The record-union., 1894-01-23
THOSE TWO STOLEN UMBRELLAS.
A Case of Badly Mixed-Up Identity in
Court.
Smith and Howard Both Found Guilty
of Petty Larceny, However, and
VIII Go to Jail.

A large attendance at the Police Court
greeted Justice Devine yesterday morn
ing and listened to the Monday morning
calendar. Charles Smith and John How
ard were arraigned for stealing two UNI
brellas from 1919 Fifth street.
1t was rather peculiar case, Smith
having been arrested by Officer Carroll
while drunk and trying to sell one of the
umbrellas, and having been identified by
the lady who owned the umbrellas as the
man who had worked short time for
her and after whose departure they were
missed.
officer Talbot, who had meantime been
furnished with description of the sus-
pected men, arrested Howard and
brought him in, and despite the indenti-
fication of Smith as the guilty party. per-
sisted in holding him prisoner and sue
ceeded in having him Unidentified by
several parties.
Mrs. Potter testified that Howard came
to the door and asked for work. The
umbrellas, belonging TO herself and Mrs.
| Lawrence, were on the porch beside tne
door, they having just come III. She
missed them within five minutes after
he left. She did not see him leave.
Shortly after he left she 10 nd coat on
the porch, which she indentified.
Mrs. Lawrence talked with the man
at the door, but was uncertain as to
whether it was Smith or Howard. She
! would not swear 10 the face, but SAID he
had on red Windsor necktie.
! Mrs. Woods testified that she gave
! Howard an old coat Of ber husbands,
! which she identified as the one lett on the
! porch.
Officer Talbot swore that the descrip-
| ton of Howard was given TO him 10y
Chief Rodgers and he arrested Howard
! that night, finding, when he arrived at
the jail with him, that Smith had already
! been arrested with one OF the um brellas
III his possession.
Howard stoutly denied his guilt until
Sunday night, the officer stated.
Howard pleaded guilty and was fined
! $40, with The alternative of 40 days.
Charles Smith pleaded not guilty, and
| Officer Carroll testified that he met Smith
on X street, between Second and Third
Smith turned around when he saw Car
roll and showed something under his
coat. Carroll asked him what he had
concealed and, opening his coat, took the
umbrella from under it.
Carroll Identified the umbrella, which
was the same that Mrs. Lawrence had
! identified as hers.
Smith he said, told him several stories
as to where he got the umbrella, and said
he did not know where the other one was
| Mrs. Lawrence came to the station and
| identified Smith as the one who was at
| the house.
officer Talbot stated that Smith told
him Howard gave him the umbrella OH
! Front street to sell, and that he had tried
I to sell it in various places.
! Smith swore that he and others were
drinking and he got drunk. He was with
crowd of men on Front street and "a
man came along with the umbrella and
ask ed him to sell it. 1t was not Howard.
1t was a different looking man. He had
no idea the UNI mbrella was stolen.
The court found him guilty aud sus-
pended sentence until to-day.
A charge of vagrancy had also been
! made against each of the defendants.
Smith pleaded guilty, saying that it was
put-up Job on him and there was no use
of lighting against it. Howard also
pleaded guilty and sentence was sus-
pended till to-day.