The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-02
BROUGHT TO BOOK.
An Alleged Hotel Thief Arrested.

Mr.. John'ss K. Martin, proprietor OF the City
Hotel, is quite a detec tive. Several times he
has brought criminals to grief and Thanks
giving he added another to the category. 1t
appears that on Tuesday last man registered
at his house. carrying pasteboard box of
large dimensions, such as milliners use in
sending home several bonnets at time. The
mans name was written on the register SO
illegibly it was impossible to decipher it. He
paid for his lodging in advance and asked per
mission to leave his box in the Office, which
was granted. Wednesday morning he took
his box and went away, returning Wed esday
night Again he hired room and paid in ad
vance, but this time he took his box to hi
room with him.
Early Thanksgiving morning the house.
Keeper saw the man is ue from his room and
locking the door after him, put the key in his
pocket. This last act aroused her suspicious as
II was not usual for night lodger to do so. AS
ne went down the stairs she opened the door of
the room with her pass-key and her eye dis
covered at once that the blankets were missing
She rushed down to the Office and told Mr..
Martin who Immediately started out of the
side door after the thief. but he had escaped.
Upon thinking the matter over Mr. Martin
concluded 1t was possible the man might have
tried the game at other hotels. Investigation
revealed the fact that the fellow appeared at
the International Hotel the last of last week
took a room and stole vest and pair of
trousers. Then he went to the American
House and stole a nice coat. Monday he put
up at the United States and gobbed pair OF
blankets. At each of these hotels the same
illegible scrawl appeared on the register.
Mr.. Martin was now convinced that the chap
intended to work all The hotels. He got officer
Hanson and they secured the town for the
man without success. Finally Mr.. Martin gave
Mr. Brigham, the night clerk at the Prebe, a
tracing of the mans signature, and descrip-
ton of his person, thinking he might try that
house next. Sure enough Thanksgiving night
about 10 O'Clock Brigham telephoned Mr..
Martin. Martin, with Officers Massure and
Sparrow, went right to No. AZ at the Preble
House. The door of the room was about six
inches aiar, and the light was out. Martin
and the officers went directly in and found the
fel' ow they were after, standing at the door.
without his shoes, evidently watching q
cnance to enter some Of the adjoining rooms
He was taken to the City Hall and recognized
by the housekeeper and another person,
and then carried to the station. He denied
everything. He is about IS years old, feet
incues tall, and has rather hang-dog ex-
preston. He gave several names, all probably
false-with north of Ireland brogue, among
then. those of Frank Mitchell, James Medgill
and James Marshall. Besides the blankets in
his room az the City Hotel he stole the blankets
from ano her room.
After his arrest a dispatch was received
from the marshal of Concord, N. H., to hold
fellow, if caught, answering this mans
description, who had been boarding house
beat in that city, stealing lot of jeaelry and
other valuables. He gave the names there of
Leonard and Wilson, and reward OIL $50 was
offered for his arrest. The clothes which Med
gill wears answer the description of those
stolen in Concord, and he had on his person
| when arrested two silver half dollars with the
| monograms "S' and sc" on them, a silver
| fruit knife marked "W. L. To- and vest
chain and watch which answer the description
| of those stolen. He had about $40 in money
| when arrested.