The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-03
LOCAL MATTERS.

q
LOCAL MATTERS.
HovsE-BREAKERs CAUGHT IN THE AcT.-
For some time Detective John Wren has
suSpected two coiored men, named William
Jackson and Thomas Holmes, two eX-con-
yir,s, as being common thieves, and he as
ccr,aincd that an attempt had been made to
hrcak into the dweiiing-house of Mr..
THOMAS Riley. corner OF Twenty-first and
Main streets. Detective Wren at once went
towork and succeeded in capturing the two
norties mentioned above. Detective Wren
annlied to Major Poe for five men to aid
him in the capture Of the burglars. The
officer found out that the prisoners had cut
out n large pane OF glass several days ago and
NM il in so that il could be removed ut any
fine Being aware OF this fact the officers
concluded to "shadc" the place. On Satllr-
,Iav night the thieves were ut the house, but
some one came along and they were fright
cncd off. Sunday night, however, they were
more successful. About II O'Clock Detective
Wren and Sergeant Dan. Wren, accompa-
MED by Officers Mlchaels, Mathews, SamI,-
son. and Cartwright. proceeded to the house
OF Mr.. Riley and surrounded all OF the out
looks OF the dwelling. After lying in wait
for several hours the prisoners made their
appcarance and were about to enter, when
one OF the officers went up and demanded
their surrender. An effort was made to
escape. but wherever they turned they were
confronted by q revolver in the hands OF a
policeman or detective. Finding escape
impossible they gave themselves up and
were handcuhed and taken to the First po-
Iice-station, where they were locked up.
Yesterday morning they were taken before
the Police Justice, who sent them on to the
grand jury to answer an indictment. They
were handcutfed and taken to the Hastings
Court at once.
Detective Wren really deserves credit in
this case, as he workedit it up by himself, and
no doubt saved large amount OF property If
not the lives of the inmates Of the house.
Detective John Wren succeeded yeSter-
day evening in capturing the would-be
holse-breaker who escaped on Sunday night
when the other two were taken. He is a
negro ey-convict, named John Adams.
Learning his whereabouts, Detective Wren
proceeded in buggy to the Chesapeake
and Ohio depot, near which Adams was
living, and as he drove up to the depot saw
Adams standing on the sidewalk. Alight-
ng from his buggy Mr.. Wren said, in
4 careless way, "John, come and
hold my horse; in which John at
once obeycd him. The detective then called
gentleman standing near by, and inform
ing him OF the arrest he wished to make, re-
qleSted him to drive his horse to the police
station for him, and before the unsuspect-
Ing Adams was well aware Of his approach
he felt the heavy hand of Wren grasp him
firmly by the collar, accompanied by,
Come this way John, / want you." He
was taken to the First police-station and
locked up until this morning, when he will
have hearing before the Police Justice.
ESCAPE AND RECAPTURE OF NEGRO Con-
vlcT-On Sunday morning about half-past
/ o'clock q negro convict named Andrew
Gill alias Andrew Richardson, desperate
fellow, succeeding in making his escape
from the State penitentiary, but was dis
covered at the corner Of Main and Beividere
streets by Officer B. NJ. Angle, Of the Third
police district, who chased and caught him
on lot on Franklin street near Mr. Nor
TONS residence, not, however, until Angle
had given him several blows with his club.
On Saturday night Gill sawed the wooden
facing which holds the iron bars over his
ccll-door, and then lifted two bars out
This enabled him to escape from his cell on
From the gallery he got over the railing,
and, it is supposed, let himself down into a
small enclosure where there is wood-house
and one or two other small buildings. On
the south side OF this enclosure he started
to remove brick from tile wall, but left this
side, and getting behind one Of the little
houses, which hid him from view,
succeeded in making hole through
the brick wall on the west side OF
the enclosure. Through this hole
he went, and going up through the kitchen
came to the stairs which leads down to
the front yard Of the penitentiary building.
Here he waited for his opportunity. Atten
minutes of o'clock the guard walked from
the archway to the guard-house, which is
about seventy-fve feet in front, to wake up
the relief; and as he did this Gill followed
noiselessly behind him, having cloth muthed
around his feet, and passed undetected into
Colonel Strother's yard, and thence into the
highway. 1t had been raining hard for
some time and the inside guard stood under
the archway, out of the weather.
lie was in the penitentiary for life, having
been convicted three times OF offences.
Upon going back to the institution from
whence he escaped Gill said to Officers Pa
rater and Angle that for eighteen months
ne mad been maturing plans for escape.
Two months ago he sawed out the bars
over his cell-door. He stated that he was
ANXIOUS to get away from the penitentiary,
ana that sooner than be put back he would
rather die. He had made profession of
religion, and the officers found on his per-
son Bible containing an election-ticket as
u book-mark. He SAID he knewhe wouldn't
Dc !ustiiable in the eyes Of God in killing
those who attempted to arrest him, and that
lie wouldn't commit suicide; but that he
would he glad II some one would take his
life. He says that II they ever attempted
10 make him work he would run, prefer
ring to be shot by the guard rather than to
obey them.
ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN MONEY FROM BANK