The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-04
BOLD WORK.
A Store Robbed of $1,000 Worth Of
Watches.

Watches.
Yesterday afternoon at about half-past two
o'clock, while Mr.. Charles Day was alone ir
his store on Exchange street, a man called and
asked to see patent fsh-pole. Mr.. Day
stepped into the back shop to get the fsh-pole
and was followed by the pretended customer.
AS he did this he saw man enter the storeI
reading newspaper. While selecting the pole
he thinks that he watched the latter man all
the time. The other did not appear to be easily
suited with the fsh-poles and complained that
none of them were light enough. Mr.. Day
asked him for what purpose he wanted alghter
one. To this question he made no answer, but
turned and walked out of the store quite rapidly
| following the man with the newspaper very
closely. This act aroused the suspicion of Mr..
Day, and going quickly behind the counter, he
looked into the window to see if anything was
missing. CHANGING into the show case as he
returned, he found tray of gold watches had
been taken from the show case near the door.
The man whom he had been talking with was
seen to run through the alley between the
post-office and the savings bank.
Mr. Day left neighbor in charge of his
store and started in pursuit, but with no result.
With Marshal Bridges and several of the police
he visited the Boston depot and there thought
he had the thieves, but they turned out all
right and the suspicious carpet bag they carried
was empty.
Mr.. Day says that yesterday morning man
entered his store and asked to see a watch in
the window. He then asked to see one in the
show case, but did not buy. He was an Eng
lishman of slight build and dark NOUS
tache. After he left the store he was seen
standing in the door of Mrs. Marquis news
store for some time. Mr.. James Day, who left
the store just before the robbery, says that he
saw the man standing there and he followed
him down to Watts cigar store on the corner
and then watched him turn up Middle street.
In fifteen minutes after this the robbery was
committed. Mr.. Days theory is that this was
the third man connected with the robbery, and
that he followed the man who held the news
paper into the store, and while still another
was looking at fish-poles he slipped behind the
counter and secured the tray. 1t was very
bold trick, as the store doors were wide open.
Mr.. Day thinks that there were from 25 to 80
watches in the stolen tray. Several of them
were very valuable and the whole will average
about $40 each, making 10 the aggregate loss
of about $1,000. Several of the cases were
marked "Charles Day, Toledo, Ohio"
There is some clew to the robbery, and if
smart work is done they may yet be caught. A
few moments after half-past o'clock man
rushed into Sawyer's stable and asked to have
a team very quick. He said that he had been
up to Clays stable but they could not get one
quick enough for him. His excited manner
excited the suspicious of Mr.. Sawyer and he
refused to let him have team. He appeared
very angry OF the refusal and dashed out of the
stable with an oath. From here he went to
Browns stable on the same street and obtained
a team not stating where he wanted to 60. He
paid for the use Of it a short time and departed
in great haste He is described as an English
man with full face partly covered with a
sandy beard. His hair was short and be wore
a black hat and closely fitting walking jacket
He was about 35 years of age and weighed
about It's pounds. Mr.. Day Gays this is the
man who was looking at the fishing poles at
the time of the robbery. The team was absent
until nearly 8 o'clock, when small boy return
ed with it bringing note from the man who
hired it, The note was Greeted to Mr..
Browns stable back of the Post Office" and
was signed "Osgood." He regretted having
kept the team SO long and showed signs of re-
pentance by enclosing Sc. The boy says that
man who answers the exact description given
above turned it over to him in Buxton Centre
and paid him to drive into the city. Upon
getting this information Seth Sterling and
Officer Rice started for Buxton to follow the
track of the thieves.
About the time the man appeared at
Sawyer's stable slim fellow with black
q team for short ride. This team returned |
about the same hour as the other in charge of |
a man from Saco who said he had been hired |
to drive into the city. This thief didn't feel |
SO bad for having kept the team 80 long for he
only sent back three dollars. This is supposed
to be the man who was reading the newspaper
in the store for Mr.. Clay says be had news
paper crumpled up and damned into his
pocket when he came into the stable
Still another suspicious character
left town at about the time of the robbery
Mr.. Knight, the hackman, carried q passen.
ger to the Crank Trunk depot to take the
depot and as the train had left a fellow who
answers the description of the man who called
to see watches early in the day, rushed into the
depot and seeing the train had gone appeared
very much excited. Turning to Knight he
asked him if he could get him across the city
i q time to catch the Rochester train. The
driver said he would DO his best and putting
the man into the hack be drove his horses
under the whip to the Preble street depot just
as the train was about departing He paid
the driver and jumped aboard. Knight then
drove to the Boston depot and hearing of the
robbery told his story to the Marshal who
promptly telegraphed to different stations on
the Rochester road to look out for the man. It
is feared however that he did not continue
long on that train probably taking a team and
going across the country.
A man named Prince, who arrived from
Boston yesterday morning, says that he saw
two men on the boat who answer the descrip-
ton given of the men who obtained teams at
the stables he overheard them say to third
party that they were going through to st.
Johnsbury. 1t is the theory of the police that
the men drove in different directions to blind
the officers, and that they are to meet at some
point on the Ogdensburg and 60 through to
New Hampshire.
THE STATE FAIR.-The Trustees of the
State Agricultural Society closed their session
yesterday noon and not Thursday night as
stated in the Advertiser. Yesterday they con-
cluded the premium list and it is not much the
same as in 1876. About $4,000 in premiums
will be offered. The premium for trotting is
not yet decided on and the arrangement of
premiums is left with President Hamilton and
Trustee Garcelon.