The Portland daily press., 1895-05-23
TWO SNEAK THEY ES.
They VIII Not ''Infest this Comm uni
typ fOrS Months.


Morning.
Two sneak thieves were before Judge
Robinson in the Municipal Court yester-
day morning and were given warning
that will cause them to do some think
ing about the way Of the transgressor,
while they spend the next six months in
jail.
The first thief to be considered was
Walter S. Lee. the colored man. who
had confessed to stealing a carriage robe
and horse blankets from the barn OF ..
b. Dinsmoie at Libby's Corner.
Judge Robinson sentenced him to six
months in jail, and gave him this warn
ing There have been two other cases OF
larceny against you in the past two years
and have power now to sentence you TO
Thomaston as common thief. for not
less than four years or more than fifteen
years.s The next time that you come here
for larceny you shall go to Thomaston
and This community shall not be infest-
ed with you for at least four years and
possibly fifteen years."
The other sneak thief was Charles e.
Holmes, charged with stealing a pipe
and $40 from Thomas Price. Mr.. Price,
who lives near the Portland end of
Vaughan's bridge, took the stand and
identified the pipe taken from Holmes as
one that he bought and paid 60 cents for.
He testified that ne had worked at the
Portland Oil Works for 81 years, but had
been idle for five weeks, because of a
lame leg. Consequently he slept late
last Monday morning. His son went to
work at about O'Clock and his wife
went out about that time. He was left
in the house alone and asleep. His wife
returned at about 10 o'clock. He got up
then and immediately discovered while
putting on his clothes that $40 that was
in the pocket the night before was miss
ing: also new vest and his pipe which
he had left on the mantle piece were
missing.
that he had begged of several of the
neigh bors recently for five cents.
Mary Coffey testified that she lived
across the street from Mr.. Price and at
about s. 80 O'Clock Monday morning saw
Holmes come out of Prices house, with
bundle, concealed under his coat under
one arm.
"He had a moustache on but he's got
it cut off now", said the little girl.
Florence Fobes testified that Holmes
was stopping at the house where she
lived and that the pipe in question was
lying on the table when the officers took
him away. He had stopped with her
mother for some five years at different
times.
Officer Philips said that he found
Holmes i'll Mrs. Fobes house at about 10
O'Clock. The young girl brought him the
pipe and he said it was his and put it in
his pocket.
At this point Holmes was allowed to
a very innocent looking vagabond, uses
good language and told a very slick
ST DRY with the most honest voice and
manner i'll the world.
Holmes said that he got up at 7.30
Monday morning. He had his breakfast
and then went to rum shop, known as
the Cook place, near the end of Vaughan's
bridge. He went to get a glass Of liquor.
He would admit that. But the place re-
manned closed though he waited some
time. If the young lady saw him at all,
it was while he was waiting. She didn't
see him come out of PRICES house for he
hadn't been in it and didn't know where
it was. HI had a moustache that morn
ing, but had shaved it off because it was
his custom to shave his moustache every
spring.
"And the right time had arrived"
asked Judge Robinson.
No there wasn't any particular time,
but he was going to work for the Elee-
trio Light company, and n mousrache
was a dirty thing and he didn't want
the dust and dirt getting into it.
The pipe was shown him and he de-
clared that he did not recognize it. A
PHI was given to him by the little girl
when the officer took him away and he
| SuppOsCO ~ wac HiEs rs dO Ado OHo very
similar to it. AT this point Deputy
Sterling testified that he searched
Holmes the night he was brought in and
asked him where he got his new clothes.
He said that he met a friend, who
loaned him the money. He also said
that the pipe that was on his person was
his own He had no money.
To this charge Holmes replied hat be
did meet friend who loaned him IS. so.
He went and bought the new clothes
that cost him 1910.
Judge Robinson told Holmes that he
didn't believe his story and sentenced
him to six months in Jail. He warned
him that this was not the first time he
had been arrested for larceny and that
next time he would surely 60 to Thomas
ton for four years at least.
Nh. Price said that he was light
sleeper and he was surprised that
Holmes could have got in and out of his
he'd room at that time IN the morning
without waking him. There was key
in the pocket with the money. Had