The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-04
col. CALHOUN's OvERCoAT.
How Thief Was Caught by a Man
with "A 45-inch Chest.
From the New york Tribune

With a 45-ineh Chest.
From the New York Tribune
In the recent records Of the detective
bureau at police headquarters there has
been no more interesting OF amusing case
than one which developed yesterday IN
Philadelphia, in which Col. John C. Cal
houn Of No. so Broadway, Col Calhoun's
overcoat and an experienced hotel thief
figure prominently. Col Calhoun is a de-
scendant Of the great southern states
man. He himself is a promoter Of min
ing and railroad progress.
Tuesday week ago the colonel went
10 the Waldorf hotel, wearing a fine over
coat in the pocket of which were a mum
Der of valuable business papers. He lert
me oVercoat FOR moment on a chair in
the hotel lobby and when he looked for
it. it was missing. He reported the rob
berry next day to Acting Chief OBrien
Of the detective bureau at police head
quarters, but received little encourage
ment that he would recover either the
garment or papers. ON Monday how
ever, the colonel received a letter, headed
The Commercial Hotel, Meadville, Pa, !"
and dated the previous day, Sunday,
which ran as follows:
/ am given to understand that you lost
some rather valuable papers as well as
an overcoat the other evening at the
Waldorf. Everything will be returned TO
you, not an iota missing, on the receipt
of $3.50 How and when said money can
be safely delivered-and there must be
no monkey business about the transfer
depends altogether on yourself. Put an
ad. in next Sundays paper signed three
KS, stating your terms for its recovery
By forwarding some Of your rather
lengthy letters to parties interested in
your various promoting deals would be
rather interesting and possibly proiita-
bic to the present holders thereof. Most
respectfully yours Xxx
The colonel took the letter to police
headquarters and asked Acting Captain
OBriens advice. The acting captain
thought over the matter for few min
utes, and after ascertaining that Col. Cal
houn was prepared to be guided entirely
by his advice dictated the following adVer-
tisement:
.overcoat and valuable papers taken from
lobby OF waldorf hotel VIII pay reward.
asked. Please arrange matter. Strictly
confidential. AAA.
The advertisement was duly published
on Sunday and on Monday morning the
colonel received reply postmarked Phil
adelphia. It directed the colonel 70 take
the $3.50 or S45 p. M train to Phlladelphla.
On arriving at the Broad street depot IN
that city he was to leave the train ana
walk to. Gen. McClellan's statue, on tne
city hall plaza aud cross to a cigar store,
where he was to purchase cigar. lie was
then to return to the statue and II his ar
rival was attended by no suspicious CIR
cumstances the letter writer promised
that he would meet the holder of his over
coat and papers, who would exchange
them for the $3.50. The concluding portion
/ have one thing to tell you that I am
somewhat indignant about. The coat was
very large one and only fitted one OF TINS
honest trio. 1t naturally was lert TO MS
care and he went out on a spree and pawn
ed 1t. / have. however, been successIul IN
getting the pawn ticket and it Will be
handed you with all of your papers intact
l shall deduct this amount go and your
fare back and forth from New YORK ana
stand the loss out Of my own share
think il both fair and square as L am not
a a / look.
Now, sir, have written to you as If this
deal were a Wall street flyer. But please
remember what 1 now tell you. DOM for
Gods sake come here with the slightest
evil intent to any of the parties az this
end. If you have communicated with the
detectives even in the most remote degree
your journey would be fruitless.
On receipt of the letter the colonel took
it to his counselor, Capt. O'Brien. The
captain concluded that in spite of all
his precautions it would not be a difficult
matter to capture the thief. He told the
colonel to leave the case IN MS HANDS,
and the colonel agreed to do so. Detec-
tive Flay was assigned to the case. He
took the letter and went 70 Phlladelpnila,
where he consulted with Chief of Police
Linden. Chief Linden assigned Detective
Charles Keller to assist Flay. Keller is
large man and somewhat resembles Col;
Calhoun. He went with Flay to the Broad
street depot, where Keller went inside the
platform railing and when the 4:30 tram
came in mingled with the passengers and
white handkerchief. Flay kept him in
sight, but no thief appeared, and the
detectives began to fear that they had
been recognized, and that he was keeping
under cover.
On the arrival of the $40 train from
Jersey City the performance was repeat
ed, however and when Detective Keller
reached McClelan's statue after visit
ing the cigar store q well-dressed, elderly
gentleman stepped up to him.
''Ah, the colonel, believe" remarked
the elderly gentleman.
yes, sir" replied the detective. Here
is my card" And he handed over card
inscribed "John Caldwell Calhoun" to the
wen, now, you don't look as though
you would fit that coat, the man con-
tinued, throwing a suspicious glance over
the detectives big frame.
"I wear a 45-size coat, anyhow" said
the supposed victim.
The thief seemed satisfied.
WELL l guess you are the colonel all
right he remarked. Il am ready to do
The detective showed a roll of bills, and
the stranger promptly took Col Calhoun's
papers from his pocket and handed them
to him, remarking, Then here are your
As he did so Detective FIay, who had
been standing behind the statue but with
in earshot, stepped forward, and laying
his hand on the strangers SHOULDER said
quietly: you are my prisoner"
Trapped, by thunderr' remarked the
elderly gentleman We'll IN give in but
The colonel smiled and assisted the
New York officer to take his prisoner to
police headquarters. There the stranger
learned the colonefs real identity. He
gave his name as James Smith. but was
recognized as Charles Ward, an old-time
hotel thief and confidence man who APP
pears in the Rogues' Gallery at police
headquarters as No. 1,476. He was ar
raigned in Judge Smiths court in Phila-
delphia yesterday morning, and was held
to await requisition. He is one Of the
leading criminals of his kind in the coun-
try.