BANDITS ROB MILLTOWNER NEAR HOME
Steve Bagonye Held Up and Robbed Near His Home Last Evening Hunt Underway For South River Men Who Are Suspected of Crime.
MILLTOWN, Nov. 11 – The Milltown police authorities, working in conjunction with the South River police, are endeavoring today to effect the arrest of two men, believed to be South River residents, who are wanted on a charge of having held up and robbed Steve Bagonye of Washington Avenue, this place. The victim is about fifty-five years of age and is the father of Dr. Eugene Bagonye, pastor of the First Spiritualist Church of Milltown.
Mr. Bagonye is employed at the Michelin tire plant and was on his way home about 5:15 o’clock yesterday afternoon when he was stopped at a point on Washington Avenue, near his home, by a stranger who asked for the courtesy of a match. As Mr. Bagonye came to a stop, another man sprang from some nearby bushes and placed his hand over the Milltown man’s mouth, his companion going through his pockets at the same time. The thieves got Mr. Bagonye’s pay envelope, containing $22, his penknife, and a bunch of keys.
Freeing himself, Mr. Bagonye screamed for help, whereupon the strangers knocked him down and one stamped upon his neck, while the other jumped on the ribs of the fallen man. After administering a thorough beating to him, the men ran away, leaving their victim nearly unconscious along the roadway. He was found in this condition a little later by a neighbor, who happened along and was assisted to his home.
This morning Mr. Bagonye had recovered sufficiently to give a fairly accurate description of his assailants and neighbors said they knew one of the men to be a resident of Washington Heights, South River. This information was conveyed to Chairman Dorn of the Milltown police committee, who summoned Marshals Beecher and Lins, and all three officials left at once for South River, where they enlisted the aid of Police Chief Ebberwein of that place.
Early this afternoon, a hunt for the South River man, believed to be one of Mr. Bagonye’s assailants, was underway, but with what success is not known.