The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-12-22
SNEAK THIEVES.
Their Recent Operations in Canton-Four
Under Arrest.

Iheir Recent Operations i'm Canton-Four
Under Arrest.
An organized gang of sneak thieves
anu plckpOckets, probably driven out of
flttsburgh by the persistent fight being
made against that class, dropped into
canton last week to "wOrk" the city.
As recorded in the DEMOCRAT last week,
Mr. ID. l.. st. John, of MassillOn, had a
poeketboOk, containing 800 and other
Yaluables, picked from hrs pocket the
previous Wednesday, while boarding a
passenger train at the Pittsburgh, Ft.
Wayne & Chicago depot. The thieves
We're tracked to Akron, where one of the
Fellows, giving his name as William +.
Hart, was arrested in barber shop ON
Friday and brought to Canton Saturday
morning. pal of Hart's, who was in
a barber's at the time of Hart's arrest,
escaped through back door, leaving his
hat and coat behind. Hart plead
not guilty to grand larceny before Mayor
PierO Saturday afternoon and was COM
mitted to jail, in absence of bail, to
await hearing. Hart was identified by
Mr.. st. John; some sixty cents is all that
was found on his person.
Thursday evening between six and
seven O'Clock three suspicious looking
young men entered Keplinger's dry
goods store, no one but Mr.. Keplinger
being in at the time. One inquired
about the price of some silks, while a
second asked to see some tOweling
Meanwhile the third fellow slipped back
of the cashiers desk and taking SIT in
bills, departed, followed shortly after by
his two companions. AS soon as the
theft was discovered Mr.. Keplinger re-
ported it to Mayor PierO and the police
men were informed. About nine o'clock
in the evening Officer Schlagle Swallowed
party, whom he suspected of COM
plicity in the theft, to the target-hOuse,
at the intersection of the COnnOttOn and
Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne 81 Chicago rail
road. The fellow had just inquired of
the target man the time train would
leave for Chicago, when Schlagle col
Jared him. Upon searching him $37 in
bills were found wedged under his shirt,
just below the back of his neck; he gave
his name as Charley Smith, of Piqua,
Ohio. A second party, Angus Vending
of Massillon, was arrested during the
evening at Stout's saloon, with some So
in his possession. Smith and Vending
had hearing before Mayor PierO Mon
day afternoon. Charles Upham Esq,
appeared as attorney for Smith, and
Squire Bond for Vending; in the alb
sence of Solicitor Welty, T. G. Meyer
Esq, acted as prosecutor. The hearing
resulted in Smith being bound over to
Common Pleas Court for grand larceny,
and the dismissal of Vending. Smith
could not secure bail, and was Jailed.
Friday evening about $50 o'clock, a
young man stole a dOlman from in
front of Goldberg Bros. dry goods store.
The dOlman was buttOned around
wire frame, and while people were
passing by he cOOlly unbuttOned the
garment and folding it under his arm
walked off. Officer Schlagle mapped
him at the Elbin cerner and, after re-
turning the dOlman to the store, put the
fellow, who gave his name as John
Davis, in Jail. The dOlman was valued
at $25, and Saturday afternoon Davis
plead guilty to petty larceny and was
fined So and sentenced to twenty days
Imprisonment in Jail.