Connecticut western news., 1921-01-20
ROBBING FREIGHT CARS
 COMES TO A CLIMAX
One of Bandits Shot Through
 Arm Attempting to Escape

has been going on in the local yards
 for nearly year, came to climax
 last Thursday night when men were
 caught redhanded by detectives en-
 ployed by the railroad. There were
 five in the gang, all armed and the
 place of operations was what is
 known as Barnes siding, in the nor
 thern rart of the town, close to the
 Massac chusetts line. ... i.
 The robbing of freight cars dates
 back to last June when valuable lot of silks were stolen. Within the past month no less than three differ ent robberies have taken place here, but little was said as it was hoped to catch the thieves. The first of the recent thefts included Il cases of quilts from Housatonic, Mass, out of a shipment of 13 cases weighing from $40 to 570 pounds. On last Wednesday night truck load of automobile tires was stolen and on last Thursday night they came back for more, but were caught in the act.
 After the second two robberies took place, Agent D. c. Finney made insistent demands on the company for detectives, with the result that Detectives A. B. See, sergeant of the New Haven railroad police, and Ralph J. Bailey were assigned to the case. They arrived late Thursday evening and at once went to the Barnes siding to make a thorough examination of the seals of all cars. nnA Cno usl lr Bailey on the other. See was work ing little faster than Bailey and when about two car lengths ahead, stopped to wait for him, leaning against one of the cars. He had been in that position but minute when he felt the car sway slightly; then he heard the scraping of foot. Working his way back he communica- ted his discovery to Bailey and to- gether they advanced.
 Arriving at the place where the noises were heard, Detectives See pulled out his fashlight and throw ing the light under the car, he. dis-4 covered five guns aimed at his head. Luckily his f1ashlight went out and as it did he pulled his gun from it's hol- ster and fired from the hip, the bandits scattering and returning the fire as they ran. Detective Sea pick ed out one individual and called upon him to halt, which he refused to do. The detective fired and the man went down in heap. m 1.
 Seeing that the capture of the others seemed impossible the detec- tives went to examine the one who was shot. After finding he was only suffering from shot in the arm, which while painful, was not serious, they telephoned from a nearby house for Constable Trieschman, Agent Finney and Dr. Lee. A. L. Higgins brought the officers to the scene of the robbery and his car was used to follow the other bandits, but no trace of them was found as they evidently had an automobile of some description with which they expected to carry away the stolen goods. When the bandit who was shot was examined, it was found he had a 32- ealibre H. & R. revolver in his right l hand. He seemed either dazed or un- conscious and it was some time be- fore he could talk. Constable | Trieschmann took him to the lookup | and he was later questioned by the detectives. He gave his name as Joseph Gavanie of 704 J street, Uti- ca, N. Y. and said that he walked l and hooked on behind cars since leaving that city on Monday, in search of work. Gavanie denied all knowledge as to who the others were | and said that he was simply walking along the track when he was fired | upon and shot. He also said he had no gun!
 The Hearing
 Gavanie was given hearing be- fore Justice Ford and pleaded not guilty. He said he was 19 years of age and had never before been ar rested. He is evidently a Sicilian and claims to have been in this country about four years.
 Detective See stated that it was about Il 80 Thursday night, when he and Detective Bailey were examining about thirty freight cars on what is known as Barnes siding. Three or four of the cars north of the cross ing and the remainder south of it. They were looking over the cars to see that none. of the seals were broken. Several cars with the seals broken were found. The cars con- tained general merchandise and were spotted by the local freight. He had IL nf PoS1a1, | went around car, finding the seal broken and the door open, re- marked that the car had been robbed. He felt the car sway and scraping noise; then drew his fiashlight which revealed five men crouching beneath the car with guns leveled at them. [ He drew his gun and fired from the [ hip, then rushed around car and seeing the one man,, ordered him to halt. The man kept on running so