The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-01
SHOES WERE CHEAP.
The Strange Stories told of Per-
sistent Robberies.
THREE YOUNG THIEVES IN jail
And an Italian out on Bail--.The Way
DcvIne's Shoe Store was Robbed
with RegularIty-.-Loss of People
seemed to be on to the Snap.

The robbery some time ago OF James
Dcyine's shoe store, on Main street,
and the arrest of several people on sus-
picion, have been chronicIed in the IN
TELLIoExcER. The police have been at
work on the case for several days, and
they have finally run down the parties
they have been looking for.
James Richards, aged 10, was arrested
yesterday by Officer Lukens at his home
while lie was attempting to escape over
a roof in the rear. He was taken to the
city building and put through rigid
examination by the Chief. He admit,
ted that he had stolen seven pairs OF
shoes from Devine's shoe store, being
accompanied ut the time by a colored
boy OF about his own age, named VIII
liam Graham. They hid the shoes
under the Pewiky platform, and after
ward got them, pair or two ut nIne,
and traded or gave them away. To all
the persons WHO got shoes from him lie
says he stated that he had stolen them,
and they accompanied him to the MD
ing place 10 get them.
One pair was given to Mike Pietro, an
Italian, for 81 one pair was traded to
Harry Wier for pair of trousers. One
pair Richards wore himself, another he
sold to Bert Sylvis for 81, another to u
strange colored man. One pair GrahGm
kept, and one pair was left under the
platform.
Richards said he knew OF hundred
or more parties going into Devine's
store ut night and getting shoes. AS
far back us last winter people went
there and got gum boots, shoes etc. In
fact, lie said, all the boot blacks in town
were getting shoes from that store
whenever they wanted them.
About II a. m. Chief Delbrngge found
Pietro at the boarding house on the
corner OF Water and Twelfth streets.
lie admitted that lac hal bought q pair
OF shoes from Richards, and that he
went to the Pewiky depot to get them,
where Richards took the shoes from be-
meath the platform. lie paid him 81
Tor them.
Richards named Charles Sweeney, q
boy Of fifteen who has bad reputation,
and one Robert McElroy, who has at
times worked Mt Devine's store, us hav-
ing been engaged in stealing there.
officer Herbert arrested Sweeney about
noon, and Chief Delbrugge questioned
him. He admitted that he had been
in the Devine store about the time OF
the first snow in December, when Rich
ards took several pairs OF gum boots.
Richards took the boots and handed
them out to McElroy, who was waiting
outside, telling him to hold them till he
got out.
Sweeney said boy by the name OF
Hirst told him he was going TO Devine's
and get pair of shoes. He met Hirst
two DAYS later wearing pair OF new
shoes. This was some time in January.
About . o'clock Officer Lukens ar
rested Harry Wier. Wier told Capt.
Dplbrugge he had traded n pair of
light secondhand pants to Richards for
the shoes, but they were too small for
him and he presented then to Rich
lie said he went to the depot with
Richards to get the shoes, but did not
see where he got them. Richards tod
him he was going away and wanted the
pantalouns. Wier lives in Adrian,
Mich, but has been here about a
month, studying bookkeeping.
Richard, Sweeney, Wier and Pietro
were taken before Squire Ankle, who
committed the three boys to Jail in
default OF bail. Pietro found bonds
man, and was released.