The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-09
BIRDS BURGLAR BAGGED.
Willim Chaf1n Captured and Part Of
the Money Recovered.

VIM. Chaff1n, alias VIM Gray, was ar
rested late Monday night by Detective M.
Hanley and Constable McDermott as the
party who burglarized the store of jackson
Bird Sunday night The officers hunted
the town high and low for Chaftin Monday,
and IL was not until late that night that
they succeeded in finding him.
Chaffin was enjoying a quiet "snooze"
when the officers arrested him. At first he
pretended to be surprised and swore that he
knew nothing of the affair, but later on he
made statement. When arrested he had
but SOC. in his pocket He told the officers
after they carried him to Justice Folliard's
office, that he got $50 Of the $50 that was
taken. He said that the theft was committed
by Dismore Brodnas, a colored man with
whom he was acquainted in Columbus.
Brodnas met him about 9 o'clock Sunday
night and told him he had to make lack
pot" that night, and that Bird was the man
he intended to pull. Brodnas asked him to
join him and he did 50. The negro effected
the entrance and got the money, When
h. came out Chaffin reached his hand in
the shot bag that contained $50 and took
out $50, and the two separated.
Chaffiu said that Brodnas went to Atlanta
he thought, but he was not positive where
he went. He said that the negro had been
in and about Dixon's for a number OF
weeks, but when inquiry was made as to
who Brodnas was, nobody knew.
Chatfin, in accounting for the money he
got, swelled the sum to over $50. Ills first
purchase was a suit of Clothes a stack hat,
a pair of patent leather shoes, and shirts,
collars and cuffs He engaged a carriage
and took three of his ''best girls" to Thun-
derbolt. On his return he dumped two
of them, and with the third sought res
taurant on South Broad street, where a "a
supper was ordered. After they had lunched
he took his girl home While on the way
she said that he emptied a shot bag of its
contents and threw it under crossing at
South Broad and Price streets, 1t was there
the officers found the bag, which was iden-
titled by Mr. Bird. The fact that he had
over $50 of the money and the bag that
contained it the officers think disproves the
Negroes story.
Chaflin was lodged in Jail about 3 o'clock
yesterday morning. He is a young man
about 10 years of age, and not of mean APP
pearance. lie came from Columbus here
about three weeks ago, strapped" and
begged money from Mr. Hanley with which
TO get lodging. He has had no employment
Of any consequence since he came here.
The greater portion Of his time was spent
around Birds store. He was acquainted
with Mr.. Owen Strait, an emplOye in the
Ice company and who occupies rooms over
the store Chaffin received all his letters at
the store in care of Strait. Several letters
from parties in Columbus were found on
his person. Mention is made in several of
them of the arrest there of his friend,
William Cook, and that the lawyers say
the officers can do nothing with Chaffin.
He refused to tell Detective Hanley what
squabble he was in that caused him to
leave Columbus. Mr.. Ranley thinks it is
something on the order of his theft Sunday
night. Chafiln claims to be horse jockey.