Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-29

How an Exporter who Roomeo
Above a store Robbed It-Laylng
I'm Supplies for n Rainy Day.

For several weeks past different articles
have been missing from the ship ehsndlery
and grocery establishment Of Major John
Cunningham, on Bay street, between Aoer-
corn and Drayton streets, and it was impos-
sible to account for their disappearance. AS
the place is always securely locked at
night, and there were no indications
discovered showing that It had been en-
tered from the outside. an air OF mystery
enveloped the affair. 1t was therefore evil
dent that the frequent depredstions were
made by some one well acquainted with the
premises and who possibly had secret pass
age in the building, a Ia the palaces OF some
Of the feudal lords in ancient times, through
which he made his entrance into and exit
from the store with the booty he there Sc
cured. On Monday morning early the
porter on opening the store was sur
prised to find some articles
wing on the elevator, which he knew were
not there when the store was closed on Sat-
urday night. He at once notified Major
Cunningham Of the discovery, and Mr.. H.
a. Elkins, the chief clerk, determined to
remain on duty until a late hour Monday
night in the hope Of trapping the nocturnal
visitor, but he was unrewarded.
Yesterday morning suspicion was again
aroused by the appearance OF things about
the elevator, and Major Cunningham at once
decided on q thorough investigation. In
the third story Of the building, directly
above the store, was q room occupied by
Thomas Hamilton, who, until within about
six weeks, had been employed by Msjor
Cunningham as porter for over three years,
and who had borne a good character. Some
cause for dissatisfaction having arisen,
however, he was discharged, but continued
to occupy the room over the store.
About week ago he was
appointed on the police force
by the Mayor. The elevator extends from
the ground floor to the top of the building,
aud passes through the room occupied by
Policeman Hamilton. Hence, after the dis
coveries mentioned, suspicion was directed
against him. Inquiry was made at the bar
racks SIS to what hours he was off duty, and
it was learned that he came of on the last
relief, and possibly was in his room at the
time. Major Cunningham secured four
policemen aud commenced the search. One
OF the officers, accompanied by some OF the
clerks aud a negro, started upwards on
the elevator, and had nearly reached the
third floor, when their further progress was
suddenly checked, and an examination
! showed that q knot had been tied in the
rope above. The negro climbed up and
freed this, and up the elevator went. Mean
while two policemen had gone up through
the adjoining building out on the roof, aud
came down through the scuttle of Major
Cunningham's store. Here they discovered
| concealed beneath the roof and upper
| ceiling q grocery store on a small
scale, there being quite an assorted
| stock concealed therein. The party on the
elevator, upon reaching the third flor, on
which was the exporters room, discovered
-, IL @4ot,
were filed with boxes OF cigars, bottles OF
whisky, tobacco and other articles, the en-
terprising burglar apparently not having
| had time to remove them. All these articles
were at once transferred to the lower foor
TIE room Of Hamilton was then entered,
and be was found lying on the bed appa-
rently feigning sleep. He was arrested
and taken before Magistrate Molina,
who committed him to Jail on the
charge of burglary. A search warrant was
| issued by the same magistrate and the room
was thoroughly searched by Constable Eu-
dres. A ham, some sweet oil, cigars, wine,
and other articles were found.
From the developments 1t would seem
| that the elevator was used as q means of
| obtaining access to the store, and the arti-
| cles taken were readily transferred to the
| third floor, and but for the failure on the
| part OF the raider to remove the articles,
which were found there early Monday
morning bv the police, the systematic bur
glariz'n might have been continued.
We understand that the friends Of Hamil-
| ton were greatly astonished a. the announce
ment OF his arrest on such q serious charge,
as he had always been regarded as an indus
| trious, honest man. During his brief term
of service on the police force he had con-
Quoted himself well.
The exact amount of the goods stolen is
not sscertained, but as they have been dis
appearing for some time, It is thought the
loss will approximate several hundred dol
lars. The intention of Major Cunningham
is to vigorously prosecute the case.