Prank Pulled on Editor of Pelham Newspaper by Pelham Manor Prankster in 1897

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It was an early instance of unintended Fake News!  In 1897, Pelham had -- for the first time in its history -- competing weekly newspapers.  J. Gardiner Minard of the Village of North Pelham was founder, editor, and sole beat reporter of the Pelham Press.  In 1897 Alfred E. Stevens of Mt. Vernon noted the success of the Pelham Press and decided to start a rival newspaper:  the Pelham Record.  

Many Pelhamites resented what they deemed to be the "intrusion" of a rival newspaper based outside of their community in Mount Vernon.  That summer, one Pelham resident decided to do something about it.  He pulled a prank on the Mount Vernon-based editor of the new newspaper.  

I have written repeatedly about the history of newspapers in the Town of Pelham.  For a few examples of many more such articles, see:

Fri., Feb. 22, 2019:  More About The Pelham Manor Tribune (1893 - 1896), One of the Earliest Newspapers Published in Pelham.

Mon., Aug. 04, 2014:  A History of Newspapers Published in Pelham.

Thu., Jun. 26, 2014:  A History of the Early Years of The Pelham Sun, A Pelham Newspaper Institution. 

Mon., Sep. 05, 2005:  The Pelham Republican: Official Newspaper of The Villages of Pelham and North Pelham in 1902. 

Mon., May 23, 2005:  Thomas M. Kennett, Long Time Editor of The Pelham Sun. 

Fri., Apr. 01, 2005: The Earliest Newspaper in Pelham?

Jim Beecroft of the Village of Pelham Manor was the consummate prankster.  Indeed, he was so good at his craft that he could execute entertaining pranks at a moment's notice as he did one summer afternoon in 1897 when he happened to see the Mount Vernon editor of the new Pelham newspaper, Alfred E. Stevens, on the streets of Pelham.

That afternoon Beecroft was standing outside the local pharmacy at One Fifth Avenue speaking with J. Gardiner Minard, editor of the Pelham Press.  The pair observed Alfred E. Stevens, editor of the new rival newspaper, walking along Fifth Avenue toward them.  Beecroft whispered to Minard not to "give me away" and slipped into the pharmacy as Stevens approached.

Stevens arrived, greeted Minard, and the two men began speaking.  Soon, Beecroft emerged from the pharmacy with an arm bandaged and resting in a sling.  As Minard looked on, Stevens asked Beecroft how he had been injured.

Beecroft spun a fantastic yarn -- a tale of epic seamanship that led to injury.  Though he was an experienced sailor himself, Beecroft intentionally misstated details of the ship on which he supposedly was injured -- details experienced mariners would recognize as false but an uninitiated land lubber would certainly not.  Beecroft reportedly told Stevens:

"I was one of 18 guests aboard Commodore Gerry's private catboat 'Sea Nymph,' on a cruise up the Sound yesterday, when off Execution light a sudden squall came up and the crew were sent aloft to take in the topsails.  I saw they were in trouble and being something of a sailor myself through experience on my own cruising yacht, I went up to give them a hand.  I was standing on the yard at the mizzen holding the reef when a sudden blow yanked the sail from my hands and I lost my footing and fell to the forecastle deck and broke my arm.  Fortunately Commodore Gerry's physician was aboard and set it.  He says it will be alright in a couple of weeks."

J. Gardiner Minard played along with the prank.  He listened to the wild account told by his friend and nodded with appropriate concern and empathy.  

Little did land lubber Stevens know that a "catboat" such as that on which Beecroft claimed to be injured was barely bigger than a rowboat.  It was not, as seamen of the day would say, a "full rigger" with topsails, a yard, and mizzen sail.  It could not possibly carry a crew, an owner, eighteen guests, and a physician.  Nor would such a tiny boat have topsails.  Yet, the editor of the new rival newspaper fell for the story "hook, line and sinker."  He returned to his newspaper offices and wrote an entire article that recounted Beecroft's terrible injury when wind yanked the reef from his hands and toppled him to the forecastle deck, breaking his arm.  The article appeared on the front page of the newspaper in its next issue.

The Cat Boat by Edward Hopper (1922), Etching on Paper.

Smithsonian American Art Museum.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Jim Beecroft was not yet done with his prank, however.  Once the newspaper hit local newsstands, Beecroft bought many extra copies and mailed them to local seamen including a number on City Island.  

Among those to whom he mailed the newspaper was Captain Jake Smith, retired seaman and owner of the Macedonia Hotel on City Island.  Captain Jake, as he was called, received the newspaper and gathered local seamen in his bar at the hotel where he read the article.  All had a grand laugh at the expense of poor Alfred E. Stevens and the Pelham Record.  Then that group of seafaring men hatched their own plan to enjoy even more laughter at the expense of Editor Stevens.

For years thereafter, whenever any new sailor appeared in the bar of the Macedonia Hotel, Captain Jake would tell the story of Jim Beecroft and his fall from the yard at the mizzen sail to the forecastle of a catboat where he broke his arm.  Each time each skeptical sailor would dispute the account and question the sanity of Captain Jake.  Captain Jake then would bet a round of drinks for everyone in the bar if he could "prove" his account.  Once the bet was made, Captain Jake would whip out the newspaper article and claim that it "proved" the account.  Typically, though not always, the new sailor would acknowledge that he had been had and, with great laughter, would buy a round of drinks for all in the bar.  According to one account:  "The game was worked day after day until the clipping became so frayed that it was hardly legible.  Every sailor caught wanted to pass the buck to some shipmate and Jake did a land office business."

"THE OLD HISTORIC MACEDONIA HOTEL, CITY ISLAND, N. Y."

An Undated Postcard Image of the Macedonia Hotel.  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Captain Jake made a small fortune from the many rounds of drinks that newcomers were forced to buy over the years in the bar of the Macedonia Hotel.  Consequently, after Captain Jake learned how the news story had originated from a prank played by Jim Beecroft with the participation of Captain Jake's close friend, J. Gardiner Minard (editor of the rival Pelham Press of Pelham), Captain Jake never allowed Minard to pay for a meal or drink in when he partook in the Macedonia Hotel.  

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Below is an account of the prank pulled by Jim Beecroft and J. Gardiner Minard in 1897.  The text is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO
(Pelham Press, June 18, 1897)

(Continued from Last Week)

The Pelham Press had now been running 15 months and was firmly established in the hearts of the residents of the town so that when the new paper, Pelham Record, put in its appearance, the people resented the intrusion.  No matter how editor Stephens worded his news items, the one concerned was angry, but he was a glutton for punishment and always came back for more.  It remained for 'Jim' Beecroft of Pelham Manor to spill the beans for him.  Jim had a fertile brain for mischief and on a fine June morning in 1897 he was in conversation with the editor of the Press on the corner of Fifth avenue and First street when the latter remarked that the editor of the new paper was approaching from near Second street, 'is that the new editor?  Hold him until I come out and don't give me away,' replied Jim as he disappeared into Lyman's drug store on the corner, without further explanation.

The two editors were in conversation when Jim emerged with his left arm bandaged and in a sling.  Stephens gazed at the arm and asked what was the matter, and this is the story Jim told:  'I was one of 18 guests aboard Commodore Gerry's private catboat 'Sea Nymph,' on a cruise up the Sound yesterday, when off Execution light a sudden squall came up and the crew were sent aloft to take in the topsails.  I saw they were in trouble and being something of a sailor myself through experience on my own cruising yacht, I went up to give them a hand.  I was standing on the yard at the mizzen holding the reef when a sudden blow yanked the sail from my hands and I lost my footing and fell to the forecastle deck and broke my arm.  Fortunately Commodore Gerry's physician was aboard and set it.  He says it will be alright in a couple of weeks.'

Stephen swallowed the whole story, hook, line and sinker, and it appeared on the first page properly displayed.  Jim bought several copies and mailed marked copies to several friends.  Among these was Jake Smith, a retired sea captain who owned the Macedonia Hotel at City Island.  Smith's place was situated near the shipyards, sail lofts and dock and was the first place sailors stopped when vessels put in to be refitted or overhauled.

There was always a number of seafaring men in the small barroom and Captain Jake was popular.  

The Record arrived and Jake took off the wrapper, adjusted his spectacles and read the story with astonishment.  Then he rapped on the bar for attention, glared under his bushy iron red eyebrows to see that his order was obeyed and began to read the story.  Hardly had he read two lines before the men began arising from tables and chairs and approached the bar with open mouths and staring eyes.  He silenced all talk and laughter until he had finished and asked all hands to have a drink while he told his plans.  The men agreed to co-operate with him and he cut the article out and placed it in a drawer behind the bar.  The men returned to their places and appeared in ordinary conversation when a newly arrived captain strolled in, and walked to the bar.  Jake feigned great annoyance and the captain remarked that Jake looked worried about something.  Jake replied that he was worried; a great friend of his had met with a bad accident.  He then began relating the story and the visitor who had raised a glass to his lips, stopped suddenly, stared at Jake, replaced his full glass slowly on the bar and exploded, 'Jake, what are you talking about?  Topsails on a catboat, carrying a crew, besides 18 guests, owner, physician and possibly a number of stowaways.  Why, a catboat isn't any bigger than a rowboat.'

Smith feigned irritation at this and offered to bet drinks for the house he was right and could prove it.  The visitor swore that Jake was crazy and would stake his life and all he owned including his ship that Jake was referring to a full rigger and not a catboat.  The other men arose and backed Jake and the visitor swore some more and accepted Jake's offer of drinks for the house and defied him to prove his claim.  Jake first put out the drinks and then solemnly took the clipping from the drawer and handed it gravely to the skipper.  The latter started reading and punctuated every line with an oath.  He roared, argued and  swore but finally paid for the drinks.  With the money in his hand, Jake smiled, which was a signal for all hands to break into a hearty laugh except the stranger.  Then Jake asked all to drink up and have a drink on the house.  Everything was explained to the skipper and he joined in the laughter and said, 'wait here and I will bring the mate and we will put it over on him.'

The game was worked day after day until the clipping became so frayed that it was hardly legible.  Every sailor caught wanted to pass the buck to some shipmate and Jake did a land office business.  The editor of the Pelham Press and Jake were old friends and when Jake was informed how the story originated, the editor never could pay for anything he ordered at the Macedonia Hotel."

Source:  PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO (Pelham Press, June 18, 1897), The Pelham Sun, Jul. 1, 1927, p. 12, cols. 1-5.  

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The Beecroft Brothers of Pelham Manor Battled Burglars in 1901

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The Beecroft Brothers, sons of John R. Beecroft who died in 1901, were a Pelham Manor institution in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  James, Chester, and Fred Beecroft grew up in Pelham Manor, roaming its rural countryside, swimming and fishing in its local waters, and playing baseball and other sports on its open fields.  

Pelham Manor was bucolic and idyllic in 1901.  It also was quiet, dark, and desolate.  In addition, in 1901 Pelham Manor and the surrounding region including New Rochelle were in the midst of a crime wave of repeated burglaries.  Indeed, the Beecroft Brothers had broken up one of the burglaries of the home next door to theirs.  It was the home of the Rev. Alfred Frances Tennney, Rector of Christ Church.  When breaking up the burglary, Jim Beecroft pulled a revolver and fired at the fleeing thieves, though his shots missed their marks.

Several weeks later, Jim Beecroft arrived home at the Beecroft residence on Pelhamdale Avenue around the corner from the New York Athletic Club at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, July 5, 1901.  He was returning from a Fourth of July celebration.  As he reached the front door of his home he noticed the door was ajar.  

As he puzzled over who might have left the door unlocked and open, he thought he heard rustling in the foyer near the open door.  As he started to step inside, two men rushed out of the darkness without warning and attacked him.  The first man struck him in the jaw with a fist.  As Jim began to struggle with the burglar, he heard one of the men shout "You're the man that shot at us; we'll put you where you won't bother us anymore."  The second intruder then walloped Jim Beecroft over the head with a weapon that Jim later said he thought was a blackjack.  Beecroft fell to the floor unconscious.

Hearing the shouts and the struggle, Fred Beecroft awoke in his second floor bedroom.  He climbed out the window and slid down a veranda column.  

The pair of burglars, one a tall, well-built man and the other a short man, took off as Jim Beecroft groggily struggled to his feet from the floor of the foyer.  As Jim's brother, Fred, hopped to the ground from the veranda column, Jim Beecroft took off after the fleeing thieves.

Fred ran out in front of the Beecroft home just as the third brother, Chester, stepped out of the house with a loaded shotgun.  Chester leveled the shotgun at the shadowy figure in the front yard not realizing it was his brother, Fred.  Fred, in turn, saw a shadowy figure with a shotgun pointed in his direction and sprang forward.  Fred grabbed for the gun.  Each unaware of the identity of the other in the chaos and confusion, the two began a deadly hand-to-hand battle over the loaded shotgun. 

As the confused brothers fought, their other brother, Jim Beecroft, shouted from the woods that he was chasing the burglars and needed help.  Suddenly, because of Jim's shout, Fred and Chester realized their confusion.  Fred shouted "I'm Fred!"  The two brothers stopped fighting and took off into the woods after their brother, Jim, and the burglars he was chasing.

The Old Beecroft Home on Pelhamdale Avenue Where the Beecroft

Brothers Fought Burglars at 2:00 A.M. on Friday, July 5, 1901.  Source:

Google Maps Street View (Jul. 2016).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The three Beecroft Brothers rushed through the dense underbrush chasing after the two thieves.  Jim Beecroft got close to the fleeing burglars several times.  Once, as he closed in on them, one of them shouted to warn Jim "not to come too close or they would put him out of business."


As the thieves ran through the brush, one shouted to the other "Bill, I guess it's time to separate:  you take one direction and I'll go the other."  The two split into opposite directions and quickly disappeared in the thick brush.  The Beecroft Brothers were unable to find them.  The pursuers were forced to give up the chase.  The burglars had escaped yet again.  

The Beecroft burglary was the straw that broke the camel's back.  The people of Pelham Manor and New Rochelle were so outraged that $500 in reward money was offered for the arrest and conviction of the burglars.  Moreover, the Village of Pelham Manor soon doubled the size of its police force.  

The Beecroft burglary was the culmination of a large number of similar burglaries in the region likely committed by the same two thieves.  Indeed, according to one news account "For the last few weeks burglars have been having their own way in Pelham Manor, and the homes of many New-Yorkers have been plundered."

Pelham Manor homes that had been burglarized included:  the home of D. I. Carson, treasurer of the Southern Bell Telephone Company; the home of the Rev. Alfred Frances Tennney, Rector of Pelham Manor's Christ Church; the home of Professor A. C. McGiffert of the Union Theological Seminary where they stole about $500 of silverware and the wedding presents of the Professor and his wife; and the home of J. Hull, a wealthy New-Yorker, who lived on the Esplanade and was connected with the American Tobacco Company. 

The attempt to burglarize the Hull home revealed more about the two burglars responsible for the Pelham Manor crime spree.  One night Mr. Hull and his wife were in their home when their two Dachshunds began barking furiously.  The couple investigated.  Mr. Hull peered out a window in the front of the house.  Mrs. Hull went to a back window.  As she peered out, she was face to face with the two burglars trying to pry the window open.  The burglars ran, but Mrs. Hull got a good look at them.  One was a tall, well-built man with side whiskers.  The other was a short man.  Both were surprisingly well dressed.  

The two man crime spree was not limited to Pelham Manor.  Indeed, police authorities reportedly believed that the same two men were responsible for two burglaries and two additional attempted burglaries on Lafayette Street in New Rochelle as well as burglaries in that city of the homes of Alonzo Guest Charles Mars.  In the Guest burglary, the thieves stole "a small quantity of silverware and table cutlery, cigars, clothing and an umbrella."  In the Mars burglary, the thieves ransacked the home.  About $50 worth of goods were taken.  Drawers were emptied onto the lawn of the home in the frantic search for valuables.  The same two thieves also "attempted to rob the residence of A. Kistinger and another house nearby but were evidently frightened away by dogs."

The Beecroft burglary and the related crime spree of the summer of 1901 were seminal events that prompted an expansion of the Pelham Manor Police Department.  Pelham no longer would countenance thieves who wished to "have their way in Pelham Manor."

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Given the shocking nature of the Beecroft burglary, many newspapers reported on the event.  Below is the text of a number of such articles published in 1901.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

"BROTHERS FIGHT ROBBERS.
-----
ONE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BY BURGLARS.
-----
THE OTHERS MISTAKE EACH OTHER FOR HOUSEBREAKERS, AND STRUGGLE OVER SHOTGUN.

James Beecroft, one of the sons of the late John R. Beecroft, was severely beaten by burglars at his home, in Pelham Manor, yesterday morning about 2 o'clock.

Beecroft had been out to a Fourth of July celebration.  As he went to the front door he noticed that it was open.  He was wondering who had been careless, when he heard a noise in the dark hallway, and suddenly two men sprang out of the parlor and rushed on him.  One man struck him on the jaw with his fist and at the same time the other came down on his head with a weapon that felt like a blackjack.  Beecroft heard one of the assailants exclaim:  'You're the man that shot at us; we'll put you where you won't bother us any more.'  Then he fell to the floor unconscious.

The excitement aroused an older brother, Fred, who came out of the second story window and slid down a post of the front veranda.  At the same time another brother got up and ran down the stairs with a shotgun.  He saw Fred in the front yard, and, thinking that he was the burglar, levelled [sic] his gun at him and was about to shoot.  Just then 'Jim,' who had recovered, set up a cry in the woods that he was chasing the burglar and needed help.  

The brothers had clinched with each other and were in deathly combat for the shotgun, but when 'Jim' called they saw their mistake, and, letting go of each other, joined in the chase.  The burglars took opposite directions through the woods, and ran for nearly a quarter of a mile.  When they reached the home of Colonel De Frece, James Beecroft was close on their trail.  They turned to him several times, and warned him not to come too close or they would put him out of business.

The tall burglar said to the shorter one as they ran:  'Bill, I guess it's time to separate:  you take one direction and I'll go the other.'  With this they disappeared in opposite directions, and the Beecroft brothers were unable to find them.  The burglars had escaped through the dense brush, and the pursuers were forced to give up the chase.  

The robberies were the sole topic of conversation in Pelham Manor yesterday.  Nobody in the manor feels safe, and some of the women are so nervous that they are on the verge of collapse.  The citizens have decided that some extraordinary method will have to be employed, and they will hold a meeting in a few days to increase the police force.  It is likely that detectives from this city will be employed until the gang is effectively broken up.

For the last few weeks burglars have been having their own way in Pelham Manor, and the homes of many New-Yorkers have been plundered.  The first big robbery occurred at the home of D. I. Carson, treasurer of the Southern Bell Telephone Company.  The house-breakers next attempted to enter the home of the Rev. A. F. Tennney, rector of Pelham Priory, but were frightened away by the sons of the late John R. Beecroft, who shot at them.  They came back for the third time on Wednesday morning and stole about $500 worth of silverware from Professor A. C. McGiffert, of the Union Theological Seminary.  A part of the plunder consisted of the wedding presents of the Professor and his wife.  The burglars took the little boy's wheel, left it at the railroad station, and took the agent's wheel and a wheel that was stored there.

On the same morning they attempted to get into the home of J. Hull, a wealthy New-Yorker, who lives on the Esplanade.  Mr. Hull is connected with the American Tobacco Company.  Two of his Dachshunds began to bark furiously just as the burglars were prying open the window.  Mr. Hull ran to a window in the front of the house and his wife went to one in the rear.  The men were at the back window trying to get in.  When they saw Mrs. Hull they ran.  Mrs. Hull got a good view of them.  She says that one is tall and well built and the other is a short man.  The tall man wore side whiskers.  They were quite well dressed."

Source:  BROTHERS FIGHT ROBBERS -- ONE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BY BURGLARS -- THE OTHERS MISTAKE EACH OTHER FOR HOUSEBREAKERS, AND STRUGGLE OVER SHOTGUN, New-York Tribune, Jul. 5, 1901, Vol. LXI, No. 19,955, p. 1, col. 5.  See also BEECROFT BROTHERS ATTACKED BY ROBBERS -- One Made Unconscious -- BROTHERS THEN STRUGGLE FOR SHOT GUN -- Pelham Manor Scene of Many Burglaries -- A Threat Among Words Passed Between Them -- James Beecroft Unconscious, Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 5, 1901, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 2,839, p. 1, col. 4 (same text).  

"BROTHERS FIGHT WITH BURGLARS
-----
Two Bold Housebreakers at Pelham Manor Make Attack on the Beecrofts for Revenge.
-----

Burglars have added another crime to the long list credited to them around Pelham Manor by beating James Beecroft and causing his two brothers to fight each other desperately through mistake.  Mr. Beecroft, who is one of the sons of the late John R. Beecroft, was returning home at two o'clock in the morning from a Fourth of July celebration when he was attacked.

As he approached the front door, he heard a noise in the dark hallway, and a moment later two men sprang upon him.  One man struck him on the jaw with his fist and at the same time the other came down on his head with a weapon that felt like a blackjack.  Beecroft heard one of the assailants exclaim:  --  'You're the man that shot at us.  We'll put you where you won't bother us any more.'  Then he fell to the floor unconscious.  

The excitement aroused an older brother, Fred, who came out of the second story window and slid down a post of the front veranda.  At the same time another brother got up and ran down the stairs with a shotgun.  He saw Fred in the front yard, and, thinking that he was the burglar, levelled [sic] his gun at him and was about to shoot.  Just then 'Jim,' who had recovered, set up a cry in the woods that he was chasing the burglar and needed help.

The brothers had clinched with each other and were in deathly combat for the shotgun, but when 'Jim' called they saw their mistake, and, letting go of each other, joined in the chase.  The burglars took opposite directions through the woods, and ran for nearly a quarter of a mile.  When they reached the home of Colonel De Frece, James Beecroft was close on their trail.  They turned to him several times and warned him not to come too close or they would put him out of business.

The tall burglar said to the shorter one as they ran:  'Bill, I guess it's time to separate; you take one direction and I'll go the other.'  With this they disappeared in opposite directions, and the Beecroft brothers were unable to find them.  The burglars had escaped through the dense brush, and the pursuers were forced to give up the chase.

The last few weeks many houses in Pelham Manor have been robbed.  One of the robberies occurred at the home of D. I. Carson, treasurer of the Southern Bell Telephone Company.  The housebreakers next attempted to enter the home of the Rev. A. F. Tenney, rector of the Pelham Priory, but were frightened away by the sons of the late Mr. Beecroft, who shot at them.  Residents of Pelham Manor are in a state of great alarm over the burglaries there, and the village police force will probably be increased."

Source:  BROTHERS FIGHT WITH BURGLARS -- Two Bold Housebreakers at Pelham Manor Make Attack on the Beecrofts for Revenge, The Evening Telegram [NY, NY], Jul. 5, 1901, p. 9, col. 1.  

"PELHAM MANOR ROBBERIES
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Beecroft Brothers Lively Experience with Burglars.
----- 

Pelham Manor is a fruitful and evidently a mighty easy field for the unwelcome operations of burglars. Many robberies have been committed there recently, but probably the boldest attempt of all was made at 2 A.M. yesterday, when James Beecroft, one of the sons of the late John R. Beecroft, was beaten by burglars in his own home. Mr. Beecroft, who had been at a Fourth of July celebration, found the front door open when he returned home. Becoming suspicious he entered the hallway as silently as possible. As he did so two men sprang out of the parlor and seized him. One of the burglars struck him a heavy blow on the jaw, while the other felled him with a blackjack. The noise aroused Fred, an elder brother of James, and he slid down a post from the second story window to the veranda. The burglars ran from the house. James, who had recovered quickly, followed them with a shotgun. He saw Fred in the yard, and thinking he was one of the burglars levelled [sic] his gun at him. 

'Let up, I'm Fred!' 

The brothers then chased the burglars toward the woods, but the latter escaped. 

Only a few weeks ago burglars broke into the homes of D. L. Carson, treasurer of the Southern Bell Company; the Rev. A. F. Tenney, rector of Pelham Priory; Prof. A. C. McGiffert, of the Union Theological Seminary, who lost $500 worth of silverware, and J. Hull, of the American Tobacco Company." 

Source:  PELHAM MANOR ROBBERIES -- Beecroft Brothers Lively Experience With Burglars, The Daily Standard Union [Brooklyn, NY], Jul. 5, 1901, p. 8, col. 6.

"SERIOUS FIGHT WITH BURGLARS.
-----
Early Yesterday, in Pelham Manor.
-----

An attempt to rob the Beecroft mansion, in Pelham Manor, early Thursday morning, was the subject of general conversation in that place yesterday.  James Beecroft was severely beaten by burglars at his home, in Pelham Manor, yesterday morning about 2 o'clock.  Beecroft had been out to a Fourth of July celebration.  As he wen to the front door he noticed that it was open.  He was wondering who had been careless, when he heard a noise in the dark hallway, and suddenly two men sprang out of the parlor and rushed on him.  One man struck him on the jaw with his fist and at the same time the other came down on his head with a weapon that felt like a blackjack.  Beecroft heard one of the assailants exclaim:  'You're the man that shot at us; we'll put you where you won't bother us anymore.'  Then he fell to the floor unconscious.  The excitement aroused older brother, Fred, who came out of the second story window and slid down a post of the front veranda.  At the same time another brother got up and ran down the stairs with a shotgun.  He saw Fred in the front yard, and thinking that he was a burglar, levelled [sic] his gun at him and was about to shoot.  Just then 'Jim,' who had recovered, set up a cry in the woods that he was chasing the burglar and needed help.  The brothers had clinched with each other and were in deathly combat for the shotgun, but when 'Jim' called they saw their mistake, and, letting go of each other, joined in the chase.  With this they disappeared in opposite directions, and the Beecroft brothers were unable to find them.  The burglars had escaped through the dense brush, and the pursuers were forced to give up the chase."

Source:  SERIOUS FIGHT WITH BURGLARS -- Early Yesterday, in Pelham Manor, The New Rochelle Press, Jul. 6, 1901, p. 8, col. 1.  

"ROBBERS IN PELHAM MANOR
-----
Beecroft Brothers Have An Exciting Time With Two Thieves.
-----
STRUGGLE OVER A SHOT-GUN.
-----

For the last few weeks burglars have apparently been having their own way in Pelham Manor, and the homes of many residents have been plundered.  

James Beecroft, one of the sons of the late John R. Beecroft, had an encounter with burglars at his home early Thursday morning.

Beecroft had been out to a Fourth of July celebration.  As he went in the dark hallway two men suddenly sprang out of the parlor and rushed on him.  One man struck him on the jaw with his fist and at the same time the other came down on his head with a weapon that felt like a blackjack.  Beecroft fell to the floor unconscious.

The excitement aroused an elder brother, Fred, who came out of the second story window and slid down a post of the front veranda.  At the same time another brother got up and ran down the stairs with a shotgun.  He saw Fred in the front yard, and, thinking that he was the burglar, levelled [sic] his gun at him and was about to shoot.  

The brothers had clinched with each other and were in combat for the shotgun.  They soon saw their mistake, and, letting go of each other, joined in chase for the burglars."

Source:   ROBBERS IN PELHAM MANOR -- Beecroft Brothers Have An Exciting Time With Two Thieves -- STRUGGLE OVER A SHOT-GUN, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jul. 6, 1901, Vol. 43, No. 16, p. 1, col. 5.  

"COUNTY NEWS. . . .

-- Since the exciting experience of the Beecroft brothers, of Pelham Manor, one of whom was knocked out by a burglar he met in his home at 2 o'clock in the morning, the authorities of Pelham Manor have decided to double the police force.  They will also probably offer a reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the house-breakers.  There have been half a dozen robberies in Pelham Manor in less than a month.  It is believed that they were all committed by two men.  One of the burglars is stockily built and wears tennis shoes.  The other is tall and thin.  This is the description given to the police by a woman who went to her bedroom window and found the robbers trying to get into her home. . . ."

Source:  COUNTY NEWS, The Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Jul. 1, 1901, Vol. LVII, No. 17, p. 3, col. 4.  

"BOLD WESTCHESTER THIEVES.
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Many Houses Looted in New Rochelle and Pelham Manor.
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New Rochelle, N. Y., July 17.  --  On account of the numerous robberies in New Rochelle and Pelham Manor the authorities of both places have offered a reward of $250, making a total of $500 for the arrest and conviction of any person captured.  During the past two or three months numerous robberies have been reported to the police of Pelham Manor and New Rochelle.  Despite the fact that the police force has been doubled the robberies continue.

At the home of D. I Carson, on the Boston Post Road, in Pelham Manor, the thieves secured entrance to the house yesterday and obtained about $1,000 worth of silverware.  They next went to the house of the Rev. A. F. Tenney and also secured a lot of silverware and other valuables.  The home of Mrs. J. R. Beecroft was entered several weeks ago and considerable silverware taken.

While the family of James L. Laurent were on the veranda of their home on Locust avenue between 7 and 8 o'clock last night burglars forced an entrance into the library window on the first floor and carried off much valuable material.  After gaining admission to the house the burglars threw their booty on to the lawn.  After they had ransacked the house from top to bottom they went to the lawn and sorted the plated ware from the genuine silver.

The plated ware they discarded and departed with the good silver.  The same night they visited the residence of James L. Waterbury, connected with the Western Union Telegraph Company, and secured much booty.  A number of other robberies were reported to the police, but the names have been withheld."

Source:  BOLD WESTCHESTER THIEVES -- Many Houses Looted in New Rochelle and Pelham Manor, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 18, 1901, p. 8. col. 2.  

"BURGLARS GET SILVERWARE
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Homes of Alonzo Guest and Charles Mars on Lafayette Street Visited.
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FIRST FLOORS ALL PLUNDERED
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Burglars are still active in this city and Pelham.  Early Wednesday morning several residence on Lafayette street were visited.  Two were entered, and at two other houses the thieves were evidently frightened by dogs without securing any plunder.

The thieves entered Alonzo Guest's home while the family were asleep by removing a window screen.  At seven o'clock Wednesday morning they learned of the robbery.  A small quantity of silverware and table cutlery, cigars, clothing and an umbrella were stolen.  The thieves confined their operations to the first floor.

The residence of Charles Mars near Mr. Guest's house was visited on the same day.  Only the first floor was ransacked for valuables and about $50 worth of goods were taken.  Drawers supposed to contain valuables were taken into the back yard and overturned on the lawn.  

The thieves also attempted to rob the residence of A. Kistinger and another house nearby but were evidently frightened away by dogs."

Source:  BURGLARS GET SILVERWARE -- Homes of Alonzo Guest and Charles Mars on Lafayette Street Visited -- FIRST FLOORS ALL PLUNDERED, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jul. 13, 1901, Vol. 43, No. 17, p. 1, col. 4.  

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