The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-01
PICKED HIM OFT BY CHANCE.
Strange Fate That Sent ex-Convict
harris to @ Cell.
Fror, the Nac York Star


From the Ne2c York Star.
A fortnight ago story was printed about
the arrest at police headquarters OF notori-
Gus PICK pocket who entered q house on
West Eleventh street and stole two gold
watches. The man was identified positively
by a servant girl and by the lady OF the
house.
He was indicted by the grand jury, on
the girls evidence, and is now in the Tombs
awaiting a trial which, it is safe to say,
will never come off for the simple reason
that the man indicted never committed the
| offense alleged, nor had anything to do with
it.
Samuel Harris began picking pockets in
London at the early age of years, and
continued his nefarlous trade, until,
| finally, at the of 49, being arrested for
tho theft of a gold watch, he was sen
| fenced TO five years imprisonment, and
afterward served seven years for a like Of
| tense.
When released he came to America, where
he was frequently arrested for picking
| pockets, being punished by five years i'm
prisonment at Kingston, Canada; four
years in New York, and five years at Iren-
ton, N j.
1t was upon being released from the latter
penal institution that on Aug. Z, he called
upon Inspector Byrnes, and told the detect
i've that he was getting to be an old man
died If could get O passage back to Eng
land, he thought that his brother. and
Aiends there would care for him, and he
asked for help to get there.
Inspector Byrnes has had good deal of
experience with roughs and criminals of
all classes, and while apparently deliberat-
ing over the proposition, he carefully
ha1 hn in ind md affQF
consideration decided to grant his request.
Come back here on Friday" he said,
land you shall have passage ticket"
Early on Friday morning Mrs Beaumont,
the landlady of boarding house at No.
122 West Eleventh street, called at police
headquarters and reported that during the
skyrocket reception of the greatest living
| vious night, thieves had entered her house
and stolen two gold watches.
She thought chat she could identify the
thief, as she had seen an ill-favored person
/ age lurking around her doorway during the
| evening, and her little maid servant had
| actually seen q strange man In the house.
| who had made an excuse to get out. Mrs.
Beaumont said that she felt especially bad
over the loss of the watches, as they be-
longed to particular friend, Mrs. Saul of
Washington, D. c., and were valued as
heir looms
When the portraits in the rogues' gallery
| were shown to to the visitors, Kate Norris
soy, the servant, after q close inspection,
picked out No. 067, the picture of Samuel
Harris. Inspector Byrnes was astounded.
He could not believe that he had made such
q mistaken his estimate of the mans char
acter.
81 will prove it," he said grimly to him
self.
Meanwhile Harris had arrived at police
headquarters and was awaiting bis turn to
see the chief. A group Of thirteen men
midst, and Kate Morrissey selected him
from among them all as the thief, and she
was corroborated by Mrs. Beaumont. l..
Harris was at once arrested and his indict-
ment by the grand jury followed on the
girls evidence.
Inspector Byrnes began little private
investigating on his own account. The
character of Mrs. Beaumont appeared to
be above suspicion, and the inquiry mar
rowed down to the girl. Kate Morrissey Isl
only 10 years old, and it was ascertained
| that she was somewhat given to convivial
| tiles late at night. Two of her associates
I came directly under the espionage of the
detectives.
The inspector arrested one and inter
viewed him at police headquarters. The
suspect after little persuasion admitted
that BIO had several times received articles
from Miss Morrissey to pawn. including
| two watches.
The watches were found in a pawnshop
where they had been left, and Mary Nor
rissey was brought to headquarters and con-
fronted with the evidence of her guilt.
She broke down, wept many bitter tears,
and was locked up. She said she picked
Harris picture out by mere chance. Poor
old Harris will probably now be allowed to
resume. his journey.to the land where he
| expects TO die