The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-01-15

LehightOn Thieves,

Under the above caption, tine Morning II erald,
Of the nth inst, says; About two weeks ago
several items appeared in the columns OF the
Herald, giving accounts of various robberies
committed by some unknown parties in and
about Lehighton, WeisspOrt and PackertOn.
suspicion has rested on several parties, and
Monday one Of these was arrested, though not
for any of these offences, but for another, that
of stealing the keys of the swltch-tender at the
LehiRh Gap, Mr. Lewis p. Peters, On Monday,
Jau 3rd at 0 p. M, Mrs. Peters, who was at the
tune attending to some work on the second
floor, heard the hight footsteps Of some one IN
the bar room below. She Immediately left her
work and came down to sec who 1t was, but on
entering the bar room found no one there. Mr.,
Peters came in shortly after and having Oc-
casion TO look for his keys which he carried In
his Overceat discovered that bOtn coat and key 8
were gone it was immediately suspected that
they were stolen. and as the keys IN the hands
of dishonest person would enable HIM to do
considerable mischief, giving hun access to all
the freight cars. careful search for the thief
was at once instituted The facts We're maze
known to that vlgllant and careful official. AIT,
ID. Trimmer, who has cnarge of the cars Of the
Lehigh Valley railroad. He at once proceeded
to investigate the matter, and after consider
able trouble succeeded in tracing the goods
into the possession Of young man named Henry
Denhard. Mr.. Tr1mmer swore out warrant
before JustiCe Meyer. Of South bethlehem took
IL TO CARBON county, where he had IL renewed,
and caused the arrest of young Bernhard. Dem
hard at first denied all knowledge of the theft
and told Ar. Trimmer that he wasn't smart
enough for him. But when ne discovered that
his "gOlngs anu comlngs" for the last week were
perfectly known 10 MI. Trimmer he confessed
that the goods were in his possession and de-
livered tnem up to tins gentleman. Young
DenhRrds stories are very contradictory. He
insists now that the articles were st0ien DY q
man named Jas. s. Butler, from Indianapolis
Ind, and that they were given nim TO keep
them IN charge until Butler would call for them,
and tnat he was pald TWO dollars TO take care OF
them. He says tins Butter operates alonR the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and las any
quantity of keys for freight cars on TINS road.
Ae cpnfesses asO that he knew they were
before that he would steal them lie was
| brought down on the $50 train on the Lehlgh
| Valley road taken before Alderman Stahler
aud committed IN default OF bail.
Whether thus story about ghls Butler Win
| his punches Of Keys for the Baltimore ana ONO
Railroad Is true or not, OF course, ID question,
| but the story Is of such a cnafacter as Would
hardly enter into themind OF such an ignorant
| fellow as he seems to be- unless there Is some
| basis whereon to rest the story, and we thlnk ~
| were wise TO investigate the matter little
closer. The officers oil that road no dOuot Know
| whether there are any keys missing with them,
| and also whether any cars have been opened
| and goods taken tnerefrOm, and Dy writing 70
| Them this could be ascertained. IL Is possible
that there Is a gang OF thieves operating III TINS
| wise, and may be young Bernhard Is new re-
cruiJ ami part OF his story about this conieuer.
| ate iG true. At least the case 10 OF snmcient
| Importance to merit the closest Investigation,
and We doubt not will receive II.