Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-10-03
metropolitan thieves Of prominence, men
who were skilled at this class of work,

ASA
who were skilled at this class of work,
had been in town for months. ,,
Consequently, Denis had to go 1t blind
for n time, trusting to Providence to
furnish him q clew. And Providence
didn't shirk this grave duty.
Two or three days after his CONVERSE
ton with Mr. Mendelsehn tho detective
was detailed on q petty larceny case in q
fashionable boarding house OH Michigan
avenue. The job was MI easy me, and as
ho was about to leave tho house o lady
asked him If he were u Judge of laces.
mo, madam" said Simmons; why do
you ask!'
Because have just made n wonder
full bargain" replied the lady Il havo
bought several yards Of the finest French
hand made lace for 81 a yard It's worth
at least $40 o yard" .,,
'Indeedl" said Denis, his heart giving
a great bound as he thought Of that
troublesome robbery at Mendelsohn's:
''of whom did you buy it7"
"Of q peddler-a nice looking, curly
haired young man, wearing a velvet coat"
The detective examined the lace, and,
although not an expert, he had sufficient
Auo"leoBo u suCA Soooo w "oLtai1' AAu
fina thes conclusion that the peddler was
practically giving the laces away. BE
made On excuse to take the bargain"
down town and showed It to Mr.. Mendel-
sohn, who Immediately recognized it as
q portion Of his stolen stock.
Denis had struck a clew. The descrip.
ton Of the peddler Tailed with that Of
Herman L~andgraff, a boy whom he had
arrested for sneak work several years ago,
and whom he thought was leading a cor
lect life. Still, the detective did not
think that Landgraff was skillful enough
to commit the lace robbery; the boy vas
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 O great discovery. and
! Simmons was elated over it.
About the same time another detective
had his attention called to q cheap pock-
etbook bought from q peddler by a brok-
er's clerk. This pocketbook proved to be
part Of the stock stolen from Cobb's Cir
culating library. The 'peddler who sold
it answered to the description Of Charlie
Mott, o partner Of Landgraf's, and the
brother of Mollie Mott, whose thieving
~propensities and prohigacy were the talk
Of Chicago for years.
1T never rains but it pours," remarked
Denis to his colleague. 1--WE are o n the
eve of q great haul"
Having got track Of o portion Of the
stolen property, Simmons felt that the
rest Of the work was comparatively sim
pie. lie soon located Land GRAFT and Mott.
They lived in IN old frame house on West
Thirteenth street with Mrs. Landgaaf.
The detective made cautious inquiries
as to the habits of tho boys, and ascer.
tanned that they were regular night
hawks. as well as street peddlers by day.
They rarely reached home before day
light, and invariably drove up in q 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
o stretch.
As these facts developed Simmons
changed his mind about the connection Of
New York men with the burglaries. He
had struck IN organized gang of smart
young thieves, who were probably solely
responsible for the crimes which he'd
startled the business community and puz-
zled the police.
It was late ut night when Denis reported
tho result of his investigation to the chief.
He was instructed to arrest the lads, but
as by this time they were undoubtedly on
ono of their marauding expeditions, Sim.
mons concluded to swoop down on the old
'frar>, house in the early morning and
capture the whole gang.
Three officers were detailed to assist
Simmons, and at 4 o'clock in the morning
they drove out on West Thirteenth street.
Denis talked enthusiastically about the
Importance of this expedition and the
praise they would receive for breaking up
such q daring and dangerous gang of bur
glars.
1T will be one of tho biggest things Of
tho year" no said. land a splendid feather
in oil our cops"
Denis enthusiasm was infectious.
Long before they reached tho old frame
house his colleagues were swelled with the
magnitude of their mission. and antici-
pating tho glowing accounts of their eff
cicncy and prowcss which would adorn
tho columns Of the newspapers.
Tho carriage Yves not taken direct to
tho house for fear of alarming the inmates.
The officers left it O block away and ap-
preached on foot.
Two went to the rear of the building to
intercept any Of the boy burglars who
might attempt to escape that way.
Simmons and the other officers banged
on the front door, and loudly demanded
admittanco.
Not q sound came from the inside. The
place was in total darkness. and the loud
knocks echoed ind re-echoed through the
hallway without bringing q response.
They're in their first sleep" said Denis,
land nothing short of Gabriel's trump
will rouse them"
Lets kick in the door," suggested his
colleague, who was anxious to complete
the job.
,"All right" said Denis; there goes"
A few vigorous kicks made kindling
wood of the door, and the two officers en-
tered tho house, pistol in hand, ready for
any resistance on the part Of the boy
burglars.
The house had m empty ring, and Denis
turned on his bulls eye, to start back In
astonishment.
Not n vcstigo of furniture was to be
seen OH the lower floor. The upstairs
rooms were equally bare. The birds had
flown.
This is tho biggest thing Of tho year."
said Denis companion, sarcastically.
Simmons bit his lip and said nothing.
The officers in the rear Of the house were
called in. They laughed immoderately
when they grasped the situation.
And all the way back to the Central
station Denis wa the target for ruthless
Jokes, which he received without a word.
but continued biting his neither lip until
the blood camc.
He left his brother officers ut tho sta
ton and started out again in grim ST.
lcnco. Before nightfall he had the bur
Curious pcddlcrs located again. Mrs.
tandgraff, her son and Curly had moved
to q brick house on Archer avenue, near
the railway station: Herman and Mott
were traced to q place on Brown street.
At 10 o'clock tho lads were under lock
and key ut the Central station, and q
wagon load of plumber, comprising laces
from Mendelsohn's, books from Cobbs
library, and guns, revolvers and cutlery
from tho hardware store Of Williamson &
Graves. was deposited in q room above
their cells.
There was no moro laughing at Denis
Simmons, who had been on duty forty
eight hours and fulfilled his promise Of
making ono Of the most important cop
lures Of the year.
Tho lads seemed stupefed by their Or
rest. Young Landgraf, who was ad-