The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-22
SLICK THIEF CAUGHT
OVER 800 WORTH OF DIAMONDS
AND JEWELRY RECOVERED.
tifcation at the Police station
Valuable Diamond Brooch.

Albert Hoffman, who has for some time
been conducting a very successful cam
paign of robberies in the northern part OF
the city, was arrested yesterday afternoon.
About 500 worth of stolen jeweiry has
been recovered, and 1t is thought that more
of 1t may be found. When searched at the
police station a pair of diamond earrings
and diamond brooch valued at about $780,
and for which there has as yet been no
claimant, were found on his person, and
the man confessed all to the detectives.
For about six weeks frequent reports of
losses of jewelry have come to the police
department, all the robberies seeming to
occur in the daytime At several of the
places which he visited he was seen and
a description was furnished the detectives.
who have been watching for the thief for
several weeks, but without success. Yester-
day morning the entire force of detectives
scattered throughout the city with the de-
termination to discover the man, and a de-
scription of him was furnished the patrol
men stationed at the downtown corners.
Just before noon officer Corrigan saw
person on the corner of Washington and
Pennsylvania streets who answered the de-
scription given him, and, after questioning
him., took him to the police station When
turnkey Al Taffe searched the man moth
ing Dut w In money was found on him,
but shortly afterwards Mr. Taffe decided
to make closer examir alton, and pinned
in Hoffman's underclothes was found val
uable diamond brooch, and in his socks
beautiful pair of diamond earrings. After
these had been discovered he confessed ev-
erything to Chief of Detectives Splann, say
ing that he had been robbing houses on
the North Side for some time, and stating
where the stolen property could be found.
and that he had been working at times
in this city for five months.
The detectives went to Gaisford's pawn
shop. at No. 231 Massachusetts, avenue
where Hoffman said he had disposed of
most OF the stolen goods. Here was found
a number of gold and silver watches. gold
c cnps Mope p ewe apd pair the of syee
kind was found in his room at No. 2111a
East washington street. The property was
of it was identified by the losers during
the day. The diamond brooch and earrings
which were found on his person were evil
had been no complaint of their loss, and
up to a late hour last night no one had APP
peared to identify them. Hoffman said he
had secured them at some house on the
North Side. but he did not know the ad-
dress. A gold watch and cameo ring were
claimed by Thomas Barrett, whose house
his wifes engagement ring. The silver
cups, a diamond ring, watch and several
other articles belong to George S. Evans,
of IA East st. Clair street. The cups be-
long to Mr.. Evans's little girl, and ever
since the robbery she has been praying
each night that the bad man who stole
her mamma'S ring and her own cups would
bring them back and now she faithfully
believes her prayers We're answered.
There is yet considerable property which
nocent looking little German, with a rich
brogue, and from his appearance no one
would ever suspect that he could SO sys-
tematicaily carry on series of bold rob-
berries and so successfully evade the entire
detective force.