Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-10

II age and was accepted, Mr. Dennlson,
after iDquiring Of Thomas DennlsOn, raul
fyIng Miss Mollie's choice.
SERIES OF ROBBERIEs.
Brooks had been visiting throughout the
county with the Dennieons, who are we'll
to-d0 and Of good family ard had the
entree into the residences Of many wealthy
families. Under pretense Of desiring to
obtain information which would aid him
in planning "a house which he contem-
plated building in Laurel, Brooks in many
instances succeeded in obtaining permls-
sion TO inspect the houses he visited.
About Jan. the country people began 10
get excited over numerous TObbeTIes'
House after house was entered by burg
lars, who always seemed TO know Just
where TO put their hands on the plate and
other yaluables. The burglaries con-
tinued at the rate of two or three week
all through the spring, and latterly there
was talk Of organizing 2 vigilance COM
mittee. The county residents took the
pTecautiOn at last Of sending their valu-
ables to Baltimore and Washington for
sGte-keeDing. 1t is estimated that forty
| houses in all were robbed within radius
of ten miles of Laurel, the property az
gregating nearly $4,000.
In February John Dennison was taken
i'll and died on March l, the very day
which had been appointed for the mar
riage of his daughter MOllie and
Brooks. The latter promised the dying
man to cherish and protect his girl, and
the father then asked that they be mar
ried one month latter, and on April this
was done. Last Wednesday Brooks, who
had meanwhile purchased handsome
three-6tOry cottage at Laurel and FUR
nished it completely. asked his wife to 20
to Washington with him on business.
Arrived In the city. he left ner at Il friends
and said that he had 10 go to Baltimore.
he was absent from bis wife all night, re-
turning early In the morning to take her
back to Laurel. Last Saturday he read
to his wife in a Washington paper an ac-
count of the robbery of her Uncle Denni-
sons house, ut Giesenbcrry Point, on The
previous Wednesday. He said that he
felt sorry for Mr. DennsOn, but supposed
that 1t was visitation Of God on the old
gentleman, who never would keep up his
church duties properly.
THE YOUNG HUSBAND THE THIEF.
On Saturday Detective Edelin,, who had
been working up the Giesenberry creek
robbery, arrived here and astOunded the
village by aTresting Brooks. 1t seems
that Brooks real name IS Harrison, that
he is professional bIrglar, horse thief
and swindler, and is known as such to the
police of all the principal Eastern cities.
He was arrested last september, during
his absence from Laurel, for horse steal
ing, near Baltimore. While being con.
Yeyed handcutfed on a train to Upper
Marlboro prison he threw himself from
the car window while the train was going
forty miles an hour. He struck IN a
swamp and escaped uninjured. Nothing
further was heard from him until his ar
rest on SATURDAY.. The detective saw a
photograph of Brooks at GIesenberry
Point and recognized him at once.
The young girl whom Brooks married
is almost frantic. She says that on the
nights of nearly all the county robberies
her husband left the house, saying that he
was going to Baltimore on business by
the midnight train. Brooks has a wife in
RappahannOck, Va, according to the
police. While in this town he attended
church regularly and had been talked of
for superintendent of the Methodist Sun
day school. The standing of the Denni-
sons and their pitiful grief over the affair
proves cOnclusively that they knew moth
ing of Brooks character. Mrs. Brooks
will sue for q divorce.