Evening journal., 1895-08-29
JOKE ON A JOKE MAKER
Editor Wilson of Puck Arrested
For Helping Catch a Thief.
LOCKED UP AS A CONFEDERATE.

LOCKED UP AS A CONFEDERATE.
He Pointed Out a Man Whom Ho Saw Pick
Pocket on a Horse Car. but the watch
and Chain Somehow Got Into Wilson's
Pocket.
NEW YORK, Aug. e0.-lIenry l.. Wilson,
associate editor Of Puck, tried 20 capture
pickpocSet, and the evidence in the trial
of the young man now in custody may
show that he succeeded. But the editors
experience was not an agreeable ono 20
him, though IL may amuse his friends.
Mr.. Wilson lives at the Alpine Broad
way and Thirty-third street. He left his
Office in the Puck building and at Broad
way boarded an up town cable car. Whom
the car reached Blocker street, Martin
Rothschild, commercial trayGer from
Chicago, cried out that somc one had sto-
len his watch. Mr. Wilson was standing
in the middle Of the car and noticed that
n tall well dressed young man had been
pressing close to Mr.. Rothscflild, and act
ing in a suspicious manner Mr. Wilson at
onoo came 60 tho conclusion that the fell
low was the thief, and ho snid so.
Tho car was stopped, and Policeman
Mitchell of the Broadway squad was called
IN Mitchell has been ON the broadway
squad for "a number of years and probably
thinks no ought to be in the detective bu-
rcau, As soon as no entered tho car and
the facts wore explained 20 him no placed
the accused young man under arrest
Accused the Editor.
When Mitchell, his prisoner and Roths-
child warn lunNitaa. fia fnr tho 1uaf pumnI
turned toward Mr. Wilson 90 thank him
for his efforts In discovering tho thief. Aa
he did so he saw the end of his watch
chain hanging from the si3e pocket of Mr.
Wilson's coat Then he shouted;
n.fo, officer This man Is tho thief
There Is my watch chain now"
E Mr.. Wilson was thundcrstruck and also
very indignant. He placed his hand I'm his
pocket and, 20 his surprise and horror
pulled out the missing watch and chain.
lie turned TO Policeman Mitchell and
stammcred:
"Why don't understand this, officer
How did this get I'm my pockotg'
Mitchell laughed and replied:
ooh, come, young fellow, that don't
60 I've been In this business too long.
You can't get out of IL that way. You
come along with me,
"You'ro not going 20 arrest mo2" gasped
Mr.. Wilson.
ooh, no, replied tho policeman, with
fine sarcasm, "wo mover arrest men Ike
you. but you'd better walk around to tho
station and explain matters"
But helped catch the thief said Mr..
Wilson.
And I got tho stolen property, rotort-
ed the policeman. Then he took both Mr..
who said that his name was Harry Ihomp-
son, around to the Mercer street police
station. Mr.. Wilson explained who ho
was TO the sergeant In charge and called
up tho Jefferson market court on the telo-
phone. Magistrate Brann was still at
court attending TO some private business
and he consented 20 walt until Mr. Wilson
could be brought before him. Policeman
Mitchell took his prisoners to court and
arraignod them before the magistrate.
The Magistrate Was Suspicious.
q Mr.. Rothsohild, who had other business
10 attend 20, did not appear IN court
Thompson refused 30 give his address or
20 make any statemont After Mr.. Wilson
had told Magistrate Brann who he wns no
asked 10 bo released on his own rocOgnl-
zanco but his request was refused. Then
Henry Wimmol the publisher Of Puck,
came TO court and identified Mr. Wilson.
Even this did not satisfy the magistrate,
however and he held Mr.. Wilson under
81, 900 bail for examination this morning.
Bail was furnished by Mr.. Wimmcl.
Thompson was held in g., 600 bail for ex-
animation at the same time, but he could
not furnish a bond and was locked up
In conversation with reporter Mr.. Will
son said 81 have often seen humor in the
nrrnignmont of o man before magistrate,
but now / am convinced that this sort Of
thing is not as funny as 10 sometimes
aooms. / got on a Broadway car on my
way up town from the Office. 10 was very
crowded, and l noticed this follow Thomp
son pushing against MIR. Rothsohild.
thought nc the time that nc was trying Co
pick his pocket, but did not sny anything
until Rothschild sot up cry that he had
been robbed.
"How the man got the watch into my
pocket ] cannot imagine. i was never
more surprised in my lifo than when IL
was found there. / don't see why / should
have been held under bond, but I SUPPOSE
the matter win bo straightonod out in tho
morning.