The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-10-28

He Ruruiariousiy Eaters q Liquor
Store, il Causht in the Act, and Ia
ken 70 JaiI-Intcresting Facts Con
ucctcd Thercwiih-The Full Partic
ulars.
A most interesting and cunningly con,
ducted affair eliminated last night, re-
sulting in the arrest and Imprisonment
of an experienced thief, who has been
in this city about one month. The fol
lowing are the particulars of the case as
far as known:
About the time McDonald g. Mitchell's
livery stable burned down, a young
man, registering himself as John w.
White, Jr., accompanied by two other
young men, came to Wheeling and
stopped at the Grant House. They
represented themselves as New York
fremen, and that they had come
out here on hunting excur-
sion. White, who seemed to be
the most talkative of the party, soon
introduced himself to some Of our fire.
men, who at once extended to the
strangers the courtesy for which our
boys are proverbial. The foremost in
showing the strangers around the city
was Mr.. Thomas T. Cocayne, of the In
depence Company. White told some
very plausible stories about himself, and
stated that his father was well-to-do
merchant in Brooklyn, New York.
A short time after the fire, spoken of
above, Cocayne was in company with
the three persons, when a young man,
an acquaintance of the former, came
up to Cocayne, and being intoxicated,
he exhibited large roll of bank notes,
and remained in the party some min
utes, during which time Cocayne noticed
this man White give one of his friends
suspicious sign. His suspicious be-
| ing aroused, he prevailed on the ''money
man" to take q walk with the party,
which was consented to, and they pro-
ceeded to q saloon and sat down at a
table and called for some beer, Cocayne
closely cycling his "New York firemen.'
While seated at the table his mind was
fully made up as to the character of his
friends" when he set himself to work
to gain the confidence Of White, which
lie succeeded in doing in two or three
days. when White divulged his business
to be that of scientific burglar" and
informed Cocayne that With his (the
latter's) aid they could make good
haul.
Cocayne informed White that he
could rely upon him for any undertake
ing. The former then divulged the
whole matter to Sergeant Scarborough,
and also 10 Mayor Sweeney, and asked
what was to be done, when Cocayne
was instructed to proceed with the af-
fair and work it out the best way he
could. In few days Whites two
partners left the city for a certain
point, leaving White to attend to
Wheeling" Cocayne threw himself, as
much as possible, in the company of his
victim, canvassing and planning as to
what was to be done. 1t was finally re-
solved to enter the liquor store of Mr..
G. W. Franzhiem, on Market street, and
rob the safe, White stating that he could
open the door and the safe very readily
after about two weeks preparation.
This plan was resolved upon, and the
"work" was commenced about two
weeks ago. White laid down the law
thuslv: "YOu must take me into the
store and introduce me; before going
will supply myself with piece of soap;
and after we converse in the back part
of the store a short time, | will excuse
myself and go to the front door, and
while | am there you engage them
in conversation, and l will take
the impression Of the lock-" Of
course the plan delighted Cocayne,
and on the following day White was in
troduced. After conversing Il short
time he absented himself and went to
the front door Of the store, stood there
while man could count five, ard was
off. In short time Cocayne followed
him, thinking White had failed to get
the impression, he leaving so quickly,
but was astonished to find it complete
upon the piece of soap; and expressing
surprise at his adroitness, White re-
piled that "all it needed was slight
turn of the wrist"
The next requirements of White were
files and place to work. The tools
were furnished and Cocayne took him to
his residence and told him he could
work there without being disturbed by
any one. The man went to work upon
his key, filing few hours every day.
He soon found that his soap impression
was Slightly imperfect, and asked for
piece of putty, which was produced by
the obedient Cocayne, when White took
another impression of the lock, and
commenced again. About five days
ago he had the key filed to the shape of
the model, when he announced that he
would now have to try it to get the
shape of the inside workings of the
lock. He did this by placing grease
upon the key, which, when placed in
the lock, would mark the places to be
filed out. The rogue was compelled to
try the key several times before he
could get it to work all right, and on
Friday last he stated that he thought
he had it all right. He tried it Friday
night, and it was perfeGt-the lock
turned.
All now being in readiness, Saturday
night was appointed for the robbery.
Sergeant Scarborough instructed officers
Harrison, G. Price, and Brady, to con-
ceal themselves in the immediate vicin-