Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-31
TRAPPED an LasT.
skIlIful working Up of a Robbery
A Trusted Servant Found TO be the
Thief-ReeOVery Of Some OF the
Properly.


On the 26th Of December last, the resi-
dence of Mr.. Robert Coakley, southwest
corner of South Broad and Montgomery
streets, was robbed Of tin box containing
over three hundred dollars in currency, q
double case gold watch, pair OF gold
trimmed spectacles and some papers of value.
The circumstances were such as to induce
the impression that the robbery
was perpetrated by one Of the servants in
the house. The following morning, Sergeant
H. H. Harvey of the police force was noti-
fed of the robbery and OF the suspicious
entertained regarding the servants. Sergeant
Harvey quietly proceeded to investigate the
matter, and after closely interrogating the
servants employed in the house at the time,
he came to the conclusion that they were
innocent of the charge. During his investi-
cation, however, he learned that cOlored
woman named Jane Waring, formerly an
old and trusted servant in the family, had
been to the house on the night OF the rob-
berry, and from certain little incidents that
ne aseertained he was impressed with
the conviction that Jane was the
thief, and 80 stated to the family. Jane had
been so well thought Of and was believed to
be such q good woman, that Mr.. Coakley
was reluctant to believe her guilty of the Of
Tense, as she had always been treated with
great kindness and indulgence, and as an
old servant had been In the habit of coming
to the house frequently, and had many
privileges that none Of the other servants
enjoyed.
Sergeant Harvey, however, was confident
that his suspicious were well founded, and
determined upon ''still hunt" as It were,
In the firm belief that he would be success
full in working up the case. After the night
of the robbery, Jane had not been seen, and
her whereabouts being unknown, the officer
had some difficulty in discovering her. He
finally got on her trail and a few
DAYS since found her in a house
in lane at the rear of the church on
Bryan street, near West Broad. AS he was
DESTROYS to avoid arousiDg the appreheu-
sions of the suspected party, he had to
prosecute his Investigations very quietly,
and not to take any summary measures un-
til the trap was 80 set that the bird could
not escape. After closely watching, he
came to the conclusion that the time had
come to spring the trap, and on the morn
ing of the 9th inst, he entered the premises
on some pretense, and found present Jane
Warning, a colored man named Richard Jones,
a nephew OF Jane, her daughter and two
children. The interesting family were evil
IDENTIFY living in clover, SO to speak, and
this served to strengthen the shreWd Ser
geant in his suspicious. He at once ar
rested Jones, and required Jane to follow
him to the barracks, where they were
locked up. He then proceeded to Justice
Molina's Office and had q search warrant
issued, Mr. Coakley having been induced to
file the affidavit and Constable Endres
on Friday took charge Of the house to await
the return of Sergeant Harvey, who had
some other duties to perform. On his ar
rival, shortly after the warrant was Issued, a
thorough search of the house was instituted
and resulted In the discovery of $l05 tied up
In handkerchief, which was concealed be-.
tween two mattresses on the bed. A large lot
of new wearing apparel was also found.
The search occupied about four hours and
q half and was most thorough. Betsy
Dodge and Ned Coleman, colored, who
were living In the house were also arrested
and will be held as witnesses. Having
secured this portion of the stolen property
Sergeant Harvey confronted Jane Waripg
with the evidence of her guilt, when that
interesting female at once succumbed and
made full confession.
She stated that on the night of the 18th
of December she had gone to Mr.. Coskley's
house to see her "old Missus," but the lady
being engaged she was left alone for awhile
In a room. She knew where there was tin
box containing valuables in the room, and
while waiting for the appearance of Mrs.
Coakley, the "devil tempted" her to take it.
The opportunity being favorable, she seized
the box, concealed it under her apron aud
precipitately fed without seeing her ''old
Missus.n On reaching her house
she broke open the box, and found the
money and the articles mentioned. The
latter she was fearful might lead to her de-
lection, and hiding the money, she took the
box, watch and other articles to
the canal bank and dropped
them In the water. She informed Sergeant
Harvey where she had thrown the articles,
and yesterday he proceeded to the canal,
and had negro to rake for them. Within enc
yard of the point Jane said she had thrown
them in, the box was found, but none Of
the other articles, and it is not believed she
threw them in the canal, as the
watch was a valued one. Jane was
also searched, and concealed in the leg
of one of the stockings she had on were
found six dollars In silver.
Nearly one hundred and ninety dollars of
the money that was In the box had been ex-
pended. The woman acknowledged to hav
ing paid out thirteen dollars for rent, four
dollars for q carriage, Eve dollars for a sew
ing machine and two dollars for locket.
She had also purchased several hats, dresse s,
a sack and cloak, oil cloth, underwear and
other articles, some Of which had not been
worn, and which were recovered. The
family had been living high, and were haY
Ing a good time when, through the shrewd-
ness, sagacity and untiring. work of Sergeant
Harvey, who deserves great credit for
his skill and energy, they were trapped.
Yesterday morning Justice Molina issued
a warrant against Jane Warning for larceny
from the house and she was committed to
JAIL In short while Jane will
have a trial before the Superior Court,
when Under the conclusive evidence
obtained and her own confession, she will
be given passport.to theu country, where
she may not be so much exposed to the
temptations of the devil, or If she is will
not have the opportunity of victimizIng
those who trusted her aud who were 10th to
believe her capable Of the base ingratitude
Of Tobbing them.
This is not the first instance in which
Sergeant Harvey has distinguished himself
as a shrewd detective and efficient officer,
and his admirable "working up" of this
robbery ard recovery Of considerable por-
ton of the stolen property does him infinite
credit.
Masonic Fair.
The proposed Masonic bazaar and fair in