The national Republican., 1867-05-13
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, MONDAY MORNING. MAY 49, 1867

CAPTURE OF A GREAT BuRgLAR-Jvryp
HsrISe DkyELoPnEErs.--Subti is the mind I,
the conooction Of yillainy; deep are its Norkins,
when vile thoughts are hsrboringi when promed
itated crime is lurking within the busy brain
tho planning Of the act the means Of its accom-
plishment, and the avoidance Of the aftsrclap-
the escaping Of dstestion. How one natursli,
ignorant and vicious can long escape tho pun
ishment due orimo which he or she may com
NIT, seems strange yet police annals inform us
that the most totally ignorant have at time
oluded justice longer than he whose intelleo
could have beon ablo under proper tuition h
cope with mighty minds-the statesman In IN.
senate hall, or the learned justice whom be may
stand befbre, to receive the sentence which may
incarcerate him for life within the dreary walis
Of penitentiary. A case was brought to light
yesterday at police headquarters through the
masterly vigilance, shrewdness, and ability Of
the two detectives having the matter In charge
which has developed . startling series Of crime,
committed by ono master mind, Q man uucouth
In exterior, ignorant In language, yet evidently
possessed Of as keen brain for action when re-
quired as ever mortal knew.
number Of burglaries have been perpetrated
for tome months back, and no clue was obtained
70 the parties com,nitting them, Msssrs. Miller
and Coombs, detectives, were given the cases to
work up md thouk they we're satisfied tho dif.
fsrent burglarios had been done BY one party,
yet they uero unabls for long time TO obtain
ersn the slightest oluei but their energy and 40
tiyity has at last hsd Its reward and Robert
Mortimer, alias Briggs. stood In the presence Of
dozen Accusers yesterday at police headquar-
tsr', to hear charges wbich prove him to be the
most dangerous burglar ever In the Distfict
Blue and Robinson net excepted II will b 70.
membered that on last Christmas morning,
about o'clock, 0hicer Williams while on his
beat in tho vicinity Of Seventh street, between N
and o, received pistol shot from the Irds Of .
man whom ho bad ordered 70 stop, and who %.
capped. Two robberies had been comm led that
same night--one at Baum's jswslry tt,rs, the
other at Cohens fur store on Seventh str IT. near
g. Williams had orders to stop all sr piciout
characters, and halting two men in the uoality
stated above, received the shot which " "A nigh
proved his death wound. Mortimer was 70 man
that shot him, and he was also the man, ,ithout
doubt, who robbed tho two stores on Il same
night.
On the 10th Of March the boot and sh . store
Of Jabez Jay, corner Of New York ave and
Fifteenth street, was entered and robbed lirty-
four pairs Of boots. No arrests were 20 for
It, nor was there suspicion attached to ; one.
On the night Of the 18th Of April the ctothing
store Of Athey PROXY, corner Of High III Gay
streets, Georgetown, was entered and a Quantity
Of clothing distracted. No clue was oh.nined
to the parties In that affair. On the night oil
tho lst Of May the store Of JabeE Jay was a
second time entered, and boots to the value o.
| 500 or more taken. Officers Miller and Coomes
nothing daunted with not finding any clue L
previous cases, kept on energetically to work
and on Saturday last, at the boot and shoe store
Of Geo Washington, colored, on d street, be
| tween Third and -Four. and a. half Island, they
arrested Mortimer. The boots from Mr.. jay
store, which he had taken to Washington's TO
sale, were all found and identified. Williams
the policeman who was shot, positively believed h'
was the man The policeman who was with viii
iiams at the time swore to the same thing. The
| sergeant OF the precinct in which the affair oc
CURED testified that he had had man arrested
| the same night previous to the shooting, and lei
him depart believing Mortimer to be the man
| Matilda Light swore that he was away iron
home from ten p. m, on the Gath until one weel
afterward; that she had heard conversation
reference to Williams had heard Mortimer 80
the was sorry he hadn't killed him"-using
horrd oath.
Burglars implements were found upon tho pei
son of the prisoner, and property has been trace
to his possession which will prove him to hav
beon the principal in all tho burglaries we hav'
mentioned Mortimer was committed to all fol
| court by Justice Tucker. He 10 4 most desper
| ate man; his murdsrous intention Of killing thu
| officer was only frustrated though mercitu
Providence 1t Is with pleasure We record tn
success of the detectives, assisted by sergean
Barker Of the Tenth precinct, and We are prou
to record the fact that the entire detective fore
Of the District nre inferior to none throughOu
the country. There has, within the past si
years, been every incentive to crime in an
around Washington but q vigilant deteeti'
CORDS assisted in its operations by the able suPe
intendent, Major Richards, and the whole bod
Of police, have made the District OF Columbi
aught else than a bed Of roses for those who's
lawlsss ways will certainly bring them within u
walls Of psnitcntiary, If remaining here.