The Washington times., 1894-08-26
CROOKS CAUGHT ON THE FLY
Arrested by Detectives Just as They
Stepped from the Train.
ROBERT MURPHY THEIR LEADER
Ee Has Followed His Nefarious Calling for
Half a Century and Is an Expert in the
Business-His Picture in the Rogues'
Gallery-His Three Pals Young Men.

Robert Murphy, a confidence man, who, 1t
is said. has practiced his calling for about
fifty years. and three of the members of his
gang, James Allenberger, George Harring-
ton. and Louis Heck, reached Washington
last night about O'Clock TO prey upon the
crowds attending the Pythian encampment,
but they mad scarcely landed on the platform
at the Baltimore and Ohio Depot before they
we're placed under arrest and taken 10 police
headquarters.
The arrest of these men is most important
and is proof that the prophecy made by
Col. Moore that the Washington detectives
will be able 10 handle all the crooks who may
come to the city during the encampment, Is
true
AS a precautionary measure, and in order
that ali arriving criminals shall be taken care
of as soon as they get here, Inspector Hol-
linberger detailed Detectives Horn, Lacy,
Wheeler, Proctor. and Rhodes tc go to the
Baltimore and Ohio depot TO meet the incom-
ing trains from the North and TO await devel-
opments.
When the passengers from the train, which
left New York at .. m. yesterday. had rolled
in the detectives peered anKiously into the
face Of every man as he came up the platform.
Pretty soon Detective Horn, who, It Is said,
knows the faces of more out-of-town crooks
than any other man on the force, noticed
Robert Murphy, a confidence man, who Is
said to have operated in almost every section
OF the country. and whose picture was placed
In the rogues' gallery at headquarters nearly
ten wears ago. Mr.. Horn had not seen Muir
phy since 1884. but he identified him IN mo-
ment. and pointing him out 70 Detectives
Rhodes and Proctor, they took him into Gus
tody.
GROWN OLD N SIN.
Murphy is about seventy years Of age but
he does not seem TO have changed a particle
since his photograph was taken for the gal
lery ten years since OF course, he bears
evidence Of advancing years, but most people
would take him at first sight 10 have been
in his time hard-working mechanic, who.
having acquired a competency, had retired
from active business and was enjoying the
emoluments OF a well-spent life. He is about
five feet nine inches tall, stout Of ruddy
complexion. head nearly bald and wearing
heavy gray chin whiskers. he is quite lame
in one leg.
Murphy recalled some OF his experience OF
wears ago in talking with the detectives at
headquarters. He distinctly remembered De
teotive Lacy, whom he greeted cordially. but
regretfullv, as he would have much preferred
70 have remained at liberty. He also told
Detective Weeden that he had pleasant recoL
lections OF Mr.. Weeden's father, who, he said,
established a line Of omnibuses bet weeI
Washington and various points in Charles
County Nd. Murphy also claimed TO have
superintended the excavation for the Capitol
building and for several large buildings
near the present police headquarters.
MURPHY's PALS TAKEN N.
The arrest Of the leader disconnected tn,
other members OF the gang and they gathered
about Murphy TO ascertain what was tn,
trouble. Seeing that Alenberger. Harrington
and Heck were evidently closely associate,
with Murphy. the detectives determined 10 l. K
them all into custody and did SO, Detective
Weeden and Horn took charge of Allenberge
and Heck, while Harrington was arrested bl
Detective Lacy, and the four prisoners wer'
marched 10 headquarters where their name
were recorded and they were searched.
SIS far as is known here Allenberger, Harring
ton, and Heck are simply followers Of Muir
ply, the gang going from place to plac
wherever large crowds gather and have
harvest OF gold watches or anything else the,
can get their hands on. Their pictures dt
not as yet adorn the rogues' gallery, but thei
photographs viii be added to that interesting
collection in the course Of a day or two.
Allenberger and Harrington are tall. fine
looking young men. Heck is rather smaile
than the others. and appears TO be abou
thirty-ave years old. 1t is said that any on
OF the four is equally an adept at poker, thre
card monte, the shell game, etc.
After remaining at headquarters for ahou
an hour. where their gold watches and knive
were taken from them and locked in the safe
the quartet were taken TO No. / precinct sta
tion-house and locked up. 1t is prohabl
that habeas corpus 10 secure their releas
will be sued out tomorrow morning,