The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-14
GOODPORTER. FINETHIEF
RosENHsfM s. CO.sTRUsTED sERv-
ANT TURNS OUT A ROBBER.

Alexander Mack Stealing Shoes From
His Employers House for seven
Years-The Discovery a Surprise to
the Members of the Firm-How De-
tective Wetherhorn Traced the
Crime From a Pair of Shoes in a
Pawn Shop - Ample Evidence
Against the Prisoner.
Another confidential negro porter, who
has been absolutely trusted for years by his
house, has ,urned out 20 be a frst-cass
thief. His name is Alexander J. Mack,
and he has been betraying the confidence OF
his employers, Joseph Rosenheim u Co,
almost steadily since the time he entered
their employ seven years ago until Detective
Wetherhorn surprised him yesterday by
putting pair Of handouts on his wrists.
The fact that Mack was robbing the
house Of boots and shoes was unknown TO
the members Of the firm until Detective
Wetherhorn surprised Mr.. Rosenheim by
announcing to him that he had thief in
his employ, and proved it in way which
admitted Of no doubt or contradiction.
HOW THE THIEF WAS DISCOVERED.
Saturday while passing Adam Strauss
pawnshop on jefferson street the detective
saw negro pswnlng pair OF fine shoes.
He at once made up his mind that the
shoes were stolen property, and step
ping inside. arrested the man. The negro
denied that he had stolen the shoes, and
said be had bought them from Aleck Mack,
but he did not know where Mack was en-
ployed.
Detective Wetherhorn released his pris-
oner, but kept the shoes. Saturday after
noon be went TO q number Of stores to find
out if anybody could identify the articles,
but was unsuccessful. Yesterday be started
out again, and when he showed the shoes
to Mr.. A. S. Nichols that gentleman a.
once informed him that they bore ROsen-
helm & Co.'s marks
Mr.. ROsENHEIM AMAZED.
Stepping across 20 the wholesale footwear
emporium, Detective Wetherhorn told Mr..
Rosenheim that be vas being robbed. That
gentleman was beWildered, but when the
detective handed over the shoes with the re-
mark that be guessed the case would be
found lacking several pairs Mr.. Rosenheim
decided to investigate. 1t did not take him
long to find out that the detectives words
were true.
A hurried consultation followed which re-
suited in Detective Wetherhorn being
given carte blanche to proceed in the mat
ter as he saw fit. IL did mos take the latter
long to decide upon his course and in a
short time he arrested Mack. The negro
was highly indignant at the idea of being
charged with robblng his employer, but
when Detective Wetherhorn faced him
with the man who Dawned the shoes at
Strauss place he cooled Off, but said the
shoes had been his but on account OF being
q little small he had sold them.
TRUNKFUL OF SHOES AT HIS HOUSE.
The next move Of the detective was to
get a search warrant for Mack's house in
Charlton street lane, near Whitaker Here
there was a lother scene Of indignation on
the part of Maok's wife. She felt outraged
at the invasion Of her premises and invited
full search. Nothing was found in the
house proper, but suspicious circumstance
was a locked outside closet. The keys were
demanded, but Mack's wife said she had no
access TO the closet, it was used by the peo-
pie OF the house in front on Jones street,
and she had no keys. This was proved uns
true, and permission was secured
to break into the closet. The
first thing Detective Wetherhorn's
eyes rested on was an old-fashioned trunk.
He pulled il and forced the cover and found
all the evidence he wanted. Ii was packed
with coarse and fine shoes, all bearing
Rosenheim & Co.'s marks. There were
twenty-one pairs of shoes and one pair If
boots in the lot.
MACK ADMITS HIS GUILT.
The box was loaded into q wagon, carried
TO Justice Nsughtin's office and laid before
Mack. Then be broke down and admitted
his guilt He said he had been taking shoes
for long time, whenever he opened case
and nobody was watching him. He always
took couple Ut pair at time and carried
them out the back door. He begged Mr.
Rosenheim to be light on him.
Justice Naughtin sent Mack TO jail and
Rfterward arrested his wife as an accessory,
but she furnished bond.
Mr.. Rosenheim never once suspected
Mack of wrong-doing on account Of his in
dustrious habits and polite manners. The
thief is a young brown-skinned negro with
pleasant face. No one would take him for
thief as far as personal appearances go.
The unearthlng Of the robbery was a
clever piece of work on Detective Wether-
horns part but it is in keeping with the
record Tor shrewdness that officer has
earned for himsalf in the last favv vaara