The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-18
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
INTERESTING POLICE DEVELOP
MENTS.
SKETCH OF TWO NOTED OFFENDERS.

StcFSus, ou suSplCIon VI DeiDS concerned IN
numerous depredations hereabouts, besides be-
ing participant in the robbery of the Ports.
mouth Bank, Va. Stevens, though quite young
man, is old in crime, and next to Jim Webb.
has probably been the most successful thief in
the country. within the past two years. He
had, as an accomplice, a certain Nathan Rhoads.
alias James Brown, who seems to have been a
fit companion of crime. The operations OF
these fellows have extended over the greater
portion of the country, particularly West and
South, and by their adroitness, have generally
managed to escape detection. As brief
sketch of these men is not without interest,
we proceed to give it from the Philadelphia
News:
John H. Stereus and Nathan Rhoads.-
The first knowledge we have of Stevens is
derived from his conviction, and sentence, in
IS43, to Sing Sing Prison, for the period OF four
years and nine months, for grand larceny. He
was then called James G. Thomas alias Wal
ker. He has connections in this city, and is a
brother of New Stevens, the Confidence Man,
now an inmate of Sing Sing.
On the Cd of July. 1850, Jack Stevens and
New Goldsmith robbed the office of the Gas
Company, Seventh street, above Chestnut, of
1869 54 in bank notes, gold aud silver, and
checks to the amount of $3.50. In March.
1851, Stevens, Jim Stanton, and others robbed
Henry Richardson's store, Pit,sburg. New
Goldsmith is now in Cherry Hill Prison, for
participating in the disposal of the plunder,
and some others have suffered in confinement
aud in their regulations for being connected
with this affair. On the I'd of June, 1850, Jack
Stevens and others robbed the store Of N. L.
Hazen, tsince deceased,) at Cincinnati, of be-
tween 60 and 70 fine gold and silver watches,
and a large amount Of jewelry. Several
stores and a loan office were robbed by this
same party in Cincinnati within brief pc
riod. Some of the movements OF the watches
stolen from HaZen's store were found recently
at the house of Rhoads, alias Brown, in Ken
sing ton, thus connecting him with the robbery.
On the 18th of September, 1851, Stevens,
Brown and others attempted TO rob bank al
Cleveland. Ohio, but did not succeed, after
several attempts. In the same month, Jack
Stevens robbed silk store in Buffalo, the
plunder of which Ia considerable amount) was
brought to this city and sold.
Again, on the 25th of October, Stevens
Brown and others robbed Messrs. Reigel &
Brothers store Of nearly $4,000 in cash and
silk goods. Through the efforts of the Mayor
and his officers, the silks have been nearly all
recovered. On the 25th of November. 1851,
Mr.. James w. Woods store, Eighth and
Zane streets, was bored into and over $4,000
worth of fine goods stolen; this was the work
of Brown aud others, Stevens no doubt aiding.
A portion of this property was found at
Browns house. A year or two ago, Stevens
had gotten into the bank at Pittsburg and had
made an aperture through the brick and NOR
tar, and smaller one through the iron lining
of the vault. Jacks fingers were industri-
ously at work removing the bank bills through
this lesser aperture when he was very unex-
pectedy surprised. 1t was Sunday morning,
and q new suit of clothes had been sent to the
bank, belonging 10 the CASHIER and this gen.
tleman walked round TO the bank to try them
on. His sudden entrance SO surprised Jack
that he darted off, playing through the win
dow IN double quick time, and believing fire
-fite-fre-as Justly as his lungs would per-
nit, and in the confusion he got off. Stevens
and Brown entered the Norfolk Savings In
sttution in the beginning of the present year,
and got from FIVE to ten dollars for their pains,
the deposits not being kept there. The weed
ing of dry doods store in Harrisburg by
Brown and Stevens, was effected on one of
their journeys West, They got in with false
keys, merely TO inspect it, and while in,
thought they might as well take few things,
intending at some future day to "rob that
store," When more convinienl season should
arrive.
oH tlO vi ACO$y tic DfdUtH
Bank of Virginia, at Portsmouth, was robbed
of near 500 900, and on the Oath Of January,
1852, George w. Harris's watch and jewery
store at Montgomery, Alabama, was robbed
of about 80 gold watches, a large quantity of
iewrlry, &c. AT about 9 o'clock On the morn
ing of the 9th of February last, Jack Stevens
and Brown came into this city. Jack went
to his mothers, and Brown TO his home in
Xensington. Two or three days afterwards,
L. 81 i l.,
after he got home, was told by those who
kneU who and what he was, that the police
were after him, and hurried off the same morn
ing TO Pottsvile, completely broken down in
health and spirits. Coming from a southern
cline. and encountering the bleak mountain
air of that region, at that season, Brown was
seized with hemorrhage of the lungs; fingered
on until Sunday, February 18th, when he was
summoned into the presence Of his maker, TO
answer the deeds done in the body.
Brown brought with him large portion of
the watches and jewellery stolen at Montgome-
ry, Alabama, which were recovered March
18th. by officer Wood. Mayors police; nearly
$4,000 are now in Mayor GiIpn's possession.
Officers Mirkel and Gouldey have taken Ste
vens to Portsmouth to answer for the bank
robbery there, When that is done with, Jack
will be called upon 10 answer for some of his
other sins. Thus, through the energy Of our
lar series Of police operations, one of the most
dangerous and successful gangs of burglars
who have infested the country.
git is proposed to erect thirteen monu-
mens upon independence square, in Philadel-
ha, commemorative ofthe Old Thirteen States,
and of the Declaration of Independence. The
Massachusetts, Legislature has decided to send
a delegate to the Convention to be held in Phil
adelphia on the 4th July 1852, for the pur-
pose of taking measures to erect these monu-
ments.
The Conde Mrasol, not MiraHoTes, has been
appointed Captain Gen raj of Cuba. He was
Gen. Choncha's predecessor, and not very
popular in Cuba.
Harvey Fuller has received 81 900 in an &C.
ton against the Naugatuck Railroad Company,
before the Litchfeld Superior Court, for Injuries
to his wife.-Nep Harrn Journal