Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-01
CAUGHT AT LAST.
Arrest of the Fellow who has
heen Committing Series Of
BurgIaries in Augusta.
MURDER WILL OUT"

DaadprS
have chronicled from time to time &C.
UNITS of petty robberies about town. These
Lave been occurring for quite an interval.
Came four months ago John Cars hardware
store on the east side was broken into. A
.r weeks later, Titcomb's drug store was
hurcarzed. In the latter part of September
Charles H. Nason's clothing store was robbed.
.nd two weeks ago Saturday night P. O..
yckery's publishing house was entered and
large quantity of jewelry stolen. Many of
these thefts have not appeared in our columns
hitherto, but have been kept quiet by the
,,ljce. who have been making every effort to
discover the guilty parties. Slight clews
we're worked up, suspected persons watched
and Swallowed, and all the notorious "dives'
If thieves thoroughly searched. But nothing
came of their exertions; and it seemed as if.
A DARK NIGHTS WORK
Saturday night was pitchy dark. A rain
vas falling. 1t was just such an occasion
As bold thief would select for his sinister
ing Mr.. Timothy Harrington, who is en-
ployed by the American Express Company,
having attended to his duties on the arrival
Of the Pullman train from the West, was re-
turning to his home on the east side. As he
passed A. J. Reynolds store on Cony street
he saw CLEAN inside which looked like the
flicker of match. His suspicious were at
once aroused. He fastened to the police
station and notified officers Thorndike and
Tyler, who proceeded to the store. Mr. Tyler
went around to the rear of the shop. He
found pane of glass broken and one of the
windows open. Officer Thorndike stood at
the street door, and when Tyler signalled
that man was inside he burst open the door
by main strength and entered. He could
hear some one grope around, but could not
see the outline in the darkness, nor did he
know with how desperate character he was
dealing. Office. Thorndike is no coward.
He drew his revolver and cautiously moved
toward the burglar. When the latter learned
that he was cornered he made rush for the
street door, but was stopped by
The COLD MUzzLE OF REVOLVER
and commanded to surrender. This he did
without a struggle. He was then taken to
the lookup, and was found to be a young man
named Elmer Clark, about eighteen years of
age, who has been employed by Allen &
Small, machinists, for year past, and has
hitherto borne an excellent reputation.
City Marshal White was sent for. Upon his
arrival he made thorough search of the
clothing of the prisoner and found a couple
of lunches of lead pencils, two pocket-books,
variety of trifles, and a gold-plated watch
which was identified as coming from Wick
ery's. The fellow wore on his back a shirt
with Nason's mark stamped thereon, and had
a pair of sleeve buttons and a silk handker-
chief which came from the same furnishing
store.
RECOVERING THE BoOTY.
The officers next went to the house of John
H. Parsons on Sewall street where Clark
boarded, and aroused the occupants. Mr..
Parsons was thunderstruck when he learned
of the arrest He conducted the officers to
Clarks sleeping room, where they found an
overcoat-the property of Mr.. Nason-several
sets of sleeve buttons, collar buttons, etc.
They took these to the station. Upon being
confronted with the evidences of his guilt
You've CLARK CONFESSED EVERYTHING.
He made a clean breast of it, frankly
acknowledged his wrong-dong. and said that
Ill b.,b had stpla bn ri
He also informed the officers that he had
given his brother a watch, but that the greater
part of his plumber was at his boarding place
securely locked up in bureau in an I'M
occupied room. On going back to the house
the officers met Mr.. Parsons who was on his
way to the station to inform them that few
weeks ago young Clark had asked his wife
if she could let him have a place to put his
clothing and she had given him the keys to
an unused bureau. Here they found the
spoils of his depredations. There were some
twelve watches, about fifty or sixty chains,
and nearly quart of rings, in addition to
jacknives, clothing, etc. Apparently he had
made no attempt to dispose of any OF the
stolen goods.
That young Clark should have stolen the
property, and all at once blossomed out into
afull-fedged thief is a surprise to all who
knew him. He was generally regarded as a
quiet, studious boy, and the last one to be
suspected of such bold crimes AS midnight
pillage. Mr. Parsons and wife regarded him
as above suspicion. They thought nothing
Of his absence from their house, as it was his
frequent custom to stay all night at his faith
er's residence on the east side. From what
we learn of the young man, we are OF the
opinion that there is ''screw loose IN MS
organization somewheres. He was subject TO
hts Of profound detection, so much so as a'
times to unfit him for labor. We think that
he is more to be pitied than censured for TINS
outcropping of wickedness. The police force
are highly elated over his capture, as they
have a right to be. Hitherto their most
strenuous exertions have been fruitless, aho
they shouldered much unmerited blame De-
cause the perpetrators of the burglaries could