The Robbery of 1888

The Springfield Republican reported in an article published on December 22, 1888, “doubtless the world will be much older when the good folk of Longmeadow, that drowsy village of elm trees and May breakfasts, cease to recount the startling events which happened there in a few moments’ time early yesterday morning.” December 21, 1888, just after the village clock struck 4 am, a dull heavy explosion startled residents near the Longmeadow green. Burglars blew open the safe at William Wallace Coomes’ spectacle factory and shop which was located on the side of the commercial building at 776 Longmeadow Street. This part of the building no longer exists.

In the 19th century, Longmeadow had a very active thimble and spectacle manufacturing industry (see related article here). According to the 1855 census, at least sixteen Longmeadow residents listed their occupation/profession as spectacle manufacturing.

After hearing the explosion, James W. Coomes, a 22-year-old who resided with his uncle Willam W. Coomes across the alley from the spectacle shop, “leaped from his bed and looked out from his room to see a cloud of smoke issuing through the shattered office windows … The young man hastily dressed, snatched up his revolver, and reported what he had seen to his uncle who handed him a shotgun to augment his armament.”

James encountered one of the burglars, Frank Richie, outside the spectacle shop, and “a lively duel ensued.” Frank Richie was struck in the face with birdshot, while JamesCoomes was shot in the foot. The burglars took a six-pound silver brick and four $20 gold pieces. The thieves did initially escape, but Richie’s wounds were noted by a police officer when his train bound for Hartford stopped at Warehouse Point. Richie was arrested while still armed with two revolvers and half a bottle of gunpowder. He and his accomplice, Thomas Conarty, were involved in an earlier attempted robbery in Springfield on Lyman Street where a police officer named Thomas Coote was shot. Richie and Conarty were eventually sentenced to seventeen years in state prison for the Longmeadow and Springfield crimes.

 Sources

Longmeadow Historical Society Archives

Springfield Republican

Waterbury Evening Democrat

Worcester Evening Gazette