, 1866-01-21
4 DISTINGUISHED coat THIEF
The Late Private Secretary to Detective
General Baker in Limbo.

A few weeks ago depalehes fror, Washington an
nounecd the anest Of L. G. Baker, ezCniaf Decter-
tire In the War Department. On the charge OF ex-
to1ttng money Rom pE1soucrB whom be hsd takth
INTO custody. On this charge the Grand jur5 before
whom he Vas brought found true bill Of indict.
nent, and be low occupies the position Of c.imI-
nal On tal> From fnets brought to hight On Satur-
~ i. WoalS seen that oac q tae Generals mos.
l1lustrious chlcf's foot4teps and seek renowa
through the medium Of Police Court reports, The
name Of this A. D. Wells, lite privats
with his case. as we a1e informed by Deputy Super
tntencsnt Nelson. arc a follows:
4te:tsy last recently DISCHARGED nayal officer
a tbe Mai,e:on House, Ne had not been It tho
hotcl long before he met the he.o@ of this sketch,
Mho, 1t appea,s, was an old acquaintance. They
aae u Toe IL e5d
fation over toid t1a3es." When dinner hour a.
rived, Nj Barnett in11ted Wells to dine With hin,
@ ase %sl ps1ssgne 81 s the
MI III. Gasne:t asked II. A eonpanion ion
ne boarded ai the Skermsn House, but ~ he rates
we're rather high md the contents Of big pure In
consequence every day becoming lower. be was &C.
so nos gx6ss s sTgSgs e. "9s T.
tween tho prices Of board snd the contents Of hIs
wallet. A Mr. Barnett Was Intending 10 renlatn N
tAe ctt5 tor severa1 weeks be Immediately thought
hare the amlabe and honest ~ e1-phsate secretary
ior roo1a.nate. He then and thete made pfopo-
stsp = a., q, sst hsl ssh va sfaly as.
slant companion Of bus nsyal friend. Barnett BE-
for gons n,S The dtntn T9om 5e1sed tS hs
stead oleavfng ii Ia The cloak room, and receiving
q check fot 1t. when Mr. Barnett and bis COM
ii Ss sDd fSs VII o saan ss 4ns 1oo
in bis lie and showed his appreciation Of lie
seeS 'oiRs eeofs h% ey Rns q hs% agI,s
place ancse be had len bis overeost vas M
rot tls hss, sS1psa 70 9i.so'es that
away. aupposine that probably his friend Wells
bad carried i 10 theiI room be Dc patched boy for
t. w3o n lev maaes a'9 setasd "h lhe II
OF tue ssenvelope" 5fr. Barnett then concluded
thai Welle must have worn the ooatto aphysIctans.
az be did not poseess one Ct h.s own: Ae started
until supper hour arrived. when he returned to the
hotel. 1nqutstng Of ME. Stacey, the clerk, be WIS
informed that neither Wells nor The coat had made
their appearance during his absence. For the nret
time the thought then flashed acrots his mind that
h1A friend ~ did not intend 70 CONG hack!n tact.
hsd etoen his r., coat uIa a1d made oa vth IL Attes
communicating bis suspicious TO the deputy SD
pe1intendent ofrol3ce, Nho at oueo detailed q de
tetife 10 enQeNo1 10 EecoSc1 tle property anu At-
rest the thieE. ...7..
As IN the pocket Of The s,oirn coat was a wallet
containing al Ar. haTne,t's money tocethlI with
his discharge papers and other yaluables, he wns
not little anxious about its recovery, and alter re-
ceiyinc permits lion iron Mr. Ne1*on to arrest the
thief IL he contd cntch him be starsed out In eearsh
Of him. All day Frfday be looked IN vain for his
man, but % Saturday hls zeal was rewarded Upon
chants Hotel, On the corner OF Washington and
State streets, the fist object hin eyes lit npou vas
Weli., encased in biz coat, engaged IN playing q
game Of exaggerated marbles. Accostiug HIN, he
demanded his properly, which Was handed ovet
without an5 1ssis stance ne thsn Informed h,m that
To this proposition Welle objected, but few vig-
orous Jerks and cuffs which be received from TIC
,mrroylsed officer, convinced h!n That resistance
+! would be In vain, and be walked quietly along.
| Upop searching him Ut the Station, the wallet,
| viii all tr original coutc1fs, except the noncr.
were GoliEd on his persor. FL did not attempt ID
deny biz gull, but reiused TO s,ye any explanation
| for biz .inKul.r conduct lie will have IN e-amt
nation before The Police Court on Monday morn
| fnw