The sun., 1888-05-01
TO SING SING IN A HURRY.
a UNIFORMED POLICEMAN CAUGHT
IN BURGLARY At 3 A. NJ
Before r. NJ. He was Serving q Ten. Year
Sentence In State Prissn-He Was
Gnmbier nnd Robbed to Get Square.

Sentence In State Prissn-He Was n
GAMBLER nnd Robbed to Get Square.
Policeman Charles Rickerd, in uniform
was caught committing a burglary at 3 o'clock
yesterday morning and ne WAS in Sing Sing
before T. NJ, a convict, with ten years sem
tence.
Last week one of the firm Of Reilly & McEl-
hnny, S3 Nassau street, which deals in rugs,
silverware, music boxes, and brio IA brac. com
planned to Police Capt. Mclaughlin of the Old
Slip station that tho store was being systemat-
ically robbed, and had been for six weeks, and
that efforts to detect the thieves had failed.
A great deal Of plated ware had been missed,
some plush curtains and silk hangings and u
music box or two. 1t had been discovered that
the thief or thieves had got into the shop by
forcing the basement doors. These are old
fashioned doors. made Of three shutters each
one above the other, and are fastened inside by
a bar across, tho lowest shutter being locked by
the last man who crawls out on closing up.
Capt. Mclaughlin told tho firm to have du-
plcnte front door key made for him, but not to
say anything about the circumstance to any
OF the employees.
In the mean time. Thomas Fullam. porter
in the employ of Reilly 4 McElhinny. had made
up his mind to catch the thief himself To this
end he arranged u bed near the basement door
on Friday night last. and arming himself with
big stick. lay there and awaited develop
ments The developments arrived about mid
night in the shape OF a noise at the basement
shutters. and Fullam got his big stick ready for
immediate service. The burglar handled the
shutters with an air of perfect familiarity. and
soon had them open. and appeared in the open
ing-but what a burglar! The porter nearly
lost his presence OF mind as he recognized the
face of Policeman Rickerd. The policeman was
Of
through the opening when n noise in the street
above appeared to disconcert him. He hesi-
treated up the steps into the street.
Fullam was after him in moment, but all he
& RiekSrd calmly ar promenadng ,e ot toward riF Futon
street. ;,T SWINGING his night stick as nonchalantly
The porter went to Can't. Mclaughlin with
but shook his head little over it.
don't tSst iy yeTy good story said he' but
On Saturday night Capt. Mclaughlin detailed
store and remain there here % until yesterday % morn ine
ing. Their instructions were not to leave the
premises for an instant:
evening and arranged an Oriental paradise for
themselves with rugs and screens, especially
like q tale that is told, and when Sunday night
came Oatos, Nugent Il Co. were thoroughly per-
suadsd that pethiag could be more pleasant
and nerve-su bduing than Sabbath in a bric-
\, Sunday was Rickerds day on duty at the sta
his home at I2o Pearl street @ He reported for
sSenns dS Ct he ss aer ha sns his uad1 sap
per as aforesaid went to bed in the station. as
s hs goes aed Gn PEST
minutes past lnidnisht the burglar policeman
He walked UP Nassau street to Fulton and
stood on the corner to ruminate over his plans
r aS p II whsn shortly ss oe %Se
were DOING on their Persian divans behind
plenty OF Japanese screens in the store. heard
One of them crossed tho floor and pokcd his
hend out of window He saw a uniformed
using his n isht stick in lieu Of jimmy ii he
m had any other burglars @ tool it was not found
sss by
ing his weight against the lowest shutter. man
aged to push 1t IN enough to get his stick in the
the basement. There he irst Of, all lighted the
though why the detectives could not conjec.
ture; Finally hSwever' he came up stairs tai @ and
sa the : in then s s brn of nf iens Fs
himself to things He lined his overcoat pock;;
cts with lGt Of plated ware and hp Also wrapped
pose When he had secreted ali he could carry
the detectives in their stockinged feet.
RicEerd closed the basement door softly after
him and when ne had obiRned h siight start
they that they didn't mind Rickerd was seen
street. and when the detectives reached tho
spot, he was found contemplating his shining
Rickerd looked up from the silver into the
black mouths of a couple Of reveyers, and in
stanb thew the He had
him him was silver plated teapot. In his pockets
and half dozen, forks, Further search dis
the a. blouse under the bas
bowl. cream pitcher, and six decorated china
Kickerd and the silver were at once removed
to the station house, where Capt Mclaughlin
edsed s di9s sp that i. had
the rest 9f the spoil was a. his fiat at l2o Pearl
Ricksrd from time to time from Reilly and
discovered In more or less decorative attitudes
on1tho premises were one large music boy.
bowl. one dozen, solid silver Tablespoons. q
fr pair Of Sur heavy gsh Silk cunains H an
plush table cloth, an embroidered plush pian9,
cover, TWO pdlTS OF pEOnZo SldLuelteS u pair VI
bouquet holders, a bronze pitcher. q china
pitcher, and fancy bronze paper weight. The
total value Of the properly is estimated At $500.
Capt. Mclaughlin took his prisoner before
superintendsnt Murray as early as possible
equable Murray best say that he has rarely
been known to show such feeling as he exhib-
tied in the present instance. With his own
hands he cut the buttons or tho disgraced
policemans uniform, the latter submitting to
the ceremony in evident fear.
Now" said Superintendent Murray, whom
this was done IN railroad this case"
Rlckcrd was at once taken to the Tombs and
arragned before Police Justice Power. where
he he said he was guilty, a,a M waived examination.
nesses before the Grand Jury and the papers
to the District Attorneys Office. The indict-
ment Rickerd Is charged with being then and
there armed with dangerous weapon. to wit.
certain club The n wsaP9n clause
| In tho first degree.
About r NJ. ltecorder smyth had read the
ment had been discovered and remedied,