The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-20
ACKERMAN'S KNIFE.
The Desperate Burglar Was Planning
a Dash for Liberty.
InnumerabIe Burglaries Being Fas
tened Upon Him-He Confesses
to Three of Them.

The police have found in Paul Acker-
man, who was arrested by Officer Hig-
gins last week for ransacking Miss Con-
don's trunk, veritable criminal bo-
nanZa.
Alderman was not we'll known to the
police of this city when first arrested,
and was not looked upon as amounting
to more than an ordinary petty sneak
thief. But their eyes have been greatly
opened since his Incarceration, and they
are now alive to the fact that they have
in custody desperate and dangerous
criminal. who probably would not stop
at murder to gain his ends.
HE WAS THRIFTY.
When Alderman was first arrested,
Police Officers Higgins and Gibson pro-
ceeded to investigate as to the extent of
his stealings. They found among the
prisoners effects a number of articles of
clothing, jewelry and trinkets which Miss
Condor declared were not hers. BY dlnt
of hard work they ascertained that some
of these things were taken from trunk
in the room of Charles Butler, IN Mrs.
Sawtelle's house on Tenth street.
Alderman was talked to by Captain
Lee and the officers about this second af-
fair, and after a stormy interview he adj
mitted both burglaries, but declined to
tell who his accomplice was.
The officers continued their search,
and, beside unearthing more property
which Alderman had sold about town,
learned that he had rified the trunk of q
Chinaman who occupied a room in a
stable near Seventeenth and K streets.
Alderman was interviewed again last
evening regarding his operations, and
Il
the interview will probably remember it
for some time. There were present
Officers Higgins, Gibson and Clark and
Captain Lee. When Alderman was con-
fronted with the proofs of his further
operations, he became very violent, and
abused the officers, particularly Higgins,
roundly. He characterized them as anna
teur detectives, and warned them that he
would ''show them something before he
got through
Alderman stopped to pick up some of
the stolen clothing from the floor, when
A LONG KNIFE,
The edges of which were as sharp as a
razor, slipped from his inside pocket and
tell TO the floor. Quick as a flash Officer
Higgins seized it, before Alderman could
recover it.
Alderman no doubt had the knife Sc
creted on his person for the purpose of
using it in an effort to escape, Tor he had
openly boosted that he would slash his
way out of prison. He was greatly cha
grined over losing the murderous-looking
weapon. He declared that he had found
it in his cell, but the officers are satisfied
that it was Struggled in to him.
1t was only a few days ago that the Jail
officials discovered and frustrated a we'll
laid plan of Ackerman's to break jail. In
this effort he had intended, if interfered
with, to murder Night Jailer Clark. He
had bribed prison ''trusty" to assist
aim in escaping, but the latter informed
the officers.
The further the officers follow up Ack-
erman's operations the more surprises
they encounter. They have traced three
burglaries to him already-and he has
acknowledged then-and they expect to
lay quite few more at his door before
they get through. He was certainly a
most industrious prowle:. He still de-
clines to tell who his confederate was,
saying that he would hang first. Still the
officers are hopeful Of capturing the other
man before long.
Alderman has been placed in solitary
confinement at the City Prison, and the
jailer viii henceforth watch him very
closely. His case will be heard in the
Police Court in a few days and then he
will be transferred to the County Jail.