Brooklyn Times-Union/1910/Two Jailed Breakers Confess At Bellport

Two Jailed Breakers Confess At Bellport

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Admit That They Opened The Lockup And Freed A Prisoner.

Both Go to Riverhead for a Sojourn, With a Fine for Consolation, While Prisoner They Let Out Goes to Rest Cure Home for the Treatment the Court Prescribes.

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Bellport, New York; March 2, 1910. The village lockup was broken into Sunday morning at 2 o'clock and the only prisoners therein liberated. The prisoner was a colored man named Reuben Ward, 16? years of age, who was found guilty of larceny by Justice Price and remanded to Randall's Island. He was in the lock-up to remain over Sunday and be taken to the island on the following Monday. Justice Everett M. Smith and Constable Addison H. Rumstead were much exercised and took counsel with School Tax Collector George H. Weidner and others. It was learned that the prisoner's mother lived in Patchogue and Charles Warren notified by telephone, found the boy there. The prisoner was taken to Bellport, where he was put through the "third degree" by the Justice, the two Constables and Collector Wellner. At first young Ward said he was asleep when the lock-up was broken into and all he knew when he was awakened by the slight noise made by the "burglars," was that the lock-up was open and, taking advantage of it, he "beat it." When threatened with imprisonment he weakened and declared he was "rescued" by Samuel Caton, a white man, and John Wilmot Jackson, alias Johnson, a colored man. Caton was soon captured, but stoutly denied any guilt. Justice Price and Collector Weidner, in one wagon, and the two constables in another, went on the hunt after the colored man. The Justice and Mr. Weidner, who were ahead in their wagon, found Jackson carrying a big jug with the help of Bill Rhodes, walking in the doors. Rhodes denied everything and made a show of resistance, but was hustled to Justice Price's office, where he met Caton. Both the men confessed when they found out young Ward had told the truth, and were sentenced to six months' imprisonment in the county jail at Riverhead, and to pay a fine of $50 each. They were then sent to the lock-up at Patchogue, whence they were taken yesterday to Riverhead to serve their time. Reuben Ward, who was also sent to the Patchogue lock-up, was taken to Randall's Island by Constable Bunipstead.