known that r he local principals received a stand ng offer later from the Pdnkertorls of positions paying much more than giy- m locally. It is a matter of personal ecord that the offer has been repeat- d a number of times. All the prisoners served time for { heir ,offenses and only two have been lberated. They are Troy Joe' and Milwaukee Red.'