Brazen Holdup at New Railroad Station on Fifth Avenue in North Pelham in 1913

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The giant, monolithic, and modern Fifth Avenue Station of the Million-Dollar-A-Mile railway known as the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway was only a few months old on June 15, 1913.  It was a hulking cast-concrete station that towered above the main street of the Village of North Pelham that connected two lengthy stone and dirt railroad embankments on each end of the station that cut much of the Village of North Pelham in half.

The Fifth Avenue Station platform was well above road level with stairs that led down to a small ticket office and tiny waiting area.  The image immediately below shows the station in about 1912 (shortly after it opened) with a horse and carriage standing outside the little ticket office and waiting area.   

Undated Photograph of the Fifth Avenue Station of the New York,

Westchester & Boston Railway, Ca. 1912, from Engineering

News.  Source:  Remembering North Pelham Facebook Page.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

That little ticket office (seen at lower left of the image above) was the scene of a brutal crime in the wee hours of the morning on June 15, 1913.  The 12:08 a.m. train from New York City arrived on time.  Railroad ticket agent Edward J. Morrissey was working dutifully in the ticket office as the train arrived.  Within moments, two men came hurrying down the stairs.  

At least at that time of night, tickets were not collected on the train.  Rather, there was a ticket box at the base of the stairs where the ticket agent would oversee disembarking passengers as they deposited tickets in the box and left the station.  Agent Morrissey saw the two men hurrying down the stairs and, thus, attended to the ticket box to collect their tickets.

The station was entirely empty.  When the two men reached agent Morrissey at the ticket box they stopped suddenly and whipped out revolvers, pointing them at his head.  The men ordered Morrissey to "cough up his cash" and also to "hurry up about it."

Stunned, Morrissey apparently did not move quickly enough.  While one of the men covered Morrissey with a revolver, the other used rope and a belt to tie him up.  Once he was disabled, they bound him more securely both hand and foot and placed a gag in his mouth.  Then the men threatened that he must "shut up and keep quiet" or he would "forfeit his life."  The two thugs then carried Morrissey to a storage room, tossed him inside, and closed the door.  They then went about their evil business.  They stole $51 and railroad tickets from the Fifth Avenue Station.

A short time later, the 12:48 a.m. train from New York City pulled into the Fifth Avenue Station.  A disembarking passenger, James Algie, came down the station stairs.  He thought he heard groans.  He notice the ticket office was unattended although the lights were lit brightly.  Algie followed the sounds of the groans and found Morrissey.  According to one account "Morrissey was in a pitiable plight, but was not unconscious."

Algie immediately notified the Chief of Police of the Pelham Manor Police Department, R. H. Marks.  Chief Marks sent out a general alarm and the Pelham Heights and Pelham Manor Police Departments began immediate searches for the perpetrators.  

Chief Marks could not reach the police of North Pelham because they were out patrolling.  When he finally reached them, quite some time had passed, but they began a search as well.  Three North Pelham police officers were patrolling the village and searching for the perpetrators including Policeman Frederick Keller who reportedly knew every resident in the Village of North Pelham.  

Keller was at Fourth Street (today's Lincoln Avenue) between Eighth and Ninth Avenues at about 2:30 a.m. when he noticed a tall man wearing a white Panama hat who was walking along Fourth Street near Ninth Avenue.  The man seemed to fit the description of one of the thugs who robbed the Fifth Avenue Station.

Officer Keller shouted "Stop!  What are you doing around here this time of the morning?"

The man answered "Oh, I'm going home up the line."

Keller asked "Where do you live?"

The man then made a tell-tale mistake.  "Oh, I live a little ways up the street."

Keller felt he had his man.  He said "I don't know you.  You don't live here.  You had better come along with me to the station."  Officer Keller took the man by the arm and began to guide him along Fourth Street (Lincoln Avenue) to Fifth Avenue.

When the pair reached Fifth Avenue, the prisoner shouted "Take your arm off me, I'm not going with you without a fight."  He turned toward the officer and tried to punch him.  Officer Keller began shouting for assistance.  The two men grappled and began to fight when suddenly the man whipped out a revolver.  Officer Keller promptly knocked the firearm out of the man's hand, but in doing so dropped his nightstick.

Nearby North Pelham Police Officers Michael J. Fitzpatrick and Officer Dick heard their fellow Officer's shouts and ran to him to help.  Fitzpatrick was the first to arrive and found Officer Keller fighting "desperately" with the thug.  Fitzpatrick and Keller were able to use their nightsticks on the man, but he was able to get to his revolver yet again.  This time Officer Fitzpatrick knocked it out of his hand.  

The two officers began dragging the criminal to the North Pelham police station.  He fought them all the way to the station.  Then, after another "desperate encounter," they landed him in a cell.

The prisoner gave his name variously as John and James Conway of 148 West 67th Street in New York City.  He was "sullen and refused to give any information."  Ticket agent Edward J. Morrissey was able to identify the prisoner as one of the two robbers.  Police found not only the revolver he used, but also $20 and some railroad tickets in his possession.  Soon the robber was arraigned and carted off to the County Jail in White Plains as the investigation, and search for the second robber, continued.

Thus, shortly after it opened, the brand new Fifth Avenue Station of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway joined a long history of robberies and burglaries of railroad stations in Pelham Manor, Pelham, and North Pelham! 

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"HIGHWAYMEN HOLD UP AGENT OF NEW ROAD AT PELHAM
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Midnight Raid -- Desperadoes Make Small Haul
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ONE CAPTURED LATER
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Identified by Victim -- Puts up a Fight with Police
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North Pelham, June 16. -- There was a desperate hold up at the station of the New York, Westchester and Boston railway, Fifth avenue, immediately after the arrival of the 12:08 train from New York, at midnight yesterday when two armed men walked into the ticket office at the foot of the stairs and levelling magazine revolvers at the head of Edward J. Morrisey, the night ticket agent, demanded that he 'hold up his hands' and surrender all money and tickets he had in his possession.  Morrissey was bound hand and foot and thrown into what is known as the 'storage room' in the station.  The desperadoes took $51 and some tickets.  they then went away.  An hour later James Algie, who returned on a train from New York heard groans coming from the store room and found Morrissey lying on the floor with a gag in his mouth.  Algie released him as quickly as he could and notified Chief R. H. Marks at Pelham Manor, who sent out a general alarm to police departments of the surrounding towns in Westchester County.

It was about 2:30 o'clock that Policeman Keller, who had been on the force for about two weeks arrested a man on Fourth street between Eighth and Ninth avenues, who answered the description of one of the men wanted.  The man fought Keller and tried to draw a revolver on him.  Officer Fitzpatrick came to his assistance, and the two policemen finally managed to land their prisoner in jail.  He gave the name of John Conway, of 148 West Sixth street.

Later Conway was identified by Morrissey.  In Conway's possession was found a revolver, $20 in money and some tickets.  

The other man who assisted Conway in his work is still at large.  Conway was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Lambert this morning on a charge of burglary and was held to await the action of the grand jury.  He was taken to White Plains this morning by Policeman Keller.

Agent Morrissey was in the office when the two men came down the stairs.  Both appeared in a hurry.  Morrissey did not think anything of their appearance and as he came from the office to have them drop their tickets in the box, as had been his custom, the two suddenly stopped and confronting him whipped out revolvers and pointing them at his head called upon him to 'cough up his cash' and to 'hurry up about it.'  Morrissey was overcome by surprise for a few moments and during this one of the men, who obtained rope and a belt from some place while the other covered him with his revolver.  Later they bound him hand and foot and placed a gag in his mouth.  He was told to 'shut up' and keep quiet for if he didn't he would forfeit his life.  There was not a person around the
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(Continued on Page 2)

HIGHWAYMEN HOLD UP AGENT AT PELHAM NOW
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(Continued from Page 1.)
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station at the time.  The two desperadoes finally carried Morrissey, who was absolutely helpless, into another room and closed the door.

On the arrival of the 12:48 train, James Algie, after he heard groans, looked into the office and noticed that the lights were alright, but that the agent was missing.  He at once became suspicious, and on investigation, found Morrissey.  Morrissey was in a pitiable plight, but was not unconscious.  There were a few marks on his face, so it is said by the police.  The agent at once told the story of the hold-up to Algie who at once notified Chief Marks, who sent out an alarm.  The Pelham Heights and Pelham Manor police began making a search for the two, but it was not until the three North Pelham policemen were notified by Chief Marks, after they had rung up, that they started a search in the village.

Policeman Dick was on duty in district No. 3 which is north of Sixth street in Chester Hill Park; Policeman Frederick Keller was on post in District No. 2 which is east of Fifth avenue between the New Haven railroad tracks and Policeman Michael Fitzpatrick was in district No. 1 in the western part of the village.  As soon as they were notified of the holdup they at once started a search.  Keller was in Fourth street between Eighth and Ninth avenues when he noticed a tall man with a white Panama hat walking along Fourth street near Ninth avenue.  It was noticed that he answered the description of one of the men who was wanted in connection with the holdup and he called to him to 'stop.'  What are you doing around here this time of the morning?' asked Keller

'Oh, I'm going home up the line,' was the reply.

'Where do you live?' asked Keller.

'Oh, I live a little ways up the street,' replied the man.

Keller who had lived in the village for years and who knows every man in North Pelham by sight, said:  'I don't know you.  You don't live here.  You had better come along with me to the station.'

The policeman then took the man by the arm and led him along Fourth street to Fifth avenue, where the prisoner suddenly turned on his captor and shouted:  'Take your arm off me; I'm not going with you without a fight.'

The words had hardly been spoken than the man turned on Keller and struck at him.  The two grappled and in the midst of the fight, as blows were exchanged, the man whipped out a revolver.  Keller knocked it out of his hand, and in doing so he dropped his stick.  Fitzpatrick had heard Keller's shout for assistance and was approaching.  The men were fighting desperately when Policeman Fitzpatrick came up, and it was not until the two policeman had used their sticks with vigor on the man's head that he was finally subdued.  In the midst of the fight the man again drew his revolver and tried to use it, but it was knocked out of his hand for the second time by Fitzpatrick.

The two policemen fought with the prisoner all the way to the station and after a desperate encounter landed him in a cell.  Later the agent identified him.  The prisoner gave his name as James Conway, of 148 West 67th street, New York.  He was closely questioned by the police about his 'pals,' but was sullen and refused to give any information.  He did tell, however, contradictory stories about his return to the village after the holdup but claimed all along that the police had the wrong man and that they had got their identification mixed up with that of somebody else.  He was asked to explain his appearance in the village at 2:30 o'clock when he did not live here and again contradicted himself several times.  He said he had been in Mount Vernon and he was on his way to his home.

Yesterday President Peter Ceder, Chief Marks, and Policeman Fitzgerald went to police headquarters in New York, but it was found that Conway had no record there.  As far as could be ascertained he is not known in New Rochelle nor in Mount Vernon.

Late in the evening Lieutenants Cody and Finelli, of New Rochelle, came to the North Pelham police headquarters and closely questioned the prisoner.  Lieutenant Cody told a reporter last evening that he had never seen the man before but had found in a receptacle in the cell some torn bits of paper which made him suspicious.  He placed these bits together and found that they gave a name different from that which the prisoner had given as well as a different address.  This name and address were not made public.

The address in New York which Conway gave to the police was visited by President Ceder yesterday afternoon but Conway was not known there.  It was stated this afternoon that the police have obtained clues which may lead to the arrest of the second man.

Station Agent Morrissey later went to his home in New York.  As far as could be learned he was none the worse for his experience with the exception of a few bruises.

The prisoner is tall and athletic appearance and has black hair.  He happened to hear the police and some men in conversation with the reporter last evening and wanted to know 'why they were talking to a reporter.'"

Source:  HIGHWAYMEN HOLD UP AGENT OF NEW ROAD AT PELHAM -- Midnight Raid -- Desperadoes Make Small Haul -- ONE CAPTURED LATER -- Identified by Victim -- Puts up a Fight with Police, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 16, 1913, No. 7173, p. 1, cols. 5-7 & p. 2, cols. 2-3.

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I have written on numerous occasions about the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway that had its Fifth Avenue Station in the Village of North Pelham.  See, e.g.:

Tue., Jun. 05, 2018:  A Saboteur Bombed Non-Union Railroad Bridge Construction Site at Pelham Reservoir in 1911.

Wed., Nov. 23, 2016:  1910 Railroad Announcement that the "Finest and Most Artistic Bridge" Would Be Built Over Highbrook Avenue.

Mon., Sep. 26, 2016:  Battles over Razing the Fifth Avenue Station, the Highbrook Avenue Bridge, and Embankments After Failure of New York, Westchester & Boston Railway.

Thu., Sep. 22, 2016:  Pelham's Highbrook Avenue Bridge Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wed., Apr. 01, 2015:  Pelham Settled the Unpaid Tax Bills of the Defunct New York, Westchester & Boston Railway Company in 1943. 

Fri., Feb. 20, 2015:  Village of North Pelham Fought Plans for Construction of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway in 1909. 

Tue., Jan. 12, 2010:  Architectural Rendering of the Fifth Avenue Station of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railroad in North Pelham Published in 1913. 

Fri., Dec. 18, 2009:  The Inaugural Run of the New York, Westchester and Boston Railroad Through Pelham for Local Officials in 1912. 

Thu., Jul. 7, 2005:  The New York, Westchester and Boston Railroad Company Begins Construction of its Railroad. 

Fri., Feb. 25, 2005:  Robert A. Bang Publishes New Book on The New York, Westchester & Boston Railway Company. 

Bell, Blake A., The New York, Westchester And Boston Railway in Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 50, Dec. 17, 2004, p. 10, col. 1.

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Brutal Assault on Split Rock Road in Pelham in 1859

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For many years during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Pelham was a desolate and, occasionally, dangerous place.  As in the Old West, highwaymen preyed on travelers passing through Pelham on dark and deserted roadways.  There are countless news stories of highway robberies and brutal assaults on desolate Pelham roads during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

One such attack occurred on October 6, 1859.  Mrs. Elizabeth F. Roosevelt was visiting family in Pelham and New Rochelle.  That day she climbed into her carriage and headed for Throgg's Neck to visit friends.  

At about mid-day, she proceeded along "Pelham Road" (today's Shore Road) and approached Pelham Bridge.  She overtook a young man walking along the roadway shortly before she reached the bridge.  As she approached him, she was struck by the odd way he acted.  On hearing the approach of her carriage, he turned completely around and stared at her intently until she had passed entirely.  Mrs. Roosevelt drove over the bridge, took out her purse, paid the toll, and proceeded to Throgg's Neck to visit her friends.  

Towards evening, she hopped back in her carriage for the return trip.  She passed over Pelham Bridge onto Shore Road and continued to "Prospect Hill Road" (i.e., today's Split Rock Road that once extended from Shore Road to Boston Post Road).  After proceeding only a "short distance" on that road (onto the grounds of today's Split Rock and Pelham Bay Golf Courses), she was struck with a violent blow on the right side of her forehead "which was twice repeated."  She suffered a two inch gash that cut "through to the skull" and was beaten badly.  Before she became "insensible," she realized that while her horse continued to pull the carriage, a man by the side of the vehicle had his arms raised and was attempting to get in the carriage.  

There is no account regarding how Mrs. Roosevelt escaped.  All we know is that she "remained in a state of stupor" for two weeks after the brutal beating.  During the incident, she never saw the man's face, but she believed that she recognized "from the dress and portion of the person seen" before she became insensible that her attacker was the young man she had passed on Shore Road near Pelham Bridge earlier that day.  

Police soon arrested young Charles B. Smith, a "respectable" and well-connected young man.  He was indicted for assault and battery with intent to kill or rob Mrs. Roosevelt.  He hired the best and most-connected counsel possible.  The prosecutor's office responded by retaining one of New York City's most notable criminal lawyers of the day, John Sedgwick, to assist with prosecuting the case against Charles B. Smith.

The two-day trial of the criminal case was held at the Courthouse in Bedford, New York on June 5-6, 1860 before a panel of three judges of the Court of Sessions:  Hon. William H. Robertson, County Judge, presiding; Hon. Samuel Tompkins, a Justice of Sessions; and Hon. William Miller, a Justice of Sessions.  Because the matter was considered "one of importance" and involved such sensational charges against a well-connected young man, the courthouse was packed.  Former Connecticut Governor William T. Minor, who knew the young man, was in attendance.  

Things seemed bleak for the young man.  In addition to Mrs. Roosevelt's testimony identifying him as the man she passed on Shore Road and the man she believed attacked her, the prosecution entered evidence of compromising conversations the young man had with an investigator.  Although counsel on both sides of the case tried the matter "with much tact, courtesy, and ability," the eloquent performance of J. W. Tompkins, attorney for the defendant, seems to have been exceptional.  According to one account, the "argument of Mr. Tompkins for the prisoner was unsurpassed by his former efforts at the bar, for strength, ingenuity, and eloquence."  The same account noted that the "Court House was densely crowded with spectators; and during the summing up of counsel breathless silence prevailed."

The jury soon returned its verdict of not guilty.  Charles B. Smith was freed.  No other culprit seems ever to have been identified or charged.  Elizabeth F. Roosevelt, it seems, would have no justice for the attack on her by a highwayman on a Pelham roadway.

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Below is the text of an account of the trial of Charles B. Smith.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

"COURT PROCEEDINGS. . . . 

COURT OF SESSIONS.

This Court convened at the Court House in Bedford on Tuesday, the 5th instant.  Present -- Hon. WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON, County Judge, presiding;

SAMUEL TOMPKINS, Esq.,     }
                                                  }  Justices of Sessions.
WILLIAM MILLER, Esq.,           }

URIAH HILL, Jr., of Cortlandt, was appointed Foreman of the Grand Jury, and JOHN C. HOLMES, Esq., of Lewisboro, Clerk.  A large number of indictments were found, as follows:  2 for murder, 2 for robbery in the first degree, 2 for burglary in the third degree, 1 for grand larceny, 1 for attempting to poison, 3 for selling liquor without license, 2 for attempting to kill, and 4 for assault and battery.

The following cases were disposed of:

The People vs. Charles B. Smith.  --  This case was one of importance.  The prisoner was indicted for an assault and battery on Mrs. Elizabeth F. Roosevelt in Pelham, with an intent to kill or rob.  Governor Minor, of Connecticut, who had been his counsel in other matters, was in attendance on the first day of the term.  The prisoner was respectably connected.  The complainant by marriage was a niece of Judge Roosevelt.  Eminent counsel of the County were employed on either side -- Sedgwick of New York, a criminal lawyer of the first order, was also retained for the prosecution.  The case was tried with much tact, courtesy, and ability.  The argument of Mr. Tompkins for the prisoner was unsurpassed by his former efforts at the bar, for strength, ingenuity, and eloquence.  Other counsel, on both sides, made masterly arguments, of which they may justly be proud.  The trial continued to two days.  The Court House was densely crowded with spectators; and during the summing up of counsel breathless silence prevailed.  

The facts disclosed upon the trial were these:  Mrs. Roosevelt had been passing the season at New Rochelle.  On the 6th of October last she visited from friends at Throgg's Neck.  As she was passing over the river road [i.e., today's Shore Road], alone in her carriage, and approaching Pelham bridge, she discovered a man walking in the same direction.  On hearing the approach of her vehicle, he turned completely around and gazed at her until she passed.  This man she pronounced to be the prisoner.  This was about mid-day.  She drove over the bridge, took out her purse, paid the toll, and proceeded to Throgg's Neck.  On her return home, towards evening, after leaving the River road and proceeding a short distance upon Prospect Hill road [i.e., today's Split Rock Road that once extended from Shore Road to Boston Post Road], she received a violent blow on the right side of her forehead, which was twice repeated.  The wound was two inches and a half in length, cutting through to the skull.  She received other injuries.  After the infliction of the blows, she saw a man standing by the side of the wagon with his arms raised, and attempting to get in the wagon.  She did not see his face, but from the dress and portion of the person seen, she had no doubt that this man was the prisoner.  The horse passed on -- she became insensible, and for two weeks remained in a state of stupor, during which period her [illegible] in danger.

The prosecution gave in evidence several conversations of the prisoner in reference to the attack, elicited by an employee of Matsell & Co., who is certainly one of the shewdest and most adroit men connected with that or any other police establishment in the country.  Other facts and circumstances were proved by the respective parties with a view of establishing the prisoner's guilt or innocence.  The Jury rendered a verdict of not guilty.  --  William H. Pemberton, District Attorney, James P. Sanders, John Sedgwick, for the People; P. L. McClellan, John S. Bates, J. W. Tompkins, for the prisoner. . . ."

Source:  COURT PROCEEDINGS. . . . COURT OF SESSIONS -- The People vs. Charles B. Smith, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Jun. 15, 1860, Vol. XVI, No. 6, p. 2, col. 4.  

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Another Account of the 1879 Home Invasion Robbery of the Old Stone House in Pelhamville

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I have written before of the traumatic 1879 home invasion robbery of Mrs. Mary Parrish in the Old Stone House that still stands at 463 First Avenue in the Village of Pelham (photo below).  See Wed., October 14, 2009:  1879 News Account Provides Additional Basis for Some Facts Underlying Ghost Story of Old Stone House in Pelhamville.  The robbery forms a part of the ghost story that long has been told about the home.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes another local newspaper article published in 1879 about the robbery at the Old Stone House.

"BURGLARIES IN PELHAMVILLE.

A rather mysterious burglary took place Wednesday morning in Pelhamville.  The circumstances are so peculiar as to puzzle most of the inhabitants of that village.  The victim of the crime is Mrs. Mary Parrish, a widow about seventy years old, who lives entirely alone in a stone house, and is reputed to be the possessor of a considerable sum of ready money.  Quite recently she had at least $600 in her purse.  Whether this was still in her possession at the time of the burglary cannot be ascertained.  It is known that she had a large amount of Adams Express stock.  Putting this and that together, the residents of Pelhamville infer a good deal in the way of conspiracy and interested motives.

Mrs. Parish [sic], according to her own statement, awoke at one o'clock Wednesday morning, in her bedroom, on the first floor of her house, to hear a sound of prying at her door, which speedily opened, revealing the form of a strange man, who wore a mask.  She was utterly alone, and knew that, although the nearest neighbor was not more than a hundred yards distant, it would probably be fatal to her to cry out.  The burglar held up a warning hand and said, in a hoarse whisper, 'Now, keep quiet, old lady; don't be afraid; we're not going to hurt  you so long as you don't give no alarm.'  Then he stepped into the room and two other men followed him.  She describes them all as rather small in stature, but further than that fact she remembers nothing of their appearance, terror seeming to be the only impression of the affair remaining upon her mind.  All their faces were masked.  She heard them address each other by the numbers 1, 2 and 2 [sic].  The others repeated that they did not wish to harm her; they only wanted her money.  Then they commanded her to rise up from her bed, and proceeded to rip it open. 

'You have some bonds,' asked the man who seemed to lead the party, 'where are they!'

Mrs. Parrish strenuously denied that she possessed any bonds, but without convincing the robbers, who told her to go with them into the dining room.  Meanwhile one of them had seized a satchel which she kept in her room, and had torn it open, not even attempting, in his eagerness or haste, to unlatch it, although it was not locked.  His manner led her to believe that he knew she was in the habit of using it as a receptacle for some of her valuables.  He was not disappointed, for he found there $100 in money and several documents.  The latter, however, were of no use to anyone, excepting herself.  In the dining room the carpet was taken up, the drawers of the buffet and tables were forced open and the closets were ransacked.  The other rooms in the house were visited by them, with herself as an unwilling companion, and they were left in the direst confusion.  She was repeatedly questioned, with profane threads, in regard to her bonds, but she steadfastly denied that she had any securities of that character.

'Have you a Bible?' they then asked her.

'Yes,' was her response. 

'Then get it,' said the leader.

The Bible was produced, and the villains administered to her in the very words of the court form, an oath to the effect that, in declaring she had no convertible securities, she told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  She could not be shaken in her denial.  The robbers, evidently much disappointed, led her back to her bedroom.  Here they laid her upon the bed and tied her limbs to the bedposts.  They told her to beward of making any noise, and threatened to return immediately if she gave an alarm before they had been gone a sufficient time to render certain their escape.

The time which they spent in the house was about two hours.  They made their exit through the front door, locking it and throwing the key away.  It was found in the morning underneath an evergreen shrub in the yard.

Early in the morning, Mrs. George Pearson, a neighbor, received a message from Mrs. Parrish that she desired to see her.  On going to the house Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were met at the door by Mrs. Clark, the wife of the Postmaster of the village.  They entered and found Mrs. Parrish in a most excited state.  When asked how she had gotten loose from her bonds after the departure of the burglars Mrs. Parrish said she did not know, and nothing at all could be learned from her on this point.  This reply was so inconsistent with her statement that she had been tied by the burglars that it has caused a good deal of wonder among her neighbors.  Many of them, however, seize the occasion to declare that they have for a long time suspected her of being unsound in mind on certain subjects, and that she has of late read and talked a great deal about the murder of Mrs. Hull.  They hint, therefore, that the whole occurrence as related by her may be as illusion, the result of monomania.  Not only does the circumstance of the binding remind one strongly of the Hull tragedy, but a candle, half consumed, which was found in her room and which, according to her, was used by the robbers, forms another singular coincidence.

Simultaneously with the discovery of the robbery of Mrs. Parrish it was learned that the Episcopal church had also been robbed. The thieves took a roll of a hundred yards of carpet that had just been presented by Pelham Priory of which this church is a mission.  The ladies of the church had just completed the weary task of sewing this carpet preparatory to putting it down.  The school room was also broken into, but nothing was taken.  Whether the robbers of the church and of Mrs. Parrish are the same is not known.  The church is in an opposite direction from that which the robbers took when they left Mrs. Parrish's house, but possibly they robbed the church before they went there."

Source:  Burglaries in Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Fri., July 18, 1879, p. ?, col. 1 (newspaper page does not have a page number printed on the page).

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