The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-03-08
A CLEVER ARREST
MADE BY OFFICER JOHN SHORTS
Last NIEht-A. Wiley alias J. o. Martin
who Is Wanted by the New Orleans Au-
thoritiOS for Forgery, Caught Six
Hours after Notice is Received.

Hours after Notice Is Received
Officer John Shorts, who is generally
conceded by all who are in any was &C.
1uainted with the police force Of this city,
o be ono OF the most alert and valuable
men on the force, and who has already
acquired in quiet way an envfsble rePu
tstlon aa detective Of no mean ability,
increased thSs reputation last night by
making what now appears to bo one Of
the most important arrests known in po'
lice circles here for some time past.
About l o'clock yesterday afternoon
there was received at headquarters dis.
patch from Detective ]. T. Morris, Of New
Orleans, asking that lookout be kept for
A. Wiley, and If found, that he be arrested
for forgery. He was described as man
about 5 feet inches in height, 40 years old,
With black hair and extra long and heavy
black moustache; left hand crippled and
turned in at the wrist; wearing brown
clothing and lace uhoee, newly half-soled.
He was reported in tho dispatch to have
lat New Orleans last Monday night.
Officer Shorts was one Of those Gpprlssd
Of this dispatch and he at once went to
work on the case in systematic and sensi.
bic manner. He visited the hotels and
depota and Batished himself that no man
answering the description had arrived
here.
Att o'clock lest evening Shorts was al
the P, W. & Ky depot watching the In
coming passengers. Among those who
got of the train was one who, as lar as be
was able 10 jud in the darkness, closely
answered the description he had in hi
pocket Of the man wanted at New Orleans
Tor forgery. He followed the man to the
st. Charles Hotel, becoming more and
more impressed ali the time that he wal
Tho man wanted. At the hotel he reeiE
tered as ~. @. Martin, Mexico" Ate
seeing the man In the light, Shorts wa
positive he was Wiley. He answered II
every particular the description givel
sboye. After he hSd finished supper b.
was quietly informed that he was wanted
and taksn 10 Central Station and loCkec
up.
There wsa found on him when searched
500 in gold coin, s2G5 in paper money
snd some loose change; also handsome
gold watch and chain. In bis vAlise werI
found papers bearing the name OF a: WI
ley, and proving almost beyond doub
that he 10 the man wRnt0d.
For some reason or other there seemed
to be desire on tho part Of those al
headquarters not TO lot anything about
this clever piece Of work by Shorts be
known. Lieut.. Junkins assured the re-
porter sent to learn about the case that
there wse nothing new and recalled moth
ing about Wiley'a case till seked about II
direct. A request was lnAde to Rge tbs
prisoner and get his side OF the story, bul
Chief Smith had Left orders, 30 1t was said
that no one was to be Above to see him,
| The ahsurdity Of issuing such al order
Que that debsrs newspaper men from law
| ful chanusls OF newp, will present Itself tc
any sensible minded peFJon.
It was learned later, however, and from
reliable source, that Wiley, aliGs Mar
tin, did not care to say much Tor publica'
ton. He said he had been hotel keeper
at Houston. Texas, and the cards and pa
pers found on him beemed to bear this
statement ont. He had tired gf thai
country and decided to come north and
had come to Wheeling to SEQ II there was
al opening here. He did not say In Wha!
line he was looking for an opening. He
could not conceive Why he should be ar
rested on an order. from New Orleans, as
be had spent only few minutes there in
psssing through--long enough to get a
lunch. He did not, however, explain
why he registered under a different name
and while endeavoring to be cool and un.
concerned, YBs evidently quite nervous
and anxious as 10 Che outcome.
"a dispatch was cent to Kew Orleans ad.
viainR Detective Morris OF the capture bat
up 10 o late hour nothing had been heard
in reply. The dispatch received here
seemed to be In the nature OF general
alarm. The many Rdmirero OF Officer
Shorts will be pleased to learn OF his sue
cess in this case. His name, by the way,
has been suggested as one The Board Of
Police and Fire Commissioners might
send in to Council for confirmation as one
Of the two detectives that have been al
lowed the Board. In such position he
would have a still better opportunity to
do good work.
ENTERTAINMENT
BY the Sidney OFT aiIGIIon BAND at the First
Church Last Night,