Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-05-29
A ROBBERS CAVE FOUND
a HARDENED CROOK CAPTURED
The Pi0nder OF Many Recent Borglariss
Obtained The Losers ioentif,
Their Property.

Ca Wednesday night q man giving has
maine a. John Williams Was arrested by &
patrolmAn for being drunk. aud was lodged
ia headquarters. Yesterday morning Prank
Prescott and wife. who reside ia the Martin
block on West Bridge street, went 10 police
headquarters and recognized Williams
the man Who stole clothes WTlngef from
them, while he was engaged with Frank
Graham Ia carrying load of wood az stairs
on Wednesday. Graham Was discharged
from custody yesterday morning, and
Williams, the drunk. Wa held on suspicion.
Later in the day ID. c. Dupee, who resides
al rs Mount Vernon street, reported that on
Tuesday last he closed his residence while he
should 70 out 10 has farm 10 work. fester-
day he returned and found the house had
been entered by thieves and a wagon load OF
clothing, provisions, etc, had been taken
away. The thieves had gained access 10 the
house through ii cellar window and made
their exit through a door, taking the key
with them. Dupee Went 10 second hand
store and readily recognized two suits of
clothes as part OF the property stolen. The
Keeper of the store acknowled the goods
were purchased of a stranger, and upon go
ing 10 headquarters readily recognized
Williams has been travelling under various
aliases, and claims 10 hail from Grand
Haven. DE II an innocent and Ignorant
looking chap, but Is we'll versed IN the ver-
nacular of professional thieves and burglars.
lie was arrested on suspicion of stealing the
goods from Dupee.
Last evening another lot of Williams :
plumber was captured by the police depart
ment, and the clues leading 10 its recovery
are interesting. When Williams was con
victed of being drunk IN Police Court he
said he could furnish money 10 pay fine and
costs If an officer could be seat with him TO
the West Side. Officer Platte, who has a
| keen appreciation OF his sixty five cent fee.
was sent with Williams. They went 10 the
second hand store and Junk shop Of ". >.
| King, al 40. Scrlbner street where, after
| some private consultation. W illIams Oh
| tanned money enough 10 pay his fine.
/ Upon the return Of the two TO headquarters
| they found that MIR. Dupee had Just called TO
/ report his loss a. above stated. Mr.. Platte
had reason 10 suspect all was not right be-
tween Williams and King, and the police
/ patrol bearing Officer Platte and Detective
| Cast was driven to Kings establishment.
| where a large amount of goods was found
answering the description of the property
missed by Dupee. This the officers placed
| in the patrol wagon, Mr.. Platte was left 10
watch the store and Detective Cast returned
for a search warrant. With this document
/ IN his possession he returned 10 Kings and
unearthed another wagOn-lOad of plnnder.
| When the goods were placed with the former
lots secured. police headquarters looked
| like one of Cheap Johns whole
sale and retail establishments. Ia
the lot were found the carpenters tools,
/ which Contractor DOran reported last Mon
/ day a. having been stolen from woodshed
in the rear of l27 Mount Vernon street.
There was one saw belonging 10 L. i. Klom-
| pains, three saws, a spirit level and a jacket
belonging 10 ID. j. hompains n tool box and
fifteen tools belonging To Ed Norman, two
saws belonging 10 >. Hutchinson. and all
| immaginable kinds of goods belonging TO ID.
| c. Dupree. The latter gentleman identified
clothing, bedding, robes, hams, boots. hats,
! trinkets, etc, etc. King, the second hand
man, went TO headquarters last evening and
| recognized Williams as the man who sold
| him the goods. The goods were worth about
500 and the junk shop sharp had secured the
| lot for less than $50. Thus the clouds sur
rounding several recent burglaries clear
away. The find and capture are lucky ones
and reflect credit upon the detectives and the
! police force.