The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-15
ON A GRAVER CHARGE
Van Waters Hearing Post
poned for New Evidence.
MORE CASES ARE PILING UP.
Accused Not Only of Stealing Trunks
but of Taking and Pawnfng
Jordan's Instruments.

William Van Waters is to he tried on
charge of grand larceny instead of petty
larceny, and the police say they have
enough evidence TO convict him on several
charges. as new cases of stealing are daily
cropping up against him. When his case
was called before Justice McElwain yes
terday, the charge being the theft OF
sword from Agent J. N Gilmer. of the
Bureau of Associated Charities. Prescott
ing Attorney HASTE stated that charge
OF grand larceny had been made, and
asked for continuance until more wit
nesses could be summoned by the state.
This was granted until August 20. and Van
Waters was set free under 500 bonds fur
nished by DR.. III. A. Smith and his broth
er. George W. Van Waters, and wife.
The police state that there are fully
dozen charges of theft against Van Wat
ers and that all of them could be proven.
The last charge is that Of stealing a trunk
from the Northern Pacific depot on Au-
gust :, by means of switched check, and
selling it at Everett on August 3 to a Sec
ond-hand man. Officer Philbrick. who has
worked up the case, states that he traced
the trunk TO the Greyhound at the dock
and found the man who hauled il at Van
Waters request from the dock at Everett
10 the Commercial hotel, where Van Wat
ers registered under his own name. The
next morning he went out, returned with
a secondhand man and sold him the trunk
for g. The trunk was worth fully $50, even
to a second hand man, as IL contained
good overcoat and two suits OF clothes. A
man who is we'll acquainted with Van
Waters was at the hotel. and positively
states that he is the man who sold the
trunk, and that he had quite a chat with
him and could not be mistaken
The police yesterday located the check
perforator stolen from DIR. j. e Jordan's
ciiice In a pawn shop, where it is supposed
Van Waters disposed of it for a trifing
sum. The instrument cost about So when
new. About year ago DR.. Jordan missed
fine microscope from his Office. which was
afterwards found in a pawn shop in Ia
coma, where $25 had been loaned on it,
Both these thefts are charged to Va,
Waters.
Since the present charges have been
made, and particularly since Van Waters
arrest, innumerable stories OF his former
alleged crookedness have come up on all
sides. The police tell OF one man from
whom he stole a fine gold-headed umbrel-
la. The owner told Van Waters that lie
wanted $40 for ii, and he states that the
latter paid il.
In connection with the trunk robberies. il
is stated that Herbert Slade. the we'll
known railroad man. nearly lost trunk
worth about $1,000, and it was only the
care used by the Seattle Transfer Com
pany that prevented the thief supposed
now 10 De an waters, from getting aWay
with it. \ telephone message came to the
transfer company's office about the first
OF the month asking that the trunk with
check A 2l5 on it be sent out to a house
in North Seattle near the Bellevue hotel
The trunk was found to be a handsome
leather-cased one, and the check was
found on ii. but no record of such a check
having been given out appeared on the
books of the company. 1t was found that
check No. 2S5 had been distracted and the
other check put in its place, probably
while the trunk was lying in the depot
The trunk was not sent out and a few
days ago Mr.. Slade called with the right
check and took ii away
When DR.. Jordan al the police head
quarters late Tuesday night told the story
of his valuable microscope having been
stolen over year ago and having been
found several months later at a Tacoma
pawnshop. the proprietor of which saws
Van Waters pawned il for s25. he little
dreamed that the same instrument had
been stolen again. When he went 70 his
Office yesterday the incident very natural
~ suggested that he again look to see If
tho microscope was in its proper place
II was not there. Van Waters has been
a frequent caller at DIR. Jordans CHice,
and yesterday il Immediately occurred 10
the doctor that he had not used the mic
roscope since his last Popuistie-singIe tax
discussion with his distinguished col
league. That settled his nind-the same
person who took the microscope before
found that II gave such satisfaction that
he took il again Where it IS nov the
does know