Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-06
A Fad Gang Brokeo Hin.

NEW YORK, February 5.-For more than
year the fire department and police have
been annoyed by false FIRE alarms. Two
months ago the matter was placed in the
hands OF Inspector Byrnes. Yesterday his
detectives succeeded in capturing nine young
men, whose confessions showed them 10 be
not only the perpetrators OF the false alarms
but burglars as we'll. The prisoners, with
the exception OF one, reside in this city.
Their nsmss are Wm. McCabs, VIM. ii .
Hug hes, NJ. A. O'Donnell, John Conlin, Ed
ward and Richard O'Keefe, Daniel Kenny,
Calvin Swift and Horatio s. Coasting, Of
Brooklyn, and their ages average from
seventeen to twenty eight McCabs is sn
expert lock maker, and fashioned keys 10 81
the doors of several stores where some con-
spirstors were employed. Many mysterious
robberies OF the past year have been ex-
planned by these confessions.
The young men we're an organized gang,
sending out 6re-slarms from all parts Of the
city. The detectives learned that McCabe,
who was the ringleader, has been trying 10
persuade the policemen to engage with him,
and obtain the reward offered for his arres g..
He promised to let the officer arrest the
man who he said was sending out the
alarms. McCabe served term ia the State
prison. Whenever false alarms were sent
out several of the gang would 60 together,
McCabe usually experimenting the expedi-
ton, and sending out tue alarm. Occasion
ally they would leave packages OF false keys
aud notes for the 6remen, acknowledg ipg
that it was done for sport. McCsbs said he
made all the keys himself, and there was no
lock he could not open. He began to send
out false alarms in 1877. Hughes said 10
September last he and Horatio Courtney,
his cousin, employed as q clerk in
the silk house of L. S. Wheelook, agreed
that a burglary should be committ,d on the
jewelry establishment OF J. w. Brooks, 10
the rear OF Wheelock's. Courtney obt aiued
tie keys, and McCsbe made duplicates. Over
S11 900 warih Of jewelry was stolen, and dis.
posed of - Philadelphia, Washington sni
Norfolk, va. The police found Courtney
tied to chair 10 the store, where he said
the burglars bound him, and the sorry was
believed. Another robbery was at the tailor
chop Of J. T. Lee, on Fourth avenue, where
Edward UKeefe was employed. About $500
worth OF clothing was stolen. Lee recently
removed TO Union Square, and, according to
OKeefe's statement, II was their intention 10
rob again shortly. Richard OKe, fe wac
employed by Bond & O'NeilI, tailors, Fiji b
avenue. Three times burglars have tried to
rob the place, but the telegraph wire pre-
vented. In McCsbe's trunk were found finely
made keys, which fitted every door in the
store, together with a plan OF the building
and dire ctions in cipher, which McCabe will
ingly explained TO Inspector Byrnes.
Horrible Double tragedy in a Court.
room.
ST.. LOUIS, February 5-Jehn c. Parker,
the murderer of Mike Payton, whose Gaze
was docketed for trial in the Criminal Court
o-day, shot his wife through the head about
noon in the Jury room OF the court, and af-
terward sent a bullet into his own brain.
Presley n. jones, attorney for Mary Craft,
the sister of Parker, and Deputy Sheriff
Walters, were in the room at the time. 1t ia
thought Mrs. Parker furnished the weapon
She was Instantly killed, aud at last &C.
counts Parker was dying.
The details Of the tragedy are az follows:
Johnnie Parker has been in Jail long time
charged with numbering man named Pey-
ton, in August, 1881. His c'se was set for
trial in the Criminal Court to-day, and Gov.
Charles P. johnson. his attorney, asked per-
mission to see him in the jury room j,il-
| ing the court-room. They went there, SC
companied by Parker's wife, his ester. Mrs.
Kraft, and Preston N. Jones, another lawyer,
and after short Inference Gov. johnson
left. A few moments later two shots were
| heard in the courtroom, and an Investiga
| tion showed that Parker had shot his wife
through the back OF the head, and lhsn
placed the pistol 10 his head and fred again
The woman died Immediately, and Parker
after lying unconscious about forty minutes
also expired. II has since transpired that
Mrs. Kraft gave the pistol 10 her brother to
defend himself, because che had heard thai
Peyton's brother had threatened TO kill him
on sight. Both bodies were taken to THE
morgue. Parker was molder by trade and
a hard case. He killed Psylon in a saloor
brawl. Tbe afIir created intense excite
ment In the courtroom and on the streets.
pJurAeraN w n