Gun Battle on Witherbee Avenue in 1904 Results in Wounded Pelham Manor Police Officer

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Policing in the Town of Pelham has been a dangerous business for Pelham's Finest since at least the late 19th century.  Pelham Manor police officer John McGuire was shot and killed while trying to apprehend a burglary suspect on the Pelham Manor trolley in 1917.  The slaying has never been solved.  See Wed., Aug. 09, 2006:  The Saddest Day in the History of Pelham Manor's "Toonerville Trolley". 

When murdered, Officer John McGuire was investigating a burglary that had occurred on Witherbee Avenue in the Village of Pelham Manor.  Only eight years earlier, another Pelham Manor police officer, Alfonse D. Savage, was wounded in a gun battle on Witherbee Avenue after surprising armed burglars in the act of burglarizing the summer home of a New York City resident at the corner of Witherbee and Highbrook Avenues.  

 

Pelham Manor Police Department in 1910 Only Five Months
After Officer A.D. Savage, Standing Third from Right,
Was Shot.  Caption Reads:"R.H. Marks, Chief of Police (sitting)

Left to Right -- John J. Flanagan, George Booth, Joseph Colgan,

John McGuire, A.D. Savage, Phil. Gargan, James Butler."

Source:  Pelham Manor Police Dept., The Pelham Sun [Pelham, NY], 

May 21, 1910, Vol. I, No. 7, cols. 4-6.

Officer Savage went beyond the call of duty.  He was shot by one of the burglars during a fierce gun battle.  At first it was thought he was shot in the shoulder, shattering the bones.  It turned out, however, that he was shot beneath his left arm pit and the bullet punctured a lung and lodged near a rib.  Despite his wound, Officer Savage grabbed and clung to one of the burglars, refusing to let go until another officer arrived.  Only then did the exhausted and wounded officer yell to his fellow officer "don't let him go.  He shot me!" then fainted.  Village officers swarmed the area and apprehended a second perpetrator.  Though the pair gave false names, it turned out that they were a rather nasty couple of thugs.  Within a few days, police apprehended a third member of the burglary ring. 

As might be expected, newspapers throughout the metropolitan region reported on the bravery of the Village of Pelham Manor police officers.  Thankfully, Officer Savage survived his gunshot wound and even was photographed among the members of the Department, standing proudly, only a few months later (see below).  Amazingly, only seven months after he was shot, Officer Savage apprehended another burglar as he tried to jimmy open the kitchen window of another Pelham Manor home in the same area as the earlier incident (see below).  Despite such heroism, however, Officer Savage was never the same.  His health slowly deteriorated from the wound.  In 1920, on the advice of his physician, Alfonse Savage moved from Pelham to New Mexico "for his health."  A local newspaper reported at the time that "His health has never been the same and the change has been recommended."  See In the Pelhams -- Pelham Manor,  The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], No. 9290, May 19, 1920, p. 10, col. 1. 

Today's Historic Pelham Blog salutes Pelham Manor's Finest and transcribes various articles about the gun battle and the bravery of three Village Police Officers, Alfonse D. Savage, James Butler, and John J. Flanagan. 

"CROOKS AND COPS IN A DUEL.
-----

Policeman Shot by Burglar Who Was Robbing Allan Robinson's Home.

MOUNT VERNON, Dec. 21. -- There was an exciting duel between two burglars and two policemen in front of the country house of Allan Robinson, a New York lawyer, on Witherbee avenue, Pelham Manor, to-night, in which Policeman A.B. [sic] Savage of Pelham Manor was shot through the right shoulder.  He is lying dangerously wounded in the New Rochelle Hospital.  

The burglars, who had packed three suit cases with silverware and other valuables, are locked up in the Pelham Manor police station.  Chief of Police Marks believes that they are the 'early Joe' burglars who have been operating in the early evening along the north shore of the Sound for some time.  The arrest of the men was brought about by the pluck of Policeman Savage, who after being shot clung to one of the prisoners until assistance arrived.

Policeman Savage was patrolling his beat when he discovered one of the front windows in the Robinson house -- which had been closed for the winter -- open, and he called Policeman Flannagan, who was near by, and the two officers started to crawl through the window, when they were fired on from inside.  The shots went wild and the burglars then leaped out of a rear window and started to run down the street, followed by the officers, who fired on them.  There was a fusillade of shots.

Although Savage received a bullet in his shoulder he managed to seize one of the intruders and clung to him.  The shots attracted Policeman Butler, who came up the street on a run, and Savage shouted 'Hold this fellow; don't let him go!  He shot me!'  Then he fell in a faint.  Butler was forced to knock the man down with his nightstick in order to get the handcuffs on him.

Policeman Flannagan held up the other burglar at the point of his revolver and both were taken to police headquarters.  They gave their names as Albert Wilson of 71 East 119th street, Manhattan, and William De Snow of Philadelphia.

Mr. Robinson is living at his town house and his Pelham Manor summer home has been closed for several weeks.  When the police visited the house after the shooting they found the suit cases filled with booty in the dining room and ready to be carried away.

After Policeman Savage was taken to the New Rochelle Hospital the bullet was probed for and then it was found that the shoulder was so badly shattered that it was necessary to perform an operation."

Source:  CROOKS AND COPS IN A DUEL, The Sun [NY, NY], Dec. 22, 1909, p. 6, cols. 6-7.  

"BURGLARS SHOOT IN PELHAM MANOR; WOUND POLICEMAN
-----
He is Officer Savage Who resides on Fourth Avenue This City.
-----
MARAUDERS CAUGHT
-----
Victim in New Rochelle Hospital and Recovery is Expected.
-----
DUEL IN THE DARK.
-----

In pistol duel last evening at 6:30 o'clock, at the residence of Allen Robinson, president of the Allied Real Estate Interests, at the corner of Witherbee and Highbrook avenues, Pelham Manor, between Police Officers A. D. Savage and [John J.] Flanagan and two burglars who were surprised after they had ransacked the place.  Officer Savage was shot in the right shoulder and is now in the New Rochelle hospital, where he will recover.  Savage resides in Mount Vernon, on South Fourth avenue.

Officer Savage showed great courage, when in spite of his wound, he caught one of the burglars after the latter had attempted to escape with his pal, who was also captured by Officer Flanagan.

Held the Burglars.

Savage held his man until Officer Butler arrived.  Butler felled the burglar with a blow of his nightstick after Savage had told him that he had been shot.  After being attended by Dr. Washburn the wounded officer was taken to the New Rochelle hospital, where he made a statement to Coroner Boedecker.  It was stated at the hospital this morning that Officer Savage was doing well and that there was every hope for his recovery.  The bullet in the wounded officer's shoulder has not been probed for as yet.

Booty is Found.

At the Robinson house were found two dress suit cases packed with jewelry and articles valued at about $1,000.  In one dress suit case was a pearl necklace valued at $400.  Near the open window was found a satchel filled with burglar's tools, which the burglars left behind them.  

Found Window Open.

It was at 6:20 o'clock that Officer Flanagan noticed one of the windows of the Robinson house on the first floor open.  He went to the nearest telephone box and reported.  He made another investigation and ascertained that the window had been pried open with a jimmy.

Fired on the Police.

Chief [R. H.] Marks sent Officer Savage, who was doing desk duty, to the Robinson house, where Flanagan was waiting, as there was someone inside.  He warned him to be careful.  

The burglars must have heard the officers talking outside for no sooner had Savage and Flanagan started to climb through the window than the burglars hurried down the stairs and in the darkness, opened fire upon them.

While partly leaning through the window the two officers returned the fire.

The burglars had the advantage over the officers.  Officer Savage was shot in the shoulder, but continued to fire into the darkness, and in an ante-mortem statement told Coroner Boedecker that he did not know how many times he shot at the men.

Taken to Hospital.

The neighborhood was aroused by the shooting.  Chief Marks hurried to the scene and then had the wounded officer taken in a Larchmont car as far as the Red Church corner.  The car was on its way to Mount Vernon at the time and was backed to the church.  The officer was then assisted to the office of Dr. Washburn and later taken to the New Rochelle hospital in an automobile.

Makes Quick Run.

It was 7:50 o'clock when Coroner Boedecker, of Mount Vernon, was notified of the shooting by telephone, and that Savage was at that time in the New Rochelle hospital.  The coroner broke all records for quick work in his department, for twenty minutes after he received word of the shooting, he was at the bedside of the wounded officer.  The run was made in an automobile.

Burglars in Custody.

The two burglars were brought to police headquarters and gave their names as John De Snow, of Philadelphia, and William Wilson, of No. 17 East 19th street, New York.  In the pockets of Wilson, who was the one 
-----
(Continued on Page Three.)

BURGLARS SHOOT
-----
(Continued From Page One.)

Savage caught and whom he declared shot him, were found 28 cartridges.  Wilson when he was brought to the station was in a bad condition and was bleeding from the head.  He did not appear to be more than seventeen or eighteen years of age.

Story of a Third Man.

About 11:30 o'clock Roundman Deveaux of New Rochelle police force, came to headquarters in company with a boy named Clifford Rivers of No. 18 Walnut street, New Rochelle.  The boy says that last night about 8 o'clock, while he was talking with another boy on the station platform in New Rochelle, a young man wearing a dark soft hat came, olive green suit, came running into the platform and said to him:  'We had a house pretty well cleaned out in Pelham Manor when the police caught us and I beat it.  The boy declares that the man took the 8:20 train on the Harlem river division for New York.  Chief Marks takes no stock in the boy's story.  The burglars declare there was a third man who did the shooting and that they knew nothing about it at all.  Chief Marks said that there were only two burglars in the house.  When the men were searched no weapon was found on them and none could be found in the locality."

Source:  BURGLARS SHOOT IN PELHAM MANOR; WOUND POLICEMAN, The Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Dec. 22, 1909, p. 1, col. 3 & p. 3, col. 1.  

"A THIRD MAN IN ROBBERY.
----

Pelham Manor, Dec. 23. -- That William De Snow and Albert Wilson, the two burglars who were captured at the Robinson house Tuesday evening by Officers Savage and Flanagan after a duel as a result of which Officer Savage was wounded, are criminals and have records is established.  The two men gave fictitious names and it is learned they are brothers.  The younger who gave the name of Wilson told Chief Marks that his older brother, known as De Snow, was the one who shot Savage.  A third man, who is believed to know something about the burglary was arrested at 1985 Lexington avenue last night by Detectives Clark and Mendelssohn.  He gave the name of Frank Costello, 98 East 114th street."

Source:  A THIRD MAN IN ROBBERY, New Rochelle Pioneer, Dec. 25, 1909, p. 5, col. 3.  

"PELHAM BURGLARS CONFESS
-----
Three Men Implicated in Crime Are Held for the Grand Jury.

Pelham Manor, Dec. 24 -- With the arrest of Joseph White, alias John Costello, alias John Codello, at his room at 1,895 Lexington avenue, New York, at midnight on Wednesday, by Chief Marks, Officer Butler, of Pelham Manor and Detectives Clark and Mendelssohn, of New York, Chief Marks has now in custody all of the burglars who broke into the residence of Allen Robinson Tuesday night.  All three of the men in confessions made to the chief, admit that they entered the house but each denies that he had anything to do with the shooting of Officer Savage, who is now in the New Rochelle hospital.

Both Joseph White and Albert Wilson, whose right name is Albert Barnett, alias Bender, declare that De Snow shot Savage, while De Snow says that he did not do the shooting, and declares that White shot the officer from the roof of the house.  

The capture of White in New York was effected in a sensational manner.  Chief Marks located the man by means of an address on a tag which was attached to a ring with two keys taken from one of the prisoners Tuesday night.  He went to 1,895 Lexington avenue on Wednesday, and ascertained that De Snow was living on the top floor with another man but that he had not been seen for several days.  

Late Wednesday night, Chief Marks and Officer Butler went to New York and after meeting Detectives Clark and Mendelssohn, went to Lexington avenue.  chief Marks had one of the keys with him and with it opened the front door.  He stationed Officer Butler in the back yard.  

The chief and the two New York detectives proceeded to De Snow's room.  Chief Marks rapped on the door and after he had answered to the name of 'Jack' when a voice inside of the room asked who was there, the door was opened.  The three officers entered the room and before De Snow's friend had an opportunity to recover from his surprise he was made a prisoner.

The room was searched by the detectives while Chief Marks held the prisoner.  On the bureau was found a clipping from a New York paper with the account of the burglary in Pelham Manor at the Robinson house.

White was taken to police headquarters in New York, where his picture was found in Rogues' Gallery.  Its number is 9,936.  He was identified by the detectives.  Early Thursday morning he was brought to Pelham Manor and locked up.  Last night the three burglars were arraigned before Judge Kilvert on a charge of burglary and assault on an officer with intent to kill.  Joseph White pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary and was held to await the action of the grand Jury.  De Snow, whose right name is William Barnett, and his brother, Albert Barnett, pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary, but would not plead to the assault charge.  Each man waived examination.  The were also held to await the action of the grand jury, and were taken to White Plains this morning.
-----Mount Vernon Argus."

Source:  PELHAM BURGLARS CONFESS, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jan. 1, 1910, p. 3, col. 4.  

"PERSONAL ITEMS.
----- 

*     *     *    

--Officer A. D. Savage, of Pelham Manor, a resident of South Fourth avenue, this city, who was shot by burglars surprised by him and Officer Flanagan while they were in the act of robbing the residence of Allen Robinson in Pelham Manor, December 21, was operated on Monday in the New York Graduate Hospital in New York by Dr. Samuel Lloyd.  It was supposed at the time of the fight with the burglars that Savage was shot in the arm but the bullet was found near a rib under the left arm pit."  

Source:  PERSONAL ITEMS, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 20, 1910, p. 2, col. 2. 

"ROETTNER GETS A YEAR.
-----

Conrad Roettner, of New Rochelle, who was implicated in robberies with the burglars De Snow and Wilson, one of whom shot Officer Savage, of the Mount Vernon [sic] police force, after a robbery at Pelham Manor, was sentenced this week to a year in Kings County penitentiary, having pleaded guilty to petit larceny."  

Source:  ROETTNER GETS A YEAR, New Rochelle Pioneer, Feb. 19, 1910, p. 5, col. 7.

"CHAUFFEUR AND BURGLAR
-----
Pelham Manor Police Nab Arthur Tilford Trying to Enter House.

While attempting to force an entrance into the rear window of the residence of Miss Edith Haywood, on Monterey avenue, Pelham Manor, about 8 o'clock Friday night.  Officer Savage caught a burglar, who, when he was brought to police headquarters in Pelham Manor, gave his name as Arthur Tilford, of New Rochelle.  He is twenty-one years of age, and is a chauffeur during the day time.  He has been convicted of burglary and twice of larceny.  He is also responsible for the burglary committed in the Haywood barn two weeks ago.  At first he denied it, but when Raymond Ricardo, chauffeur for the Haywoods, identified a blue coat worn by Tilford, as his own property, the latter broke down and confessed and informed the police where he had disposed of the property.

Officer Savage was shot last December, by a burglar, not far from the spot where he ran across Tilford last night.  He was walking along Monterey avenue, when he heard a noise which sounded to him like that of some person working at a window.  He walked across the grass and discovered Tilford trying to pry open the window opening into the kitchen by means of a chisel.  Tilford did not know the officer was near him until the latter placed his hand on his shoulder and pulled him to the ground.

Officer Savage brought his prisoner to headquarters and when Chief Marks saw him he recognized a blue serge coat which answered the one Ricardo, the chauffeur for the Haywoods, in Pelham Manor, had reported to him as stolen.

'Where did you get that coat?' the chief asked.

'Oh, that is my coat.  I have had it for two years,' was the answer.

Chief Marks took Tilford to New York to-day, and will have his picture taken there.  He was arraigned before Judge Kilvert on a charge of burglary and was remanded until Tuesday."

Source:  CHAUFFEUR AND BURGLAR, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jul. 30, 1910, p. 3, col. 5.  

For other similar reports about the shooting of Officer Savage, see, e.g., OFFICER SHOT BY A BURGLAR, The Yonkers Statesman, Dec. 22, 1909, Vol. XXVII, No. 8005, p. 1, col. 6; PELHAM BURGLARS MAKE CONFESSION, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Dec. 24, 1909, p. 6, col. 4; SHOT BY BURGLAR, NY Tribune, Dec. 22, 1909, p. 1, col. 4. 

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Attack on the Toonerville Trolley Line by Strikers in 1916

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Pelham and nearby localities suffered through a violent, months-long strike of trolley line workers in 1916.  In October of that year, the Westchester Electric Railroad Company decided to try to reopen the strike-closed line between New Rochelle and Mount Vernon that ran through Pelham.  That line included a portion of the tracks along which ran the Pelham Manor trolley that inspired Fontaine Fox to create the Toonerville Trolley portrayed in his long-running Toonerville Folks comic strip.

Pelham Manor detailed members of its police force to ride along the line to protect the cars and their crew members as the cars bounced along the tracks through the Village of Pelham Manor.  When the trolley cars passed from Pelhamdale Avenue onto Colonial Avenue toward Wolf's Lane, however, they entered the tiny little Village of Pelham (today's neighborhood known as Pelham Heights).  Pelham Manor police considered the area out of their jurisdiction.  They hopped off the trolley cars as strkers approached the cars for a coordinated attack. 

Charges were leveled against members of the police forces of the Villages of North Pelham and Pelham Manor for allegedly standing by during the subsequent violence.  One report even accused a member of the Pelham Manor police force of skulking away through vacant lots as strikers approached to attack.

An extensive article about some of the violence appeared in the October 28, 1916 issue of the New Rochelle Pioneer.  A large excerpt from that article is quoted below.

"ANOTHER RIOT AND AN ACCIDENT MARK SEVENTH WEEK OF STRIKE
-----
LOCAL STRIKERS DESCEND ON PELHAM AND TEMPORARILY STOP TROLLEY CARS FROM OPERATING ON MAIN LINE TO MOUNT VERNON -- REAR-END COLLISION NEAR ELK AVENUE INJURES FOUR PERSONS -- COMPANY OFFICIALS CLAIM THAT STRIKE IS NEAR COLLAPSE.
-----

Temporarily stopping trolley cars on main line between this city and Mount Vernon, and a collision between cars in this city, were the chief incidents that marked the seventh week of the strike.

Fifty striking trolleymen from this city made good their threat to stop the traffic between New Rochelle and Mount Vernon last Saturday afternoon after the main line had been opened by the Westchester Electric Railroad Company that morning, by resuming the service with three cars on a twenty-minute headway.  While the police of Pelham Manor, headed by Chief Marks, who claimed the trouble was taking place in Pelham Heights and therefore he had no authority to interfere, witnessed their tactics, the crowd savagely attacked the cars and their crews, hurling stones through the windows.

Because it is alleged that the Pelham Manor police who up to that time had been riding on the cars got off and gave no protection, the trolley company accuses the police of neglect of duty and insinuates cowardice.  One policeman is alleged by the company to have jumped off the car he was detailed to guard and to have left the scene via vacant lots when he saw the crowd of strikers approaching.

Not only were two New Rochelle-Mount Vernon cars stoned, but the Pelham Manor car was damaged.  All three cars were discontinued in service temporarily, and with the motormen behind the screened vestibules, the cars were finally run through the gauntlet of stones and sticks into Mount Vernon, a sanctuary.  No arrests were made, although the trolley company officials claim that Chief Marks and four or five men as well as Chief Holden of Pelham Heights with one other policeman, were witnesses of the happenings.  The service on the main line was resumed yesterday morning.

After leaving Pelham Manor the crowd of strikers returned to this city, where on Mayflower Avenue the men bombarded a Webster Avenue car, breaking six windows and denting the car.  The crowd evidently was after William Smith, a motorman who had remained faithful to the company but Smith came through unhurt.  Three New Rochelle policemen drew their guns and started after the crowd, but the strikers ran away.  As the police were pursuing them, they saw another crowd approaching the car from the opposite direction and had to give up the chase to protect the company's property.  There were a number of women and children in the car, and several of them were hit and cut by glass.

Strikers were again active in this city on Sunday in stoning cars and two arrests were made.  A crowd gathered on Drake Avenue and threw stones at a Glen Island car, breaking several windows, so William Hubbard, Saul Levy and Walter Pickwick, striking motormen, were arrested, in connection with the disturbance.

Wednesday witnessed the first accident since the cars were resumed here.  A rear-end collision between two cars occurred on North Avenue near Elk Avenue, about 8 o'clock in the morning, and as a result, four persons were injured.  Three were taken to the New Rochelle Hospital -- Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn of 8 Morgan Street, for a sprained ankle; Motorman John Peters for wounds received when glass cut his face, and Special Officer Michael Buckley, whose arm was bruised.  Officer John E. Godding was bruised on one leg, but he remained on duty.

Leaves on the rail is given as the probable cause of the accident.  Two cars were sent up North Avenue together.  According to witnesses the first car was stopped to let Mrs. Dunn get off.  The second car, some distance behind, was following at a fair rate of speed, and it is believed that the motorman could not stop it when it slid on its brakes over the rails.  The second car crashed into the first just as Mrs. Dunn alighted, the front vestibule of the former being smashed and a piece of its door hurled forward, striking Mrs. Dunn on the ankle.

Other than these incidents, nothing violent or of a serious consequence has occurred.  Ten cars are being operated on almost schedule time in this city and an increasing number of passengers ride every day.

On Monday, a number of strikers and their sympathizers, concealed in the grass near East Main Street, in the Dillon Park section, waited for the approach of the Larchmont car.  They were seen by Motorcycle Officer Sutton and the special policemen on the car.  The car was stopped and the three policemen charged into the lot with drawn clubs.  The crowd did not wait, but ran for the weeds, where they disappeared.  Then the car proceeded unmolested.

Mayor Griffing sent an invitation to ten of the strikers to appear at a conference on Wednesday with Edward A. Maher, General Manager and Superintendent William E. Wheeler of the trolley company, in order that a solution of the strike might be reached, but Messrs. Griffing, Maher and Wheeler were greeted by a letter which stated that the men declined to attend the conference on the ground that the officials of the trolleymen's union had been ignored, and that it was discoureous to these officials.

Failing to get the assistance they had expected from the two federal mediators, John A. Moffit and James A. Smyth, Secretary of Labor Wilson's staff, the strikers on Tuesday night called on Governor Whitman to use his good offices in procuring a settlement with the companies by sending the following telegram, which was signed by presidents of the eight local unions:

'The undersigned officers, representing 11,000 striking street car men of New York City and vicinity who have been on strike for the last seven weeks to establish the right of organization and permit the execution of collective bargaining recognized by the law of the supreme court of the United States, have been instructed by the unanimous vote of the membership of the several different divisions to request of you, as governor of the state of New York, to use the power of your great office and your personal influence to adjust the present difficulty between the street railway companies and this great army of men now on strike, which will relieve the demoralization existing on the traffic lines of New York City and vicinity.'

So far as the Westchester Electric Railroad Company is concerned, the strike is practically broken, according to what the officials say now.  Practically every line of the company is in operation, the service is gradually being extended to include the running of cars at night and more strikers continue to return to work.  It has been stated by the trolley company's representatives that twenty of the regular motormen and conductors including John Gotti, the motorman who is well known in this city, who had remained faithful and refused to go out on strike, were now working regularly.  Moreover the men are receiving double pay.

Estimates are made that a majority of the striking carmen have found employment elsewhere.  Attendance at the daily meetings of the men has dwindled until now only a handful of strikers gather in the various meeting places.  These are mostly the old men who have not secured work anywhere else and who have found it possible to subsist on whatever earnings they might have laid by, supplemented by the strike benefits which come through occasionally from Detroit.

One of the men said to newspaper men yesterday:  'This is the forty-eighth day since the strike began and all I have received from the union has been $10.  That doesn't go far toward supporting myself, my wife and three children, does it?  Last week I worked as a driver in a meat market, twelve hours a day except on Saturday when it was fifteen, and I almost killed myself with the hard work, but I needed twelve dollars.  Before going on strike I had a clean job.  The hours were not long.  The pay was good and I could live well.  Now all is changed, and I am standing here on the corner trying to make up my mind whether I ought to go back to the trolley company again. . . . ."

Source:  Another Riot and an Accident Mark Seventh Week of Strike, New Rochelle Pioneer, Vol. 58, No. 29, Oct. 28, 1916, p. 1, col. 1.

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Report of Fight with Trolley Construction Crew in Pelhamville in 1898

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In the late 19th century, rival trolley companies raced to construct lines throughout the New York region.  Rivalries among competing trolley lines led to at least one instance of violence in Pelhamville in 1898.  A fascinating account of the incident appeared in the October 8, 1898 issue of New Rochelle Pioneer.  The account appears below.

"TROLLEY ROW AT PELHAMVILLE.

-----

The little village of Pelhamville has a very lively railroad row on its hands the outcome of which will be watched with the keenest interest by the friends of the Union Trolley Company and the New York and Connecticut Traction Company. 

The rivalry between the Union and the Connecticut company precipitated a fight in Pelhamville Saturday afternoon. 

The trouble between the two companies dates back several years, when the Traction company received a franchise from the Trustees of North Pelham to construct a line connecting Mt. Vernon and New Rochelle.  The trustees granted the franchise on the condition that the line should be in operation inside of a year.  Last month the trustees granted a franchise to the Union Company, known as the Huckleberry road, over the same route, on the ground that the Traction Company had violated its franchise.

The Union Company was to have commenced work on this new franchise as soon as their lines to New Rochelle had been completed.

The Traction Company on Saturday decided to steal a march on its rival, and early in the afternoon a gang of Italians appeared on the ground and started to tear up the road at Fourth street and Fifth avenue, North Pelham.  The men under foreman Mack had succeeded in laying several feet of track when Councilmen Vincent Barker and George McGalliard drove up and ordered the men to stop. 

They refused to do so and Constable Marks, who appeared on the scene, arrested the foreman of the gang and some of the laborers.

Later the Councilmen were joined by Village President M. J. Lynch, Dr. Charles Barker, James Seaman, James Riley and John Case, who tried to block the street in order to prevent the transportation of rails.  Dr. Barker drove his buggy into th excavated tracks, but the Italians picked it up and removed it. 

At this juncture some members of the fire department appeared.  They turned the fire hose onto the gang of Italians who scattered into the woods. 

Word was telephoned to the Mt. Vernon police for assistance, but Chief Foley could not send men where he had no jurisdiction over them, and he was obliged to refuse the request. 

Contractor Smith's men were called on to fill in the excavated trenches and restore the street to its proper condition. 

Foreman Hannon, of the Union Company, who has a gang of men at work in New Rochelle, heard of the trouble, and hurried his force into Pelhamville, and started to lay a line of tracks for the Union Company. 

The Connecticut Company, anticipating some more trouble of this character, had procured an injunction from Justice Dickey, of the Supreme Court, Brooklyn, which was served on the Union Company, and for the time being work ceased.

The Union Company being in possession of the field, kept an army of Italians on the streets all Saturday night and all day Sunday."

Source:  Trolley Row at Pelhamville, New Rochelle Pioneer, Oct. 8, 1898, p. 1, col. 1.

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Pelham Residents Threatened to Storm the Jail and Lynch a Notorious Attempted Kidnapper in 1900

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In 1900, a Village of North Pelham Constable captured a "desperate criminal" who tried to kidnap two local youngsters.  The event was widely reported after Pelham residents gathered at Town Hall and threatened to remove the prisoner and lynch him.  The Mount Vernon News of May 17, 1900 reported the matter as follows:

"KIDNAPPER CAPTURED IN PELHAM
-----
Edward Keller, who is known to the Mount Vernon and Westchester County police as a desperate criminal, is locked up in North Pelham, charged with attempting to kidnap two boys from this city.

The boys who Keller attempted to kidnap are Peter and John O'Connor, of Monroe street.  Keller was captured by Constable Marks of North Pelham, after an exciting chase through the woods.  Marks did not capture his man until after he emptied the contents of his revolver at him.  The residents of North Pelham who gathered at the Town Hall, last night, to get a look at Keller, were intensely excited and there was some talk of taking the prisoner out and lynching him.

Peter and John O'Connor, who are well known in East Mount Vernon are aged ten and twelve respectively.  They live with their parents on Monroe street.  Yesterday afternoon the lads were at play near their home.  Keller walked up to the boys and started to talk to them, and, finally, enticed the boys to take a walk with him.  He gave the lads candy and other delicacies.  The boys followed Keller through East Mount Vernon to the woods.  While in a secluded place it is alleged Keller attempted to choke Peter because he refused to follow him.

The kidnapper also left the imprints of his fingers on young John's throat.  The boys' cries for help attracted the attention of Constable Marks who happened to be near at hand.  A moment later Marks saw Keller attempt to lead the boys across the Hutchinson River.

When Keller saw the Constable he fled in the direction of the woods.  Marks followed his man emptying the contents of his revolver at him.  When Keller saw that escape was impossible he threw both hands above his head and surrendered.  He was taken to the Town Hall in Pelham, and locked up.

Keller is one of the three convicts who escaped from the Westchester County Jail at White Plains in 1892 by sawing away the bars.

At the time Keller was awaiting trial for horse stealing.  He had not been heard from until his capture.  Keller is the same individual who was arrested in this city in 1897 for stealing a cow belonging to Alderman Reynolds, of the Seventh Ward, of Yonkers.  While waiting at the police station for examination Keller attempted to cut his way out of jail by sawing the bars.

His scheme was detected in the nick of time.  A woman by the name of Wiseman had furnished Keller with the file.  Keller was sentenced to the Elmira Reformatory for this offense.

The prisoner attributes his capture to being drunk and unable to run.  After his escape from the county jail Keller went to work in the coal mines in Penn.  He returned to this section of the country yesterday.

The prisoner was arraigned before Judge Lyon in North Pelham last night and held to await the action of the Grand Jury."

Source:  Kidnapper Captured in Pelham, Mount Vernon News, May 17, 1900, p. 2, col. 1.

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