The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-22
RECOVERY OF SPOILS.
Exciting Scenes in a Pawn.
brokers Store.
HIGHWAY RossERY LAST YEAR.
Chief Rogers Succeeds I'm Securing Re-
turn OF stolen Watch = The
Identity Beyond Doabt

onsof the numerous highway robbsries
that occurred year ago last spring was
directly responsible for q big excitement
on South Second street in front and in
side OF Joseph HoesIech's pawn shop last
evening. The actors in the scene were
Chief OF Police Rogers, Detective Cadihee,
Uncle Jos." or Hoeslsch. the pawn
broker. and for an understudy, the clerk
appeared once in awhile. When the cur
tain vas rung down the pawnbroker wore
handouts. and . big hole IN the glass
door OF bis shop showed where he had
stuck his head On the other hand, Chief
Rogers had recovered one OF the finest
gold watches ever taken by . knight OF the
road from good citizen.
On March 4, 1ss3, J. p. Rooney was held
up on Cedar street IN North Seattle and
robbed Of his fine Elgin movement, solid
goid-cased watch and $50 in cash. The
case was reported 10 the police four days
later. Nothing was achieved in the mat
ter and the case remained quietly in the
background. As chance had il, the day
before yesterday the watch was seen in
Uncle Joe's" window, and yesterday Mr..
Rooney went down to take look at II
himself. BY some combination of circum-
stances the watch was not in the window.
bat Mr.. Rooney. feeling sure that the
pswnbroker still retained possession, went
TO the police eour. and swore out search
warrant for the premises.
Chief Rogers took the warrant, and ac-
companied by Detective Cudihee. went to
the pawn shop between and o'clock in
the evening. The chief asked "Uncle Joe"
If he had the watch. giving the number,
2. 1872. 296 for the works and Is OFT for the
cases. SO far all was smooth sailing and
the pawn broker. who is usually accommo-
dating to officers, brought out the watch
from his back Office, little bic of q room.
The chief examined the time piece and
found engraved on the back of the inside
case the following: Presented TO ]. z.
Rooney By his Minneapolis friends, Feb
ruary 8. So"
"How long have you had itf" asked the
chief. About year and hall" was the
answer. who did you get 1t fromf" -
know the man well but don't remember
his name" The chief then asked the
pawnbroker for desert ption of the man,
but did not receive a satisfactory answer.
Let me see your books" said the chief.
This did not plesse the pawnbroker and
he dilfy-dallied around until Rogers In
formed him be had q right TO see the
books. Still the pawnbroker hesitated
and the chief told him he had q warrant
and must see the books.
Then "Unce Joe" refused to show his
books and would not have the search war
rant read to him, saying he did not care
anything about the warrant
"Weil," said Chief Rogers. 'syou may
consider yourself under arrest for refusing
to show the books."
When this occurred all three were in the
little room, and In less time than 1t takes
to tell Ii the circus commenced. "Uncls
Joe" did not want to be arrested and in
moment was turned from the cool. calou-
lating bargain driver into an excited in
dividual. He squared off at Detective
Cudihee, who grabbed him by both arms.
Then Chief Rogers pulled out his cuffs
and tried to clap them on "Uncle Joe's"
wrists. "Help. helpi cried the pris-
oner to his clerk, who rushed in
and was Immediately quieted by
slap from one of the officers.
Around I'm the little room went the
trio, a confused mass of humanity. but
above the seuffie and grunts arose in sharp
tones the cries of Uncle Joe" as he called
for the police. Finally Rogers got hold of
"Uncle Joe's" collar and gave a yank.
Out came collar, necktie and colIar button
quick as a fash, and still the tussle went
on. By this time the street in front Of the
store was crowded with people. each of
whom was wondering If murder was
going on. A policeman elbowed his way
through the crowd and guarded the front
door. Inside the store there was lull,
the oficcrv having put the handouts
on "Uncle Zoe" after being compelled to
use him roughly. Suddenly he broke
away. and with the words, II am desper-
ate, am desperate" ran at the front
door and jammed his head through pane
of glass lie seemed wild that crowd
should be collected in front of his place.
and in an excited way told it to disperse.
In the midst Of the racket up came the
patrol wagon and uncle Joe" was hurried
to headquarters, where he was booked for
refusing 10 show his books. Later he was
released on $50 cash bail. and showed the
chief the records. which showed that il
was pawned last August.