Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-17
A RABID
Two Weeks of Active Opera
tons in the Stealing Line.

respected by nearly all who knew
him, Thos. Baker has suddenly come
to grief, after a short and inglerious
campaign Of two weeks as a thief.
The first known of his rascality was
to suddenly jump into a springwagon
at the corner of Main and Madison
streets some two weeks ago and to
drive the team away. A reward was
offered at the time, and Mr.. Duke in
terested himself in the matter, hoping
to gain it. The missing team belonged
to a Mr.. Ryan, living some four miles
out Of the city.
The thief took a southerly course,
going toward fernando, and crossing
the river at Harklerodes landing, he
sold the wagon and harness to Mr.. H..
S. Harklerodes for thirty dollars, also
the horse to a darby for seventy-ive
dollars. Taking the steamer Silver
thorn for this city,he went to a gaming
house and lost his "swag" as a thief
calls it, so he started out for a new
lay.
A day or two later he wa seen 10
get into a phaeton with an animal at
tached, and drive away the team. TIE
turnout belonged to Mr.. Cole, on
Union street, between Main and Sec
ond. He drove down to the Anchor
line wharfboat, unhitched, and
left the .phaeton and horses
and took the road south
to Ensley's plantation. Here he and
horse boarded the steamer James
Lee and took passage for Friar's
Point. From there he rode up to
Trotter's, a little above Helena, on
the Mississippi shore, and sold the
animal to Mr.. Trotter, getting some
cash and taking a due bill for the
balance. Then he came back here
and yesterday while about to leave for
the country, and doubtless in some one
else's vehicle, he was pounced upon
by Sergeant Kuhnholtz, that officer
having the rascal pointed out by Mr..
Duke, who had been watching him all
the time.
Baker resided for a long time down
about Commerce, Mississippi, and has
been a butcher there and whereabouts.
He was always regarded as a fair citi-
zen, aad they say no .one suspected
him of being a thief. He was in the
stationhouse to-day and will undergo
examination on Monday.
The property has all been recovered.
Mr.. Cole found his pheton and har-
ness on the Anchor. wharf boat, and
Mr.. Cole and Mr.. Ryan came up to-
day with their animals from Harkle-
rodes and Trotter's. The spring
wagon also came at the same time.
A reward of 800 had been offered
for the capture of the thief and the
property, and those who have figured
so prominently in shadowing horse
thief Baker, will be paid for their
trouble. At the same time a first
scamp is under lock and key and
his campaign is ended for a period.
Two ugly looking derringers, loaded
to the muzzle, were found on the per-
son of the horse and wagon thief,
Thomas Baker, when he wal captured.
The rascal is evidently bad all over,
though he pretended that he was a
peddier, and in substantiation of the
statement exhibited a paper box
about two feet long by one foot wide
md one deep, which was filed with a
,onglOmoration of French harps, tooth
brushes, combs, scissors. brass jewelry,
ETC., thrown in promiscuously and
lacking that taste and convenient ar
rangement Characteristic of the Amer
ican peddler. 1t was plain that this
was a blind to conceal his true voca-
ion and aid him to perform his ope-
r%ations more effectually.