Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-10-28
THIEVES ABROAD.
GENTLEMEN OF PREHENSILE HOOKS
INVESTING THIS SECTION.
Four Burglaries Last Night, and Only
HALEY Heard From--The Cracking Of
James 8. Rainey's Safe-The Thief
Compelled to Disgorge all but 1900.

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James 3. Rainey's Safe-The Thief
Compelled to Disgorge all but 1900.
The country appears to be infested
by thieves, and there is general in
clination on the part of the people to
take public action in summarily rid
ding this section of the presence of
suspicious characters. There have
been several hundred men brought to
Alturas county from Colorado, Omaha
and other points, to work upon the
railroad grade, who were furnished
transportation free to the country on
condition that they work, but on ar
irving large number of them desert
ed and drifted into the Wood River
towns. Not being miners they do
not secure employment, and are re-
sorting to thieving for a living. U.s.
ually, every new country has its full
quota of such characters without re-
cruiting from other sections, but with
us the case is different, and we are
compelled to receive an extra num-
Der.
Several cases Of petty and grand
larceny in town have been noted the
past two weeks, and last night no less
than four burglaries were committed
Smiths saloon, on Main street, known
as the Collar-and- Elbow, was burg
larized, and all the cash in the drawer,
asilv watch and SIS meerschaum
pipe, were stolen. The cash drawer
was broken to pieces in prying it open.
Ralph Johnson and Lewis Woodward
were arrested on suspicion of having
committed the robbery, and are held
in Jail upon circumstantial evidence,
awaiting hearing before Justice Par
sons. These parties, it is asserted, are
also responsible for another burglary
cammitted last night at the lodging
house kept by Mrs. w. T. Anderson,
where Mr.. McElhaney has a room.
His room was entered, and $4OO in
currency taken from his clothes. This
burglary must have been committed
at an early hour, as shortly after mid
night Mrs. Anderson, hearing some
one in Mr.. McElhaney's room, asked:
Ills that you, Mac?" On hearing the
strange voice that replied to her ques-
ton, Mrs. Anderson recognized a
ledger who had secured room for
the night, and said: "Your room is
right across the hall. l left candle
in it." The intruder thereupon retir-
ed. This morning he had disappear
ed, and SO had Mr.. McElhaney's mon
ey, while raised window sash EXPLAIN
ed the way in which the thief got in.
Three different rooms were en-
tered few nights ago, at the Grand
Central Hotel. The burglars Sc
cured watch from one, gold sleeve
buttons from another, and a vest
from the third. Mr.. Ward, who
lost his watch, thinks with Mr.. Gil.
lespie that he can identify the robber,
who is most likely the same party
who, a month ago, robbed the steward
of the hotel of 1875, which he got
from his room.
At about three o'clock this morn
ing, several guests at the Grand Cen
trail Hotel state that they were awak-
ened by parties trying to open the
doors to their rooms, but the burglars
only succeeded in effecting an en-
trance to one of them, occupied by
James Gillespie, of Vienna, and stole
from his clothes at his bedside, while
he was asleep, IS in silver and watch
and chain worth S35. 1t is stated
that the parties suspected are the
same who were last winter arrested
in Boise and here, on similar charges,
and Notified to leave town. At the
time of the burglary, ex United
States Senator and Mrs. Caldwell,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Strahorn were
sleeping in adjoining rooms.
b. F. Butler brought trunk down
from Bullion, last Thursday, and left
it on the sidewalk in front of the Post
Office. 1t was large-sized, zinc
lined trunk, and the owner was ex-
pected to call for it. At half past 8
o'clock next morning, Frank Oliver,
nirht va lehman saw man r,,nn;nr