The New York herald., 1869-01-07
TIE ST. JAMES HOTEL THIEF.

Some ar HIS Former ExploIts-What He Il
Alleged 20 Have Done In AIbapy-An Adj
ditional Charge Preferred Against Hin.
The publication In the HERALD OF Tuesday OF the
alleged attempt Of the old and very respectable ap
pearing gentleman, Walter Scott Wells otherwise
known as "Alfred Long" "Alfred Moore" and o
score Of other aliases to rob the rooms Of the guests
at the st. James Hotel on Saturday night his cap
ture, the story OF the burglars implements found
under the window where he threw them and
OF his committal for tral, has caused other
victims OF this Ubiquitous individual to present
themselves TO the authorities and pour into the ear
Of justice their tales or alleged despoilation at his
hands. II one can credit the sworn statements Of
prominent gentlemen and ladies' In this city, and
those Of other places throughout the country Walter
has made some serious mistakes during his life, and
nature hides pretty bad heart with cheerful
exterior.
Among those who called at the JEFFERSON Market
Police Court yesterday morning to narrate their
losses OF jewelry and ornaments Of value the result
Of Walters peculiar ideas regarding property Of this
character, was Mr.. Albert II. Aimy, accompanied by
hts wife and lady friend, who approached Justice
Dodge and advised him that on the morning Of the
9th OF April last his broken into at the St.
James Hotel and robbed OF various articles valued at
$1,000 and that from circumstances connected with
accused Wells was the perpetrator Of the sneaking
outrage. This party were shown into the large ex-
animation room in the rear OF the Court but before
Wells could be brought up from the prison below de-
tectlve officer Bradt with an assistant from Albany,
sought the Judge, explaining that the object OF his
nized the description In the HERALD as perfect
worn likeness OF one "Jame5 b. Russell" who had
operated similarly last spring at Stanwix Hall, whore
he succeeded In appropriatlng watches and money
valued at $1,000.
These ofcers joined the previous party when Wells
was usnered among thu liLte group, and instantly
Mrs. Almy and oflcer Bradt recognized him; nrst,
the seen In the hallway OF the hotel near her
room on the morning Of the robbery aad !, secondly,
bany county jail, as Wells was caught wnile endeav-
oring to escape from stanwix Had. and renamed
there six weeks, when he was baled to answer the
charge which he "of course forfeited" SO soon as
detective Bradt was "certan OF his man" he served
upon Justice Dodge bench warrant from District
Attorney Smith, OF Albany Court, for his arrest and
delivery there.
The charge against him, however, by Mr.. Amy,
was taken. when the articles he enumerated as then
stolen consisted Of coral pins and earrings, mosaic
pins and earrings gold chains and rings, opal rings
lockets gold bracelets fine nankerchiess and garnet
rings, valued as stated. at $l,5o0 Beside the re-
cognfton OF Wells by Mrs. Almy her friend Miss
Jennie q. NOyes, also living ct the St. James at the
time Of the robbery, testified to seeing HIM come out
Of the room tnat morning when the c0mplainants
were at breakfast "wIth his pockets stuffed out"
Entrance erected in the usual manner BY false
keys. Upon this charge the accused was accorded
the usual informal examination, when he said
that his name was Walter scott Wells, born In Pha-
dephla, lives In that city at present. druggist BY
profession and not guilty; that "the ladies' VINO pro-
Tess to identity evidently mistaken; was not
at the st. James the time they say, and have no
doubt shall be able to fully prove II on my trial,
for the 9th Of April last was In the station house
on the charge OF ntoxcation, and 80 much SO that
was unable to walk" He was then committed for
trial upon this charge without ball.
At this juncture two ward detectives OF this city
appeared and also assured the Judge that they
wanted Walter and had been searching for him
since october 20 last to answer similar operations.
Without maniiestng the least annoyance, excepting
that he complained Of the unf0r test which was
sorted to when Mrs. Almy professed to recognize
him. that OF compelling him to stand alone IN large
room, inftead Of being placed In crowd, he again
went to the prison below To-day all the papers In
the case will be sent to District Attorney Garvins
ofice when an agreement will probably be made re-
garding his trial here and In Albany.