This Day In History: 1956-08-04

A mistake made by many, of failing to stop at the second light at the corner of Franklin Turnpike and Miller Road, brought three young men to grief. When the three stopped at a gas station to clean up they parked their car in front of the Mahwah Post Office. When they started on their way again the driver failed to notice the second light at the corner of Ramapo Avenue, and Sgt. Micik stopped them. The three immediately abandoned their car and escaped on foot up the hill into Cragmere. They were eventually cornered in a backyard on Malcolm Road by Micik and Patrolman Brennan. They proved to be escapees from a New York State Reform School. They had fled from the George Junior Republic near Ithaca the afternoon before. THEY STOLE A CAR and, when it ran out of gas, they stole another by using metal foil to connect the ignition wires. All they had in their possession at the time of their arrest was a flashlight and a camera which they had taken from the first car they stole. Mahwah officials made arrangements with the Sheriff of Sullivan County to pick them up and return them to custody. (Bristow)