Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-20
GONE WRONG.
A Wheeling Boy In the Pittsburgh
Jail.
Arrest Of "PunP Hays on the Charge Of
systematically Robb'ng the Jewely
Store Of His Uncle,
T. p. BsdilIion.

George Hays, or Punk" Hays, as he is
better known in Wheeling, has gotten hina-
self into tight box in Pittsburgh. Punk
was for some time in the dry goods estab-
li,hment Of Brues & Golfer, of this city,
and was discharged by them. He had, al
though quite young acquired fast habits,
and when thrown ont of employment
spent his time entirely with sporting men,
loupging about billiard rooms, by day, and
in gan bling houses atnIght. About agar
ago he left Wheeling and went to Pitts
burgh, entering the jewelry store OF his
uncle, =. P. Bedillion. His downfall, de-
lection and arrest are told in the following
from Saturdays Dispatch:
The Mayors detectives yesterday arrested
two well known sporting men, William
Walker and John Connolly, on a charge OF
having received stolen goods For some
weeks past Mr.. T. p. BedillioD, the Fifth
avenue ieweler. has been missing valuable
ieWelry. from his establishment, but could
fix upon no one as the guilty party. The
gentleman departed for New York on bust
ness. leaving one of his clerks. Mr.. West,
in charge of the store. During the absence
of his employer, it is alleged that Mr.. West
made the discovery that one of the clerks,
named George Hays, nephew OF the pro-
prietor, was
THE GUILTY PARTY.
This point was apparently settled con-
clusively by the disappearance OF the sus-
pected clerk last Saturday night. The de-
tectives were at once placed on his trail,
and yesterday morning officer Sam Bowden
returned from Columbus, O., with the
young man as his prisoner. He was at
once locked up to await hearing. In the
mean time watch had been kept on sew
eral suspected parties, and early yesterday
morning Walker was arrested at his home,
above the Methodist Book Concern, on
Smith6eld street.
later in the day it was learned that
Connolly was out in the East End, carriage
riding with an inmate of Duquesne way
bagnio named julie Frank. Officers were
stationed on all the leading thoroughfares,
and about o'clock Detectives Snyder and
King arrested Connolly and the woman in
a carriage al the corner of Fifth avenue and
High street, and conducted them to the
Mayors Office. Connolly was held and the
woman discharged.
Mr.. West, representing Mr.. Bedillion,
stated to the writer last night that it was
IMPOSSIBLE TO PIX THE VALUE
of jewelry stolen, as the amount, as we'll
as the kind of goods was not known. Mr..
Bedillion will return to the city to-day,
and an examination of the stock will be
made at once. Mr.. West stated that Hays
had always been looked upon as a steady,
reliable young man, and above suspicion.
He could give no cause for his downfall.
The goods stolen were disposed of ~ vari-
Gus parties around town, who pawned or
sold them, as the opportunity offered.
Later in the evening, near relative OF
young Hays was seen. He stated that the
whole affair had been a great surprise to
him. The young man, however, had been
growing somewhat reckless of late, and he
thought that fast life had been the cause
which led him into the present situation.
4. The articles stolen consist of solid gold
chains, watches, small diamond ornaments
and other valuable goods of like character.
The connection Of Connolly and Walker
with the case lies in the fact that guam
tity Of the stolen property is said to have
passed through their hands to the pawn
brokers. 1t is also said that Others are
implicated and will be arrested at once.
The accused is young man about 10
years of age, progressing in appearance
and respectfully connected.