The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-22
BARNUM AVENUE LIQUOR DEAL ER
 THUGS VICTIM
John Cooney is Struck By Blackjacks and Robbed
 of Nights Receipts.
HIGHWAYMEN ESCAPE
 AS HE RUNS FOR GUN
Police Believe Perpetrators Are Gang Who Operated
 in South End Street.

The trio of highwaymen who have robbed and beaten half dozen noc- turnal pedestrians in this city since last Saturday night, with the result that their victims have In nearly every case gone to the hospital, waylaid John Cooney, liquor dealer at 999 Barnum avenue, early today, each robber smashing him on the head si- multaneously with a blackjack, in the yard of his home.
 Cooney after closing his store, placed the days receipts of $70 in his pocket and took the 12:10 a. m. car for his residence at Barnum and Boston avenues, in Stratford. He alighted from the electric and open ed the gate in the picket fence which leads to 0 short path running to the door of his house.
 :, The moment he stepped inside the SsaAe-three fosns rose like wraiths in the darkness, each armed with a blackjack. Three smashing blows were dealt Cooney opening his head in three places. Stunned he fell to the path, one of the highwaymen reaching into one of Cooney's pockets and extracting the roll of $70.
 Thinking he had money in other pockets they proceeded to search his covering somewhat from the effects of the blows managed to struggle to his feet and yelled loudly for help. One of the robbers, to quiet him. attempted 70 strike him on the head again with the blackjack.
 Cooney grabbed his arm and held it for dear life. Another one of the trio set upon him and in the struggle all fell to the ground. Efforts to. wrest one of,.he robbers from Cooney's grasp by his two pals were unsuc- cessful at first, the liquor dealer hold7 ing to his assailant with the grim ten- acity of bull dog.
 His arms were finally numbed by effects of blows in the muscles. and he reIinuuished his clutch. Just at this point of the struggle neighbors reused from their beds by Cooney's cries, and the latter's wife, rushed from their homes. The three highwaymen fled down Barnum avenue toward Bridge port while Cooney ran into his home to get a revolver. His wife, however, had mislaid the weapon and after searching a few minutes the injured man, with blood streaming from the suit was useless.
 A physician was immediately ca1l- ed, who sewed up Cooney's head and reported the affair to the police. Bridgeport detectives watched all in- coming cars and the streets, but no trace of the three men could be found.
 The trio are believed to be the same men who knocked Ferdinand Puf1a, and his brother John, of 118 Pine street, unconscious last Saturday night, under the viaduct at South and Railroad avenues, rif1ing their pockets as they lay prostrate on the ground, and taking what money they had.
 Both men were removed to St. Vim cents hospital and it was at first thought that Ferdinand Puf1a would be blind for life. the blow of one of the highwaymen's blackjacks injur- ing his eye. He is still at St. Vim cents hospital, but will be able to leave in a few days. His sight, how ever, will be impaired by the injury permanently. His brother after hav- ing a wound in the head dressed was able 70 go home.
 The brothers could not describe their assailants, stating that they never knew what struck them and they were, felled to the ground from behind. Other holdups in which vic. tims were slugged in the same man" ner have been brought to the atten- ton of the police and Capt. F. o. Cronan possesses clues which it is thought will shortly result in an ar- rest.