The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-16
STOLE FROM HIS FATHER.
A Son Conducts a Systematic Robbery
for Two Years.

An the Pawnbrokers in the City I'm
plieated, as They Bought Goods
From the Minors to Whom He
Passed Goods Over the Counter.
The Matter Placed in the Hands Of
a Deteotive-The Father Frustrated
With Grief When He Learned the
True State of Affairs.
A peculiar case has Just come to light
in the criminal annals of Chatham county,
in which a son is charged with the sys-
tematic robbing Of a father.
The victim is a well known and well to
do gunsmith and hardware merchant.
Recently he began missing goods from
his store, and for sometime was at loss
to account for their disappearance. Sub
sequent investigation, however, devel-
oped the fact that the thefts had been
going on for nearly two years.
When the goods were first missed he
began to watch, but detected nothing
wrong, as he did not suspect his son of
implication in the crime. The thefts,
however, continued, and he determined
to see what was becoming Of his stock in
trade, which seemed to be disappearing
gradually under the manipulation Of
thieves.
PUT IN A DETECTIVES HANDS.
The matter, It is understood, was placed
In the hands Of Detective Wetherhorn,
who began a day or two ago to trace it up
He consulted several parties and finally
found out that the missing goods were be-
ing taken by the son of the merchant who
had placed the case in his hands, and that
they had been carried to the different
pawnshops in the city where they were
disposed of.
1t was found that the business had been
done in peculiar manner. The son, who
is scarcely 81 years old now, was trusted
in the store, and, according to the evil
dence, he, while behind the counter,
would pass over goods to young boys who
were in league with him, and some Of
whom were only 10 or II years of age For
the goods passed over the counter in this
manner the money was never received,
and the boys who were in the league
would take the goods to the shop of some
one of the pawnbrokers, where they were
disposed of.
This business has been going on for
about two years. More than eight guns
have been stolen and something like q
dozen pistols, a large number of knives,
razors and other implements that can be
found in the gunsmith's line.
TOLD IT WAS HIS SON.
The father, at a loss to account for the
disappearance of the goods from his store,
intrusted the matter to the detective
When told that his son was the thief he
was astounded. He burst into tears and
cried like a child. He refused at first to
accept the statement that was offered,
but when the convincing proof was offered
there was no other course. 1t was too
evident that the son had been tampering
with the fathers business. The father
was overcome with grief, but decided that
he would enter into no prosecutions.
Detective Wetherhorn, it is said, made
search for the goods aud found a por-
tion of them. He obtained one of the
guns from pawnbroker and some of the
knives and razors from others. These,
too, were offered in evidence The son
could not deny the proof that was pre-
sented against him, but the father was
unwilling to prosecute.
The detective investigated the matter
further but could reach no other conclu-
sion than that the son had been the guilty
party. He therefore had TO inform the
father, with the result as stated.
THE PAwNBRoK ERs OUT.
This Of course puts the pawnbrokers in
bad light, as it leaves them all, without
exception. open to the charge Of accept
ing stolen goods and of accepting goods
from minors None of the boys whom he
had in league with him were over II or is
years old The goods were passed over
the counter to these boys, so it is stated,
and they were the agents through whom
they were pawned.
OF course the father would hardly con-
sent to prosecution under these circum-
stances. The goods, however, that were
found in possession of some of the pawn
brokers were taken away, and they have
threatened the son with prosecution if
the money that was paid on them is not
returned. II remains to see, however,
what will come of this, as it lays the
pawnbrokers who make such charge all
open to the liability of the charge of tax
ing goods from minors.
Guns worth S15 and Sl6 were pawned
for a and s. pistols worth 81 and So were
pawned for 81 or $3.50; razors and knives
were pawned for p or 80 cents and other
goods in proportion. The charge is a Sc
we're one and involves the name of a
prominent gunsmith. If prosecuted by
either side it will no doubt bring out
some startling developments.