New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-01
TO PRISON IN TWELVE HOURS
oAprUREp. TRIED AND SENTENCED.
A POLICEMAN TURNS BURGLAR AND IL Phe"fihi
"RAILRoAtED" TO SING SING.

POLICEMAN TURNS BURGLAR AND IL rhe"riA'
"RAILRoArED" TO SING SING.
Policeman Charles Rickerd, Of the Oid-shp
squad. was caught in the act Of roobing store
ON his post early yesterday morning. overcome
nv shame at the discovery Of his guilt, he asked
TO be sent to prison as quickly ~ possioie' aii"
twelve bours later he was dressed in convict
suit at Sing Sing. Valuable articles had pecn
missed lately from the auction store OF heiuy q
McElhinny, No. SO Nassau-st The Things as
appeared at night yet the hrm could see no broken
locks or other traces OF burglary. Captan
Mclaughlin made an investigation, ana thougn'
the thefts were committed by some person VINO
had a nasskey to the store. The firm gave Cap
tain Mclaughlin Pass-key, and nc made prepare
tions for catching the thief. lie arranged some
toll Jananese screens against one wall, and hung
a curtain over them so AS to make hiding place
for Detectives Oates and Nugent
On Saturday night the two detectives watched
In the store and made discovery which con-
WINGED them that Rickcrd was the ropDcr,. pu9
they did not arrest HIM then IL was aeoioea
that Rickerd must be caught ia the ac' nv, ON
was on reserve duty at the Old-slp otaueh ya
Sunday evening and his next tour OF patrol M"o
from midnight until o'clock yesterday mornns.
Before he got to s post IN % snction store
Oates and Nugcnt were hiding In tue aucuon sy ;
About 2 a. m they heard some one puSSnans
against Che door which led TO the basepent gnncs
ha
heard footsteps in the basement, ana luugeu ir0h'
the sounds that only one man was tnere
STEPPING INTO TRAP. '''" ~.
Tho detectives had taken off their shoes, WIN
the idea OF going down the basement stars anu sur
prising the burglar at work. when ne dcnpef".eH
walked ND into the store. From their ndhs ph'oe
Tho detectives could recognize Rckerd lie lishtcd
the gas in the Office, and then began 10 MAKE an
examination of articles in some OF the cases. n
his
nm Then he selected half dozen slVer,Pissssca
Tablespoons half dozen teaspoons anu n n.' ~"
dozen silver-plated forks wIich nc ,ppnen Rckerd
cor, ready TO 90 lie went out by the oaselh.nC
Soor and the detectives followed him lew minus 81
later They saw him go down Inco aNb lin % He
a buiIding near Fultonst. and ran 10 hlm' Ic
as taken nv surprise and submitted TO arrest
without a struggle His booty was sun IN nlS
nossession When he taken to the pohcte s'a-
ton he admitted that he had stolen other tn naS
from the auction store, and the detectives louhu
them at his home, No. 12o Pearlst.. Dill.
Abont q a. m Captain Mclaughlin tooR' 1uck-
I'D bcforc Sunarntcndcnt Murray at Headquarters
The prisoner was handcuffcd to one OF tse Nc Ne
tectives What have you got 10 Say "i'
Murray inquired sterniy, entity and am willing
% 20 10 prison as soon as you can senu me
Mr. Murray took the culprt at ms p %Tro "1 ~
went downtown to help railroad HcReru ~; "
;n, c;nc in the quickest tine record. DISTRICT
Attorney Fellows agreed to have the case promptly
disposed Of He took SUPERINTENDENT Murr'y GU
ha
a an' ind;ctment was drawn up, and in short Ume
the Grand Jury had heard the tcstimohy ana
ordered an Indictment. The foreman n ndiotmant
Jurors went TO the court ana sns tbon taken
to the General Sessions building Inc ihhStlnen'
against him was for burglary IN the hrsc ucslr.,
burglary in the third degree ana gra nIarv in the
6rst degree might have been dinlcuC OF Prooii
tbrnoh some technical difficulties, ana hlcK Ht
was willing to plead to grand larceny ,dar Smxtb
a,d Tho nIea Of grand larceny was accepted Sn-
anp Sng Murray sat beside the Recorder while
sentence was S heN was S entered
THE RECORDER PASSES SENTENCE
Recorder Smyth said sternly:
regret to be compelled TO take ac.oh III ! -.
h.cause YOU policeman, one OF SooV IN " ~
In INV experience as Judge for the last esh' years "
- 10y ,,, ,o,,ts n, New York but three patromen have
h arrested and charged the bar OF this court win
tho commission OF criminal offence you nav o ~,
m the police about three ana one nan ye"i ~
have served in the army OF the United s'a'ss .'
,uch, dIsgraee upon an honorable calling disgrace
unon your uniform and disgrace upon inc ro"0o p
ment In addition TO that you were sworn omoei -
the law whose duty 1t was to pfo'ec. Ve p,ope" c.
lives n, citizens You wilfuly violated your duty ecs
, ,,os :, seems YOU entered the premises on which
you were discovered -, ...,,.. Am.
r. Is fortunate for you that owing to the peculiar con-
struction Of house which you entered you cnvV ~
punished for burglary in the first degree Accors.'
a .ncened your plea grand larceny In the nrst ue
gree Tho law does not punish you with aoequs'e 49,
,tv When public officer clothed with the males" VI
tho law undertakes to so outside Of his duty TO commit
crime shall II he is brought before me for puhshman%
visit on him all the severity which the law allows Inc
sentence of the is that you shall be mpS'heu III
the State prison at hard labor for the term Oh zen '
Rickerd made no movement until the Recorder
had finished his remarks, and then he turned ana
went TO the prison pen. lie was quickly . manu-
cuffed and was taken TO the lcmDs' anu She III. t
10 the Grand. Central Station, so that ne mgnt pc
in Sing Sing prison within twelve hours u lib
arrest.
an NOTING C0NIdGION.