The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-30
A SINGULAR CASE.
Two Horse Thieves Caught by the Man
They Robbed-Detective Bassett Depos-
its Them in the Portland Police Station

Pittsfield, Mass, published in yester-
day mornings PRESS, spoke of the az
rest by the chief of police of that city OF
j. S. Cooke, alias j. jenkins, and w. ).
Nice, wanted in Lynn, and also charged
with stealing two teams at South Paris,
in this state, July 2sth, the teams being
valued at 1925 each.
Last night, Mr.. Theodore Thayer OF
South Paris and State Detective Bassett
of Norway, Me-, arrived in Portland from
Lynn, with the two men charged with
being the thieves who stole Mr.. Thayer's
teams. The case lis considered one OF
the most curious in criminal annals.
These are the particulars: On the 2Sth
of last July, two horses and wagons,
valued at $500, were hired from Theo-
dore Thayer of South Paris, by two
strangers, who represented to Mr..
Thayer that they were peddlers. After
obtaining the teams the men drove Off in
different directions, saying that they
would return with the teams that night.
lldG tbuNi AOi Ahsoliy ossSSSo--S
nights nothing was heard of either the
men or the teams State Detective Bas-
sett of Norway took the matter in charge
and, with Mr.. Thayer, followed the
thieves to East Rochester, and thence to
Dover, N. H., where all trace of the fell
lows was lost. Detective Bassett, how
ever, wouldn't give up. He went to Bos-
ton and the surrounding cities, gave
description of the teams he wanted to
the police there and asked them to be on
the lookout.
Last week one of the Lynn officers
told Bassett when he was there that
there had been number of horse thieves
about that city, and quite number OF
arrests made for the thefts they had
committed. Bassett went to Norway
Christmas, and wanted Mr.. Thayer to go
up to Lynn with him, SO that if the OPP
portunity should offer he could identity
his team, or teams, if found. Mr. Thayer
could hardly spare the time, but agreed
to go, and the first of the week, Tues
day, the two went to Lynn.
After arrival, Mr.. Thayer called at the
police station, and, after stating the case,
left forthe purpose of finding his friend.
He had been out of the station but
few moments when he saw one of his
horses being driven past City Hall.
Rushing back to the police station he no.
titled the officers and, with their assist
ance, the man and horse were overtaken
and captured. The man gave the name
of J. w. Davis, and strongly denied hav-
ing stolen the horse. In company with
Detective Bassett and Inspector Hans
comb of Lynn, Mr.. Thayer proceeded to
the house of man whom the officers
thought might be an accomplice of Da-
Wis. They were driving down side
street, when Mr.. Thayer exclaimed:
There. There goes my other team!'
The horse was stopped, and was fully
identified by Mr.. Thayer as his property.
The man driving it was well known
Lynn citizen, and readily explained how
he had come by the team. He had pur
chased it from man who it was after
wards ascertained, had sent pair of
slippers to livery stable keeper in
Pittsfeld, Mass. and another pair to the
mans wife. Investigation revealed the
fact that the thief was living in Pitts
field, and that he gave the name of j. S.
Cook. Cook was hunted Zip by Mr.. Bas-
sett. and at his request the Pittsfield Off
GERS arrested the fellow.
Cook has lived at Pittsfeld for some
months, boarding on Columbus avenue,
| and working at his trade as an iron
molder in the Jones foundry.
The most singular part of the whole
business is that Mr.. Thayer should have
run across both his teams in the way he
| did.
1t was thought at one time thet Davis
might be John A. Macarthur, the man
who murdered sheriff in Dover, N. H.,
about a year ago, while escaping from
Jail. But parties from that place who
knew the man, visited Lynn
| dQu ldlltu w 1oOAClly I1Aiis
Davis and Cook are believed to be expert
thieves and burglars. Cook seems to be
the master mind, is about % years old
quiet and determined. Davis is about
"a years old, and more talkative than
Cook. Davis admits, SO the officers say,
that he stole Mr.. Thayer's team and that
Cook was pal of his in the robbery.
| Detective Bassett can be congratulated
ON good piece of work. He has stuck
to the case from the beginning.
Mr.. Thayer's teams were taken, after
the clue was lost at Doser, to Exeter,
thence to Peabody, Mass, and the horses
turned out to pasture until September.
| Then Cook sold one to the Lynn man,
who had it when Thayer identified it.
Davis kept the other.
Mr.. Bassett and Mr.. Thayer will take
the prisoners to South Paris this morn
ing, for trial.
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Press. Only SO cents a month.
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