New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-24
Local Intelligence.

NOTORIOUS THIEF AND BURGLAR AR
RESTED James Smith. alias Bo,cmou,
Ocerhorled and Takea, hit was perhaps
little unfortunate that the jolly and devil.
may-care burglars who so playtully robbed
the store OF Mr.. Albert G. Phelps should
have left that sarcastic note. The police
were reused, and though they had but a
slight clue 70 guide them in this instance,
they nave shown that they are capable and
swift to do their duty. Guided by informa-
ton the conclusion was arrived at that
Smlth. alias Bowman, and MunsOn Alex an.
der. assisted, perhaps. by the latter's
brother. were the robbers who had done the
WORK.
At about six o'clock last evening Special
O5icer j j. Pearson came up. with Smith
at tie corner of Girod and Rampant streets
and forth with locked him up in the first
precinct station, charging him with bur
garIously entering the store of Mr.. Albert
q. Phelps, corner of Prytania and Felicity
streets. Munsou Alexander is still at large.
but it is hoped and expected he will soon
be arrested. 1t will be remembered that
this desperate burglar escaped from Detec-
tlves Smith and Devereux last Wednesday
night when they succeeded in capturing
Benjamin, his pal
Smith, alias Bowman. is small man
about tifty-ti years of age, gray hair,
grayish blue eyes and smooth face. He has
arrested last evening" demanded Of CAPTAIN
Schrieber that his gray hair should lie re-
spected. He is a notorious villain and has
been engaged in numerous burgiaries and
taken hand in several murders. He to-
gether with 'Red" Lindsay, as shrewd a
scoundrel as himself, robbed and murdered
merchant, and old man, Mr.. Chandler. in
the vicinity of the New basin in the spring
of 1870.
These two men subsequently committed
burglary at the saloon of Mr.. John Haw-
kins, corner of Theatre alley and Common
street, and breaking open his iron safe
carried away the contents. He was &C.
Quilted of the former crime, hut at the trial
was recognized as an escaped convict from
the Penitentiary. He was returned to that
corrective institution, where he served out
his term of sentence He returned to this
city and was soon after arrested for having
burglars, tools on his person. He was tried
and sensensed to six months Imprisonment
in the Parish Prison, which term he served
aud was liberated only few weeks ago.
Shortly after his release he was arrested as
a dangerous and suspicious character, but
as bond was promptly given by a qualified
property holder, his detention was rendered
Impossible. Pete Green, who keeps a bar
room corner of GirOd and Commerce street,
is the name of the individual whe signed
the bond.
The police are Justly indignant that their
efforts are thus rendered nugatOry by the
promptitude with which property holders
bail out thieves and law -breakers. They
contend. and truly, that all their vigilance
is rendered abortive by the ease with which
bail can be obtained.
Munson Alexander. Smiths present pal,
was arrested in 1870 for garroting and rob.
bling a rnan at the corner of Basin and Com
mon streets For this crime he was con.
yicted and sent to the Pententiary for four
wears. bat escaped therefrom before serv
ing out more than half his term. Since
then he has been engaged in numerous bur
glaries.
Munson Alexander is the desperate al
luded to above, who escaped from de-
tectives Smith and Devereux when they
attempted to arrest him in a house on
Seventh. between CarOndelet and st
Charles streets, last Wednesday. Benjamin
his companion, on that occasion was cap
tured by the daring officers, but this villain
escaped after firing several shots at the
officers.
Smith is a practical machinist of great
ekill, and is quite an expert IN his trade
His chief pride seems now to be the attack
ing of burglar-proOf safes, and his ambition
to serve the State in Baton Rouge Penlten
tiary. he is willy and non -committal. Last
evening when arrested he was asked by
Captain Schreiber "Where are those
papers" meaning, of course, the banl
stock and other papers taken from the salt
of Mr. A. G.. Phelps. The arch thief re
sp0nded with an air OF surprise. VIVA
papers-newspapers" Concerning tht
personnel of Munson Alexander, thai
worthy is slight built man, about five fee
nine inches in height, complexion fair, thiI
chm whisl1ers, and general appearance
L.ratt ~