New-York tribune., 1878-11-12
EXCITING SCENE AT THE FAIR.
THIEVES IN THE NEW CATHEDRAL.

IVES" ALLEN DEFENDS HIMSELF WITH BABY
AND PISTOL.
Despite the vigilance on the part OF the
twelve policemen detailed for duty the great fair in
ST. Patrick's Cathedral. pickpOckets and sneak
thieves have succeeded in making their way into the
building and have nightly turned to advantage the
crowd and the hustle. On the first night OF the fair
costly gold watch disappeared from the table of the
Church Of the TRANSPORTATION, on the second q
| gold watch was taken from the st. COLUMBIA
table, and on the next night silyer-mounted
stolen the table Of the Church OF the
Nativity Poc&tbooks frequently stolen. and OF
complaints of those who had thus been robbed
became 80 frequent that five detectives were de-
tailed by Captain Kealey with orders to eject all
suspicious characters found loitring about
Detective Ferris one Of the officers thus assigned saw,
last night the notorious Wes" Allen going from table
TO table with another man whom he recognized as
thief named william Howard. The two were evidently
Watching their chances Unseen by them, Ferris fol-
lowed close upon their heels. Before the table Of Sta
COLUMBIA Church they stopped. and the officer heard
Wes." saying under his breath to his companion,
There Is not grain in the building" Yes" was the
answer, here's o gold watch on this table," The
thieves crowded closer to the table, but
cut off by thrOng OF ladies passing be-
tween At that moment Ferris, who had kept
by Aliens side secure observation by the fact that
the thief wore patch over his eye on that side upon
which the detective took good care to keep saw him
josile of the ladies and try to steal her watch
With q quick nod 10 Detective Mccormick, who
was near at hand, he seized Allen who
turned aud seeing the officer, hurriedly
around the table toward bench. upon which sat Mrs.
| Allen with baby in her arms. aud her sister. He
took the baby from his wlfe's lap and ran
toward the aisle pursued by Ferris. Seeing
! that no could not escape he rushed up to
officer Kennedy, who at the door, uniformed,
and claimed his protection The officer, recognizing the
detective seized Allen and dragged him toward the en-
trance the thief struggled desperately aud crying
Let me get al the ~" sought his pistol POCKET
with one hand while with The other he retained his
grp on the child barrier against the assault OF
Detective Ferris. The crowd was so great, FORUM
was taking place The frightened cries OF the two
and The st1lggLg mau, created amOmentary cOnfusOu
aud clergyman the officers to desst think
ing merry personal difficulty BY the united efforts
of the policemen ives" was at length dragged outside
the building and made submit. Detective Mccormick
Ind meanwhile arrested the other thief, and both were
taken on Fourth Avenue car 10 the Central Ohce and
locked up. ,.
The whole affair soon, that the excitement
which the officers feared avoided. When searching
Allen the police found no pistol upon hun
oh his way TO Police Headquarters, whittier
ne was followed by his wife aud slster-in-
law he told the officers tnat though he was not now
"croOked" he could " get away with" any amount OF
yauabes at the Cathedral FAIR yves" is the worst
OF the family OF criminals OF which THE"
Allen, now held in bail for trial for shoot
ing Detective MallOy, Is the most notorious.
He has served several terms in the state Prison, and
now has an excellent chance OF returning thther. He
will be examined IN the T0mbs to-day.