The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-30
A BOLD THIEF CAUGHT
WILLIAM WALKER, PORCH CLIMBER,
ARRESTED IN CINCINNATI.
Was Offering for Sale the Watch
Stolen from Thomas Tasgart's
HOme-A Morning Fusillade.

The porch climber has been caught at
last. AT least il is certain that the watch
stolen from Mrs. Thomas Taggart yester-
day morning has been recovered, and with
1t the man who presented it for sale at
a secondhand store in Cincinnati. Chief
Splann said last night that the fellow who
has been giving the force so much trouble
has been coming into the city at night,
and after doing a job of work has been
taking the train out of town. Apart from
the fact that he made no c~onfdants in this
city and did not stay here in the day
time, the thief showed a proficiency and
daring in his business that makes the
capture an important one. The visit of the
climber TO Thomas Taggart's house was
MADE just about daybreak yesterday, it
being a singular feature of this thief's work
that he waited until nearly the first break
CT day to do his work. He was discovered
by Mrs. Taggart, who had just arisen to
attend to some wants OF the children, and.
returning to her own room, saw the fellow
about to steal her watch. She shouted to
him. drop that watch and called to
her husband. The fellow, however, dropped
the watch into his pocket, for he wasn't
taking such risks for nothing. and made
a lunge for the porch roof. This he
jumped from, and ran west in sight OF
IdlIOliildH SdilllOI. IL hOiSt TIA Noo
made the officer at first thought was. due
to cats, but when he saw the form OF the
thief he opened fire: His aim was bad.
bullets flew wild. The detective and police
force had been stationed thickly around
this point Of the city, and at the sound oil
of policemen from nearly every corner.
Each had Instructions to shoot to kill. At
s sss previous rgp ea asfe0Ver and Ui 't the et men n
were posted with this expectation
this time. The presence of the ON
Ger so near him, however, MADE MN
turn the other way SO that he may con-
slider that he owes his life to that fact; 50
much trouble has he given the force that,
no doubt, they would have taken a grim
satisfaction in laying him low in the dust
rather than take any chance OF failure 10
catch him. They thought his deeds and
daring had made him an outlaw:
After Mrs. Taggart screamed, her hus-
band awoke and, seizing his revolver, 1oi-
lowed the climber out OF the wlndow: out
the fellow was gone. The officers unite in
saying that Mrs. Taggart acted in a brave
and sensible fashion. She did not seem TO
be frightened by the intruder; VINO LEI.
of great wonder how he could have entered
the room so quietly as not 70 nave Deen
When the fellow found himself free he
took the Z o'clock train for Cincinnati.
Captain Quigley and Eugene Harris had
gone to Cincinnati, where a number of the
stolen articles of jewelry hitherto lost had
been recovered. a colored detective named
Allen. belonging to the Cincinnati force
was detailed 10 watch for the thief when
he should again offer an article for sale.
He was arrested as he was about to sell
the watch stolen yesterday morning, and
was turned over 10 Captain Quigley. He
refused 10 come withouc requisition papers
and was, therefore, left in Cincinnati until
papers can be secured. He gave the name
of William Walker, aged twenty-five years.
but would not talk further about himself.
He is a stranger to the Cincinnati police.
In color he is a light mulatto. Captain
n-.- ItHlya fharn 4 q M Hnrrh that no 4 =
the man, though until he is brought here
and identified by some of his victims, 1t is
porch climber or the accomplice who re-
ceiyed the stolen property for sale.