Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-15

the Property RecOvered-A Comics.
sion of the Plan
Policeman E. j. Kelly has distinguished
himself by the display Of fine detective
skill in working up" to successful issue
a well planned robbery in a few hours. His
energy and determination and the excellent
management of the case entitle him to high
commentator, and prove him an efficient
and valuable member of the police force.
About half-past nine o'clock on Wednes-
day night, as he was patrolling Bryan
street, in the vicinity of Jefferson, he was
accosted by Mrs. Natalie G. Maggioni, who
keeps q confectionery store at 17S Bryan
street, who informed him that she had just
discovered that her house had been entered
by thieves, and a small box containing lot
of ieweIry, valued at $139, had been taken
from her room over the store. She had no
suspicion as to the thieves. but was conf
dent the robbery must have been committed
about eight o'clock, as she had been 10 her
room short time previous to that hour,
and the box was then there. The thieves,
therefore, had nearly two hours start, and
with no clue whatever, the prospect OF
capturing them was not very promising.
Policeman Kelly determined, however, to
undertake it. His hour of duty was up at
II O'Clock, but instead Of turning In" he
decided upon an Investigation OF the case.
A few doors below Mrs. Maggionfs
store is a barroom, kept by colored man
named Brown, and from the shed at the rear
of the saloon entrance can easily be effected
over the roofs of the adjoining houses
to the upper room Of the store, the window
of which was open last night. 10 this sa-
loon a mulatto boy, aged fifteen years, by
the name of Sidney Clarke, who, it seems,
is called by the negroes with whom he asso-
ciates "The Kid" had been en-
ployed, but was discharged some
three weeks ago. The robbery, 1t
appears, wasentirely planned by ''The Kid"
who used as his confederates two negro
men. This was, however, not known at
the time Policeman Kelly commenced
his Investigations, and at first he did not
suspect Sidney of completely. After max
ing various inquiries in quiet way he was
satisfied that he might gain some informa-
ton at least from Sidney Clarke and Charley
Bird, and started in search OF them. These
interesting youths were encountered on
Bryan street, near Farm, shortly after eleven
o'clock, by Policeman Kelly, while they
were on their way to dance at the house
of Jane Tarlton, in Cooper Shop lane. He
az OuCt dITcbbCu hnChl AA0 ASA- "
the barracks, when some of the missing
ieWelry was found on Clarke's person.
There was nothing, however, to justify the
detention of Bird, and Sidney, alias 1.-The
Kid" stated emphatically that he
had nothing to do with the
robbery. Information was obtained in re-
gard to the other confederates, however,
and in an hour afterwards Policeman Kelly
had arrested Milton Gilbert, who, it seems,
had also gone to the dance, and found some
of the jewelry in his possession. Gilbert
was taken to the barracks. subsequently
Policeman Kelly took Gilbert with him on a
tramp after the third party, whose name
was ascertained to be James Wright. This
individual was found stretched across bed
in a house In Cooper Shop lane, With
his clothes on, about half past one
o'clock. When arrested he promptly gave
up to Policeman Kelly a gold watch and
several articles of jewelrY, and was con-
veyed to the barracks. Yesterday morning
Mrs. Maggioni appeared before Magistrate
Molina, and had a warrant issued against
the three, charging them with larceny from
the house of goods valued at over one
hundred dollars.
The following is a list OF the articles re-
covered: Two gold watches, two gold brace
lets, five studs, a gold chain and locket,
cuff buttons, gold chain, breast pins, and
child's pin, with ''baby'' inscribed on it,
five foreign coins, Mexican dollars and half
dollars.
As the articles were found in the posses
sion of the parties, the evidence against
them is convincing. Gilbert states, how
ever, that he did not enter the house, nor have
active participation In the theft. He says
that In the early part of the evening, the
Kid. :" that is, Sidney Clarke, came to him
In Yamacraw and stated that he knew
where there was box OF money, and that
he was broke and wanted to raise
stake" and desired Gilbert and " right TO
join him in the enterprise. They did not
encourage the idea, however, but at the
same time acknowledged they invited "The
Kid" to explain his plans, which that
versatile genius did as follows: They pro
ceeded to Browns saloon, when 1.-THE Kid"
pointed out Mrs. Maggioni's house,
and stated that he and
Wright would get on the
back shed of the saloon, and from there
enter the rear window of Mrs. MaggiOni's
sleeping apartment and secure the box,
containing, as they thought, money. Gil
bert, in the meantime, was to 90 into the
store aud endeavOr to engage the attention
of Mrs Maggioni under pretense of buying
something. Gilbert stated he had no money,
when Wright furnished half dollar for
that purpose. Gilbert says he did not in
tend to go into the store, and thought he
tie gambling game, and If he lost he would
"skin" the other fellows out of the money,
but if he won he would act square and d.
vide with them. This lsudable intention
was not made known to the others, how
ever, and they starttd on the exploration OF
the adjoining premises. Wright says
that he was afraid to 90 into the saloon, as
Brown might have suspected something, but
suggested that ''The Kid" could make the
trip without trouble. as he had been employed
10 the place. 1.-THE Kid" removed his hat and
shoes, aud, creeping upon the shed, got In
through the open window into Mrs. Mag
gioni's room, secured the box, and, return
log to his confederates, the three started to
Yamacraw. "The Kid" carried the box,
aud asserted that it contained money, as the
Jingle of the coins indicated. The trio pro-
ceeded TO the wharf foot of West Broad
street, where the box was opened, and, to
their disgust, was found to be filled
with iewelry, watches, etc, which
articles are difficult to dispose
Of, and frequently lead to detection.
They, however, concluded to make the best
of the matter, and, after placing some arti-
Giles with several coins, supposed TO be Of
no value, in the box, and wrapping one Of
the light gold chaius around 1t, with rock,
Gilbert dropped It In the water near the
wharf's edge. The other articles were then
divided, and the parties separated.
This statement of Gilbert was in the main
cOrroborated by Wright, but "The Kid" as
serted that they had as much to do with it
as he had that Gilbert had gone into the store
on the pretence of buying something, aud
that Wright had gone with him on the shed
when be entered the room. He stated that
Brown, the keeper of the saloon, knew
nothing about the affair, and was in 70 wise
concerned in their plane. Brown Gays that
the parties did not go through his saloon,
but reached the rear shed by passing
through the lane.
"The Kid" as stated, is, according to his
own account, fifteen years Of age, and had
lived in Macon until few months since,
being in the employ of Mr.. j. j. Clay. He
can read and write, and is rather bright
boy. He ran away from Macon, he says,
because Mr.. Clay had threatened to punish
him for neglecting his work. but at the time
he disappeared the sum of $500 was taken
from the establishment, and Sidney was
charged with the theft. He was arrested
for some minor offense here, when this
discovery was made, and Lieutenant
Howard telegraphed to Macon about
It, but Mr.. Clay in the meanwhile had gone
to Texas, and there was no ground for hold
ing him further after he had expiated his
slight offense here. He acknowledges to
having planned the robbery of Mrs. Maggi-
oni's house, but asserts he found willing
confederates 10 Gilbert and Wright, neither
of whom, it seems, have any legitimate
labor, and can be clsssed as Migrants. The
parties were unable to give bond snd were
committed to jail by Magistrate Molina, to
await the action of the grand jury of the
Superior Court.
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