Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-19
CAUGHT AT BIS TRICKS.
James LaFIkins Arrested for EuspIcIous 40.
tIons-He 10 supDOsedIo be the Man Who
Worked the Room Racket.

James Larkins Arrested for SuspIcIous 40.
tIons-He 10 Supposed TO be the Man Who
Worked the Room Racket.
A sign Of "Rooms To Let" adorned the
front of Mrs. McSteen's boarding house at
No. 2212 Penn avenue yesterday afternoon
when, at about / o'clock, a well-dressed
young man, wearing neat suit of clothing
and light overcoat. and carrying new, tan
colored valise and gold-headed silk um-
brella, rang the bell. Mrs. Mcsteen an
swered the summons, and was asked by the
young man if he could have the privilege of
looking at one Of her furnished rooms. He
said he was travelling agent for Proctor &
CANDLES soap mandatory, and would
probably be located in the city for several
weeks. He wanted room to himself where
he could spend his leisure time and do his
accounting, but was not particular whether
it was a front or back room,
second or third floor, and
was willing to pay fair
price for suitable accommodations. Such
an easily-pleased person was very desira-
BILE ons to Mrs. McSteen, and she lost no
time in showing him through her house and
acquainting him with her terms. She
found, however, that he was not so easily
pleased as to price after all, and when he
said her prices for room for single per-
son were too high, she offered to give him
room with another boarder at a reduced
figure. He looked at the room and inquired
all about the habits and business of its
other occupant, and finally concluded that
it was Just what he wanted. He said he
would take the room and would have his
baggage brought at once, but first he wished
to do some writing and would use the room
for that purpose.
Mrs. McSteen assented and withdrew,
leaving her new boarder to himself A few
minutes later daughter Of Mrs. McSteen,
in passing the new boarder's room, heard
rattling of keys, as if the inmate was trying
to open trunk. She quickly notified her
mother of her suspicious, and that lady ran
to the room and tried the door, but ii was
locked on the inside. Mrs. McSteen, know
ing that the young man had brought moth
ing with him but an apparently empty va
lise, made up her mind at once that he was
trying to open the trunk of the original ten
ant of the room. She threw her weight
against the door and burst it open just in
time to catch the young man IN the act, but
as the door few open she fell to the floor,
and he, jumping over her PROSTATE form,
ran down the stairs and attempted to open
the front door. He failed to work the door,
however, and in his desperation opened the
parlor door, knocking Miss McSteen down
as he ran, and, throwing up a front window,
he Jumped to the pavement
The women in the house followed him to
the street screaming and man on the street,
seeing the young fellow running, took in
the situation, and knocked him down in
front OF No. engine house. He jumped up
and started off again, but one of the fremen
ran out and held him until Officer Sam
Miller came up and placed him under ar
rest. he was taken to Central station in
patrol wagon.
As there have been number of robberies
committed in this way recently Inspector
McAleese sent for one Of the victims, Mrs.
Kate Giblin, who keeps a boarding house at
the corner of Chatham and Webster streets.
Her house was robbed ofa number of articles
on Halloween by a young man who acted
Just as this one did. When she went into
the station, she picked him out of halt
dozen placed in line, and identified him as
the man who had worked the game. Lieu
tenant Boyd also identified him as a sneak
thief
He gave his name as James Larkins,
aged "a years, and claimed residence in this
city. Inspector McAleese thinks he will be
able to prove dozen of cases against the
young man as he answers perfectly the de-
scription given by parties who have been
victimized lately.
The police say Larkins is not the right
name Of the young man, but that he is
james McVickers, who has a record in po-
lice circles. 1t is expected that large
number OF cases similar to that in which he
figured yesterday will be placed to his credit.
Inspector McAleese is desirous that all per
sons who have been victimized in this man
ner will call at Central station to identify
McVickers.