The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-16
COMMITTED MANY CRIMES.
aobsrt Lee. alias Robert Dixon.

hobart Lee. alias Robert Dixon, G
Negro Burglar and Thief, Caught.
Robert Lee, alias Robert Dixon, who has
committed a number Of burglaries in the
southern part of the city, was run to cove
yesterday by Detective Wetherhorn, and
she burglar attempted to draw a bulldog
revolver on the officer when the latter
arrested lin. The detective vas too Quick
Tor the deSpera do, however, and caught
Lees arm with one hand. and with the
Sther covered Lee, who dropped his
reaDOn when commanded TO do 81
with the alternative of being Drained
IN the spot. The arrest was
made as Lee was leaving a pawn shop on
Congress street. Justice Naughtin COM
mitted the prisoner to jail yesterday after
noon in default of $500 bail, to answer in
The superior court for burga
There have been numerous burglaries
committed in the southern portion # the
,iry within the past six months, and it is
believed that Lee has been the priuciual in
all IF them. TIE latest offensa, which led
90 his arrest, was burglary COM
nitte1 week ago yesterday
At the residence of Thomas w.
Fleming on Third street. A ladies' gold
watch and cham and handsome gold ring,
made from $50 god piece. a pair Of sleeve
buttons, suit of youths clothes were
stolen. All of the property was recovered
by Detective Wetherhorn. The gold watch
Lee had traded to a local preacher by the
qame of Burns, who is in the employ of
Dale, Dixon & Co. Lee got a silver watch
in the trade, and was to have bsen paid
s4.10 in cash last night.
On the afternoon of Feb. % Lee burglar
lied the residence of Rev. J. w. Griffin, in
Meldrim Row. Griffin is pastor of tae
Bryan Street African Baptist church, and
as ne had been invited to fill Rev. Harris
pulpit on West Broad rect the folio W ing
day he had provided himself with a
$40 suit of broadcloth. When he
visited his wardrobe he found his suit was
missing. He thought some enemies of his
mad purposely made way with it so that he
could not appear to advantage. Lee, the
burglar, had stolen the suit, clock aud a
Winchester rifle owned By Griffins son.
The suit of clothes was pawned for So IS,
and it and the clock have since been re-
covered, and Detective Wetherhorn SAYS
he knows where he can get the gun.
Lee stole shotgun and a revolver from
come one living in the neighborhood of Bis
marck street. which have been recovered,
but he claims not to know who is the
owner, n d he told a MORNING News re-
porter that "a little yellow niger from
Macon named jim, but called Tug" had
stolen the gun aud revolver and given them
TO him.
Lee, who claimed that be was making a
clean breast of everything, was asked il he
had not, some two or three months ago, bur-
glarized the residence OF Mr.. Hagins, the car
penter, at No 223 Anderson street, an &C
unit Of which was given in the MORNING
News the day following, but Lee solennly
denied any knowledge Of it,
Detective Wetherhorn united a silk hand
kerchief containing miscellaneous assert
ment of stolen articles and found conclu-
sive proof that Lee is guilty of the burglary
of Haglns' house. Wrapped In the hand
kerchief was Mr.. Hagins' memorandum
book. THAT was stolen with a coat, and |
know where the coat is" said ths detective.
Lee evidently stole Hagins' stamp, for on
the back of a receipt for 81, paid by Rob
ert Dixon" on a bin of chairs, was stamped
Mr.. Hagins' card, and it was also imprinted
on a silk and linen handkerchief found in
Lees possession.
Mr.. Hagins, who is unmarried, was work
ing up the railroad at the time the bur-
glary was committed The neighbors next
door heard some one in his house, and seeing
a lamp burning, thought Mr.. Hagins had
returned home, but as tn lamp was still
burning at s O'clock the next morning they
looked in the house and found that it had
been ransacked, and even the ported flowers
carried off.
Mr.. Hagins was telegraphed for. and q
guard was put on the premises until his
arrival, but up to yesterday no clew had
been obtained to tie thief. Lee entered
from the rear. lighted the lamp, coolly ran
sacked the house, and, without taking the
trouble to extinguish the light, left the
premises with the kitchen door standing
open.
Among the articles found on Lees person
were some Old coins which, with the gun
and revolver, yet await claimants, and
which will doubtless bring other burglaries
to light.
Lee Is an old offender. He was convicted
Of stealing clothing from the pilot boat
Mayo, Capt. Fitzgerald, and was sent to
the penitentiary by Jud1 e Adams on a
three years sentence, and served from Dec
IA, 1883. to Aug. TO- 1886, four months of
his sentence going TO his credit for good be-
havior He saws that he was innocent of
the larceny and that the real culprit was
"Negie Bryan" Lee stole a gold
watch from a trading vessel in port
and escaped punishment as the
captain had to sail the day after Detective
Wetherhorn arrested Lee and recovered the
stolen goods.
Lee has also done two terms of six months
each on the chain-gang, when ne claims to
have contracted rheumatism of the left
arm, which has partially plralyzed his left
hand. His first term was for
beating colored woman named
Annie Stiles, and his last term
was for completely in the Snithville riot
last year, when the colored woman Sophie
Walthour was sho5 by stray ball in the
neck. There was considerable excitement
at Smithville the night of the shooting, and
detail of mounted polio, was hurried out
there TO supDre SIS the ontlawry. Lee was
arrested the following day.
Among the effects in Lees possession
when captured was sailors discharge,
which looks as if during the last few months
he has robbed sailor, tut whether it was
more than robbery can only be conjectured
The discharge is that of John Wittenberg, q
German saicr on the ship VIM. Graham
and was issued at Barbados, under date Of
May 27,lSS9.
The extent Of Lees villainies can never
be known without he can remember them
all and confesses them. He plead with Rev.
Griffin to pardon him and not to appear
against him, saying that he had only
recently got TO going in bad company and
stolen from the preachers house, but when
Rev. Griffin learned If the many burgaries
Lee had committed he frankly told the
prisoner that while he was sorry that he
had been guilty Of such offen es, he was
glad that he had bean found out AMI appre-
hended, and that the law ought to take its
course.
NV