The Portland daily press., 1867-09-16
Important Arrest of Burglars.
RECOvERY OF STOLEN PROPEBTY
Extensive Raids of the Gang.

tons, to ferret out the parties. He kept strict
watch upon the actions of those he suspected,
and had obtained sufficient evidence to war
rant him in arresting them, when some further
information was given him by Sheriff Parker,
Respecting themovements of the parties, I'M
der suspicious circumstances, which served to
corroborate all that he had gathered, and led
him 10 the determination to arrest the men at
once. 81,
8On Saturday, Sept. 7th, he arrested a man
named John White. about SO years old, ma
tive of st. John, N. B., who had been educated
to the house breaking business in New York,
and who came to this city last winter where
he has, ostensibly, been carrying on the bust
ness OF painting, paper hanging and glazing
This business gave him an opportunity to in
spect the interior of houses where he was en-
gagged, and to Jay his plans for robbery
One of his confederates, a young man about
IS years old, named Arthur Armstrong also a
native of st. John, was arrested by Deputy
Marshal Wentwortli, shortly after the arrest
of White. 10
The third and last member of the gang. a.
young man about II years old, whose name,
for family. considerations, is for the present
Suppressed was arrested the next morning, S un-
day This young man was led into the BUSH
ness by White, and before the arrival Of the
latt inthis city had been considered an up
right young men. 81
The next business of tile Marshal was to re-
cover as much of the stolen property as possi-
bic. The two boys had owned up to the bur-
glaries as far, as they were concerned, but
Knew nothing about the property stolen or the
disposal of it. Some small portions of the
tolen-articles were found upon. White when
arrested, and more at his house on Newbury
street. kssass assa.fA eka4S#
Last Monday, White, finding it was a gone
case with him, owned up and made a clean
breast of it. He acknowledged committing
the various burgiaries in this city, Westbrook,
Lewiston, Bath, Augusta and Bangor and said
he would do all in his power to obtain the
stolen property 50 that it might be returned to
the various owners. ,Fs.F
Marshal Head then took White and pro-
oeeded to Boston, where he obtained the valu-
able assistance Of Detective Heath, of that
city. White then pointed out the various
places whereshe had disposed of the stolen ar
ticles. He had been shrewd enough to dis
pose Of but one article in a place. In that
city Mr.. Head recovered the following prop
erty: IL AZ
Gold watch stolen from j. mt Kimbafl Port
land, in June. - iN
Gold watch stolen from j. d. Knight, Port
land, in July.
Gold watch stolen from Mr.. Gwynn, Port
land, in April sans EaN6
Gold watch stolen from Mr.. W. Brown,
Westbrook, in July. ars ~0-s
Two gold watches stolen from Mr. s. A.
Houghton, Bath, in July. esa.
Mr. Head then went over to Charlestowp.
with White, and in that city recovered case
of pearl handled silver knives and a revolver
stolen from Mr.. VIM. Allen, in this city.
Proceeding with his prisoner to New York
Marshal Heald recovered in that city the en-
tire set Of valuable diamond and coral jewelry
stolen from Miss Lockwood of Charlestown,
Mass, at Lewiston July oath while she was on
visit to that place. The value of the set is
about 800 This jewelry had been resold by
the person who purchased it of White and
great difficulty was experienced by the Mar
shall in obtaining it, and efforts were made to
keep itifrom him; but he was rcsolute and de-
termined, and bore off the property in tri-
umph.
When Marshal Head arrested White he
found on his person silver watch and two
sight drafts-one for 5000, the other for 800
stolen ftom Mr.. Charles BeaIs in Bangor
about two days before he was arrested These
drafts would have been as good as greenbacks
to White, bad he not been so suddenly arrest.
ed beforeihaving time to use them He came
up from Bangor on Friday and was arrested
ON Saturday. sae saisss ..i .Een .48ssuias b4i j
In the carpet bag of White were found silver
spoons, stolen from John Rand ESQ, in. this 4
city and Mr.. Wilson in Westbrook; also a re- 4
volver stolen in Augusta. This was the one
with which he returned the shot sent after
him ly Wilson after,robbing the latter's house,
There were, also, in the bag two jimmies,
spatnla, ground so that it could be inserted
between window sashes and the fastenings re-
moved, bunch of keys "a pair of false whis-
kers, spermaceti candles and matches
Some other articles were recovered, and pla-
ces were disclosed by White to the Marshal
where other property had been disposed Of,
which Tire officer expects to recover.
The operations of the gang were conducted
by White, who, in every case entered the
building himself, leaving his confederates ON
the outside to watch. Sometimes, but not
very frequently, he would take one of the boys
inside with him. The robberies at Rand's
Gwynn's, McLellan's and the Lockwood rob |
berry at lewiston, were committed by him |
without the aid of either of his confederates. |
He had bottle of nitric acidto quickly detect |
SILVER from plated ware, and always let the lat
Ter alone. White says that he has. thrown |
away large lot of small silver ware. such as |
napkin rings, &c. and some common jewelry |
that would not pay the trouble of breaking
up, He would throw them out of the car win
dowf while travelling The valuable silver |
ware he would pound up and dispose of as old |
silver TO the jewelers. in Lynn, Salem, Boston |
and other places. ann
" ute always took tue property into his own |
possession and disposed of ii himself He would |
give MS coniederates money when they called |
ior II, but never would let them know what |
oIspo sltlon he had made of the stolen articles.
All they knew about it was that day or two
after robbery had been committed White
would 90 off on the Boston train. He il a
desperate fellow, and says he would not have
been taken had he not been unprepared and
not suspectiDg an arrest He had come mp
from Bangor on Friday, Sept 9th, where he
had committed robbery, and on Saturday
evening, as he walking up Exchange street.
was suddenly seized by the Marshal, in front
Of the Printers Exchange, who run him into
)ne of the offices, ironed him and took him to
all The suspicious of the Marshal had been /
ERECTED to him, and his movements had been
Watched for long time. White SAYS he was
,ware of this, but the Marshal seemed to have
yiven up his suspicious and this guieted him.
The Importance of these arrests and the
,reaking up of this gang of burglars that have
infested this city and vicinity for months, can
lot be over-estimated, neither can too much
redit be awarded to Marshal Head for the ad-
nirable manner in which he has worked up
be case and succeeded in making the arrests
NE arrest of these persons was known to the |
eporters at the time they took place, but the
lct was suppressed at the request of the Mar
hal, in order that the property might be re-
overed. His foresight in this respect has
rOved of great advantage. s
SEE Wingate's advertisement of the Levi ,
r0wn gold pen. ss.,a s'sFo1. d. II
/ -'H-l.-.. aa uu1 i4.. .4uf. o., s..l .,4a d 3 4
I fl.If t. its-lJ y 8,-, so tW s.f5 .l. ftF.H. W
! lAiY r9s. t +aLJt
sa5uH thHt.f ettt.I