Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-31
BOLD NEGRO THIEVES.
Systematic Robbcries for Months-A Ne
gro's Many Misforsupes.
spec,al ,elegr.ms % the Dispatcn.I

(5peciai telckrAms 70 tnc DispSSt-i
LYscHBuRo. Va. December S0.-One of
the boldest and most systematic robberies
that has ever occurred here was unearthed
last night by the police. A negro porter
by the name OF Jackson, who was IN the
employ of w. s. Gerhard, q dry goods mer-
chant. has been stealing for some time out
of the store and bad established a co-part-
nership with another negro named Mitch
ell, who opened a store ON fiftf avenue
and was retailing them out. This store
has been run for month or two and no
one suspected them.
HOW THEY WERE CAUGHT.
The way they were caught up with was
the merest accident, and was as follows !:
A customer called at Gerhard's and asked
the price of some article that is only sold
in this house. The customer told Gerhard
he could buy the same goods on Fifth ave
nue. much cheaper Gerhard protested he
was the only merchant in the city VINO
handled the goods, but asked the customer
not to say anything about the matter until
ne investigated il. Accordingly Gerhard
visited the negro's establishment and
called for the goods. on which he found
his own trademark.
JACKSON FLED.
Tho police were notified. but Jackson
got wind Of the affair and fed and has not
yet been arrested. II is estimated that
the negroes had stolen 500 or $500 worth
of goods and had disposed of Sl00 or 300
worth before detected.
NEARLY CREMATED.
A small shanty occupied by an old negro
man was burned this morning about 4
o'clock on Polk street. and the old man
came near being cremated and lost some
$50 in notes. The negrO's name Is Edward
l a. -. ~ 10, Iaa ,..araI thrnnph n
ries of disasters In the past two years.
About eighteen months ago the old man;
believing that he would soon die, decided
bis property to his wife that she might be
provided for in that event.
TURNED OUT OF HIS ROME.
The woman died first. however, and
| leaving neither children nor will the
property went 90 the wife's relatives, who
/ very unceremoniously turned the old man
out of the home which he had provided
| by his industry. He was consigned 20 this
little shanty in the yard. where for time
| he earned a subsistence by keeping small
| grocery store, but misfortune continued 10
| follow him.
CONVICTED.
A rival merchant, knowing the old man
was selling cigarettes, all oblivious of the
| fact that a separate license was required
/ for that privilege, went TO work and con-
victed him Of that offence aboutayear ago.
THwARTEp.
An attempt was made 10 cremate The old
man by setting fire to the house in which
/ he slept. The discovery of the flames and
their extinguishment thwarted this das-
tardly attempt.
NUMBER FOUR.
This mornings fire was disaster number
! four. The old man states that he had no
| fire in his stove and retired early because
of this fact. nor did he leave his lamp
! burning. He was aroused this morning by
what he thought was the rumbling OF q
railroad train, but on removing his head
| from the coverlet % see. he discovered the
! corner of the room dagonally opposite his
bed in flames and the room filed with
smoke.
SAVED FEW DOLLARS.
Snatching his coat be made his escape,
| but forgot his money. which he kept IN a
small box under his pillow. He went back
after il. but. il was TOO late. lie succeeded
in scratching few silver dollars from the
ashes, but the rest was gone.
A LAD OK LONG JOURNEY.
A small lad. apparently about nine years
| Of age, who came from Germany and was
ON his way 20 San Francisco, passed
through this city to-day on the Norfolk
and Western tram,