Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-01-07
FESTIVE THIEF.
Some Things That Have Been
Kept Dark.
T. M. Jones Carries on a Series OF Sys
tematic Theft-The Plumber Sup
posed TO Amount to 81 900.

The details of the stalings of the checklist
thief that ever operated in this city and
which, although known TO a few, have been |
KEEP, from the public, were captured by re-
porter yesterday
The thiefs name is T. NJ. Jones, young
man about a years of age who came to this
city from Hamilton, Mo-, about FIVE months
ago. He had formerly lived in Springfield,
H., from which city he brought good re-
commentators. He obtained a position at
E.P. Hoyev & Co.'S store where he clerked
three months and until the suspension of
the firm, and where. from all accounts, he
carried on a systematic programme OF theft
of both money and goods amounting TO
about 81 900. as near as can be ascertsined,
but as matter of fact no estimate can be
made Soon after his arrival here a young
lady who knew him while working on farm
near Hamilton, Mo-, came here and has
since remained in the family Of a friend
Market street. At the young
lady's request We withhold her
nsme for several reasons. When Jones
learned that she was here and where she re-
sided he took board at the same house and
was paying attentions to the young LADY.
About two weeks before Christmas Jones
obtsined position with Lsrimer & StinsoE,
and here again be pursued his thieving pro-
4 fxr, hafnra Christ
mas, when Mr.. Lsrimer found that he had
been making numerous presents OF silk
hsnderchiefs and other ire goods. He WAS
then discharged, and when faced by Mr..
Larimer and some Of those TO whom he
gave the stolen goods. he acknowledged his
guilt. but Lsrimer, supposing he stole only
from him and perhaps to a small amount,
thought he had better await developments,
and it being then the day before Christmas
they were wonderfully busy in the store and
no attention was paid to Jones, who skipped
out east on the Fort Scott train on Christ
mas morning, buying ticket for Liverpool.
Mr.. Larimer got back about $50 worth of
his goods. Day before yesterday he tele-
grsphed his girl from Philadelphia that he
Was lust about TO take ship for Europe.
a reporter interviewed the girl yesterday
and obtained the toll owing story:
be was admitted to all parts Of the house
the same MS one ofthe family. The girl and
the people Of the house missed several arti-
cles while he WIS there but as they bad re-
ceived lots of company they did not suspect
this fellow. At one time Sl7 and at another
time SIS were taken from the girls purse,
and the lady of the house lost several small
amounts. One of the girls dresses disap-
peared, but still the thief was unsupported.
a number Of other things were also missed
and it was observed thst he had lots of
money all the time, aad he was making
presents on style of msgnifcence equaling
prince.
presenting lots of fine things to the girl and
again stealing from her, if her story is true.
He stole dress belonging to her and gave
it to another girl, and did like wise with sew
erai other articles, and all this seems to
have gone on undecided until Lsrimer
found him out, and then before his depart
ure he owned up 10 having stolen every
thing, and Yet, notwithstanding that this
girl, according to her own story. saw him
packing about $500 worth Of silks, etc, in a
box to take away with him,
and which he did take away, he
was allowed to go unmolested.
The girl also knew of his sending away
boxes OF silks etc, before, one Of which was
sent to Winnemickie, Nevada.
Below is a list of stuff the girl saw him
hav but she said be had lots more: Three
silk dress patterns worth about Sl5O per
yard, two heavy cashmere dress patterns o!
about the same value, another brown dress
pattern, three pairs of ladies' shoes, three
psirs for himself, ladies cloak worth abou,
SIS. ten yards of silk lace, several rolls o.
ribbon, four ladies' knit skirts, ladies hand
purse, q large lot of hsndkerchiafs
silk and linen besides lot he sent away
before, three wells, ten yards OF fine linen
and a linen dress pattern, dozen pair:
socks and lots of ladies hose, several suits OF
wooden under clothes, and goods for two
suits of clothes, four pairs ladies silk glove:
and several pairs of mems. S mt box away
before Christmas containing eighteen yard:
of silk, twelve yards of cashmere, two pair:
shoes, four silk handkerchiefs. He also had
sent stuff three times to the old country
This is positively the most surprising rob-
Der We ever heard of, and done so openly
and still the thief is allowed TO 90 without
any one saying word. The mos
remarkable thing about it is that this cir
can give complete mental invoice of the
whole batch. She sees him packing thi;
box the day before be skipped, and notwith'
standing that he stole her dress and gave il
to another girl, and stole her money, and
owned up to the whole business, he WAS al
lowed to go unmolested with his tine box Of
plumber. 1t is no wonder Hovey busted up
because with the money this fellow took be-
sides enough goods TO stock a store, it would
bust up large concern. It's aqueer story
TO JOIN THE ANGELS.
II