Daily Republican., 1879-12-09
THE KENNET BURGLARY.

|
How Wilmington Parties are MIX.
J ed uD I'm 1t "A PhiIadeiphfs
Record Reporter Figuring a. .
Detective.
Yesterday we gave an account Of the ar r
rest of William Robinson, alias Gopher
BILL" one of the parties concerned in
the Bailey burglary near Kennel
Square little over a month ago, but
the following account of the arrest is
from the Philadelphia "Record" which
has more detailed account of the
affair:
After the robbery the burglars sepa-
rated and went IF in different dirsc-
tions, but all came together a. later
time in the day in the house of a we'll
known thief and saloon keeper in Will
mington, Del. During their escape
from the Bailey mansion one of the bur
glars was seen by boy, who noted the
man accurately. Indeed, SO we'll did
the boy take the appearance of the
thief that when a description Of him
was telegraphed to this city it was at
once set down that the notroiious Will
liam Robinson, batter known as~ 'Goph-
or Bill" was the person referredto to. A
f.w days after the robbery a "Re-
cord" reporter was standing within q
''one throw of Police Headquarters, At
Fifth and Chestnut, oonversing with
gentleman whose official position brings
him into contact with the criminal
classes. They were discussing the
Bailey robbery, when much to their
surprise up walked "Gopher Bill"
"Hallo, Bill they want you down
in the country" said the gentleman TO
Robinson.
"What for 2" asked Bill
"For that little job you did down
there" replied the official. "You were
in Wilmington lately. Now, you need
not say no, because you were.''
"Well, l was," replied "Gopher
BILL" but it was before that thing hap
pened you spoke about"
"Then you know something Of it,"
said the gentleman, laughing, as Rob-
iuson walked off down the street.
The reporter kept his eye on Robin
son, and soon afterward found the
"Gopher" in a new suit of clothes.
Then he found that Robinson was in
habit Of taking his meals at the Rush
House, on Arch street above Eighth,
and that he was living off the fat of the
land. This only strengthened the sus-
picion in the newspaper mans mind
that Robinson was the Bailey burglar,
more especially when the reporter
learned that two weeks before the rob-
berry "Gopher Bill" had been an in
mate of the Blockley Aims House.
With the information he had CLEANED
the "Record" man went to police head
quarters and laid the facts before Chief
of Detectives Tryon, who laughed at the
reporter for his trouble. Mr., Tryon
said he had nothing to do with the case,
and that no information had" been re-
ceived about it from the people who
we're robbed.
The Baileys' however had placed the
affair in the hands Of a smart private
detective named Spittall, who came to
this city last week. He at once sin
gled out Robinson as the man and ar
rested him.
After leaving Wilmington on the
day of the robbery, three of the bur-
glars proceeded to Baltimore while
"Gopher Bill" came to Philadelphia.
On Saturday two of the men who par
ticipated in the crime were in that city,
and their arrest was momsntarily ex-
pected.
There is reward of $703 to $1,000
for the captivity of the Bailey burglars,
which the Philadelphia detectives let
slip through their fingers.