Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-12


with emotion II hope heaven will pros
per you in this work II tho thieves are
not captured soon shall be ruined in
body and soul for even my old father in
Germany thinks am the thief
Cheer mp said Denis, encouragingly;
well bag the game. and then YOU can
take a months vacation to receive the
apologies Of your suspicious friends "
VI
II this were romance instead of a
story based on facts. it would be easy to
associate Mr. Simmons name with some
wonderful experiences during his search
for the lace robbers
Real detective work. however, rarely
Possesses romantic features Success in
this ariuons calling is attained as much
by patient plodding MS by keen appreci.
alton OF the habits and methods OK Grim
inals and shrewd knowledge of the
world Sometimes the most important
revelations arr the result of sheer accident
As straw5 show the drift of a current so
do trivial incidents often guide detective
skill to the accomplishment of great and
important ends
When Denis pledged himself to bag
the game he had not the slightest clew
to work upon Like several of his con
freres he believed tho robberies were com
mitted by New York experts. but he was
as much puzzled as they were when it
was proved beyond persdventure that no
metropolitan thieves of prominence, men
who were skilled at this class Of work.
had been in town for months
Consequently. Denis had to got blind
for time. trusting to Providence to
furnish him a clcw And Providence
didn't shirk this grave duty.
Two or three days after his CONVERSE
ton with Mr. Mendelsehn the detective
was detailed on petty larceny case in a
fashionable boarding house on Michigan
avenue. The job was an easy ono. and rs
hs was about to leave the house lady
asked him If he were judge of laces
No. madam. said Simmons. why do
ysu ask
because have just made a wonder
full bargain, replied the lady II have
bought several yards of the finest French
hand made lace for 81 yard It's worth
at least $40 yard
Indeed said Denis. his heart giving
a great bound as he thought of that
troublesome robbery at Meudelsohn 3;
"of whom did you buy it2'
OF a peddler-a nice looking. curly
haired young man, wearing velvet coat.
The detective examined the lace, and,
although not an expert he had sufficient
knowledge Of such goods to warrant him
in the conclusion that the peddler was
practically giving the laees away He
made an excuse 10 take the bargain"
down town and showed 1t to Mr. Mendel-
sohn, who Immediately recognized it as
a portion Of his stolen stock
Denis had struck cew The descrip-
ton of the peddler Tailed with that Of
Herman Landgraf. boy whom he had
arrested for sneak work several years ago.
and whom be thought was leading cor
rect life Still, the detective did not
think that LandgrafT was skillful enough
TO commit the lace robbery. the boy was
probably the tool Of older thieves. who
had set him to peddle some of the goods
As the safest means of disposing of them
But this was great discovery. and
Simmons was elated over it
About the same time another detective
had his attention called to cheap peck
ct book bought from peddler by a brok
ers clerk This pocket book proved to be
part Of the stock stolen from Cobbs Cir.
culating library The peddler who sold
1t answered to the description Of Charlie
Mott, partner Of Landgr.ff's. and the
brother Of Mollie Mott, whose thieving
prupensities and prohisacy ware the talk
Of Chicago for years.
1T never rains but it pours, remarked
Denis to his colleague. We arc on the
eve OF great haul
Having got track Of . portion of the
stolen property, Simmons felt that the
rest Of the work was comparatively sim
pie, lie soon located Landgraff and Mott
They lived in an old frame house on West
Thirteenth street with Mrs Landgash
The detective made cautious inquiries
as to the habits Of the boys, and ascer
tanned that they were regular night
hawks. IS well as street peddlers by day
They rarely reached home before dav.
light, and invariably drove up In buggy.
from which they carried bundles into the
house
Two other boys, known as Curly and
Herman, often accompanied them. and
stopped with Mrs, Landgraf for days at
. stretch
As these facts developed Simmons
changed his mind about the connection Of
New York men with tho burgi2ries He
had struck an organized gang of smart
young thieves who were probably solely
responsible for the crimes which had
startled the business community and puz-
He'd the police
It was late at night when Denis reported
the result Of his Investigation to the chief
He was instructed TO arrest the lads. but
as BY this time they were undoubtedly on
one Of their marauding expeditions. Sim
mons concluded to swoop down on the old
frame house in the early morning and
capture the whole gang.
To be continued I