The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-20
CAUGHT At LAST.
THE RBON HERO OF MANY MID
NIGHT BURGLARIES
Captured BY the Police and a Large
Quantity Of Stolen Goods
Recovered.

1t is an euterprising burglar indeed
who goes a burgling for any length OF
time in Memphis without being
caught. Not one has been able to get
entirely away with his booty since
Chief Davis has been at the head OF
the department Lately the city has
been sIngularly free from the depreda-
tions of thievts and no organized
gang has operated here for year or
more.
Two or three weeks ago reports be.
gan to be made at the Station House OF
small robberies, and the usual inspsc-
ton Of second haud and pawn shops
was made without result. Ia a little
while the reports began to pour in.
Every night new burglary was re
d )rted, and some careless cit zen re-
ported nearly every day a theft COM
mitted in the broad light OF the
sun. Houses were entered at all
hours, and suits OF clothes,
women's dresses, shoes, now and
then q wa ca or ring, and sometimes
little ready money, were carried away.
Blinds were cut, window fastenines
broken, lattice climbed, but there were
no evidences of the use OF skeleton
KEYS. Twice the thief was seen, oncs
by two ladies a one in house in Chel-
s "a, who awakened when the thief en-.
tered aud were forced to sit in the
middle Of the floor while he sacked
the hous9.
The detectives wers put on regular
night duty, and after awhile the tura-
KEYS were taken from the Statiol
House and put on watch, The SER
Qeants stationed themselves all night
in localities where the thief was ex'
pected to operate, but still he man
aged to evade tho embrace OF these
arms OF the law.
A few days since a couple oil young
men purchased some stuff from a ne.
gro and when he had departed found
it was marked. They notified the po-
lice and were able to give good de-
script on of him and OF a colored boy
who trolted a. his heels with bundle.
The description was given to all the
police and yesterday evening about 2
o'clock Capt. OHaver met with 4
streak of his usual luck. While riding
out Poplar street he noticed negro
man on the sidewalk whom it struck
him at once answered to the desCrip-
ton given OF. the ubiquitous thief. He
wore ring with irioy set on his lit
tie finger, and was accompanied by a
small boy. Capt. 0'Haver lost nc
time in putting them both under ar.
rest, tel ing the man he was wanted
as an escaped convict from Arkansas
He submitted, but when near the Sta
ton House halted and remarked thai
he believed the Captain was foolins
him. He made no attempt to run
however, and mau and boy were safely
landed at the Station House. IL,
gave his pame as Tom Lawrence apC
declined to talk. Capt. 0'Haver re
markedthat he would get all the in
formation he wanted from the boy
who was admonished by Lawrence
to keep his mouth shut. b
did not obey, however, an!
made a clean breast OF o.
he knew. He sad he had been hire
by the man to deliver goods where h.
sold them and indicated twel ty-fv
or thirty pisces 10 which he had take
clothirg and ether things. None ,
the les Nere made IN the city limit
all OF the goods btirg disposed Of t
persone living in the suburns, come
Them six or eight miles away. TIL
officers got wagon and gathered thei
up Yesterday. Two bolts of silk wei
found hid in Barnes's vineyard o
Wadran avenue, and big lot I
clothing at LawrenGe's room in ID
Eaton fats on st. Martin street. TT
articles recovered belor ged to w ]
Goodman, j. M. GalbIeath, W.
Msrriman, J. A. Warwick and hume
ous others.
Lawrence had on a pair Of ranti
looms which he said at fret he bougl
in Chicago. When the name of
local tailor on the buttons was show
him he weakened, and explained tht
he bought them iron white man
Memphis. The pantsloons were th
property OF Mr.. Goodman, and I'll
, shirt and ring he wore belonged to M
Norman. The boy sid that Lay
renca was on day and night, thJul
all Of The things found yesterday a
known TO have been stolen in the da
, time.
Lawrence is about 81 years oil
, black and repulsive. Until about fl,
years ago he lived in Memphis. I
A married and departed a few da
b. afterward, and his wife did not see
hear OF him again until about mon
t ego. The police think he has be-
1 serving IN a penitentisry somewhel
= but he says he has been in Florida.