The herald., 1896-09-27
Wholesale THIEF CAUGHT
A Stolen House on q
City Lot
| Persistent and EXPERT Thief
Has Been Operating Here for
Months
THE POOR, STARVING WIFE
Her Distress at Her Husbands Arrest
Is Pitiabe
Two Wagonloeds Of PIunder Taken From
Three Room Shack
Felix L. Runge, the Culprit, Has Rec
ord Here Before-His Photo Adorns
the Rogues' Gallery-Many Burg
laries Are Laid at His Door.

For months past the police have re-
ceived complaints of petty thievery from
AL parts Of the city. A number OF depre-
dations have been committed upon new
buildings in process Of erection and arti-
:les of all kinds stolen. After long
hunt the detectives now claim to have
the thief behind the bars in the person
Of Feliz L. Runge, and from the circum-
stances attending his arrest 1t would
seem that no mistake has been made and
that Runge Is one of the most persistent
and daring thieves captured in this sec
ton for many day. Over on truman
street, on the East Side, he has four
roomed house nearly erected, every nail
and timber In which is supposed to have
been stolen, and to cap the climax 1t is
situated on city ground. In the little
shack which he occupied with his wite
and three children was found mlscei-
laneous lot of articles of all descriptions
enough to stock a fair-sized store. All
the stuff has been stolen and much OF IL
still bears the private price marks OF the
owners. His capture was brought about
In a curious manner, as follows:
VIII. Fariss is a contractor now erect
ing a new building on the corner OF New
Main and Sichel streets, East Los Ange-
les. For week or two he has been miss
ing lumber and building material from
the premises but did not report the mat
ter to the police. 1t was only yesterday
morning when he found four bunoies OF
shingles gone that he started oul IN MS
buggy to see If he could locate the miss
ing property. He was driving down Iru.
ND VIII the Ierml01l
railway tracks along the river noticed
four punches of shingles lying near d
small cottage in course of construction
He made a little investigation ana then
came to police headquarters and report
ed the theft, saying that he knew Whsre
the shingles were. Detectives Auple
and Hawley went over with MIN anu tne
place was pointed out. ...-, ...s...,
Alongside a gravel pit on a lot owned
nv the city was a four-roomed cottage
with the exterior work nearly COM
pleted The sides were built up anu
the framing was complete, needing put
the roof to inciose the place" 4Near.t'y
was a shack built of rustic siding, In
closed on three sides. The fourth side
and roof were covered in with pieces of
boards and gunny sacks. In this the
family were living until their new dwell
ing was ready for occupancy. ME-
Farris and the officers stepped up and
began to examine the shingles. II was
Immediately seen that the bundles, were
the ones stolen, as they still bore the
brand Of large f on each bunch. The
sound Of hammers was heard in the new
house, and into it the detectives went.
Inside Runge was found at work, with
a carpenter he had hired, laying the
floor. Mr.. Fariss stopped and exam
ined the joists and found that seven of
them, pieces of timber 2x6 and 20 feet
ho ct Ian h
by stood two kegs pretty full Of nails
also his. The flooring had already been
laid and nailed on the beams for some
distance. This was enough for the Off =
GERS, and Runge was told to put on his
coat and come along. He asked per-
mission to see his wife first, which was
granted. a. Il n0n
The parting between husband and
wife was most affecting The poor wo-
man walled and cried out, asking that
her darling be allowed to go Just this
once. She had absolutely nothing TO
eat, and would, with her three
children, starve to death If the head of
the family should be taken away. With
a cry of despair the miserable woman
nearly tainted and fell into the strong
arms of Detective Hawley. The Off
GERS were touched by her grief and dis
tress, and promised that she should
not want for something to eat, as, if
necessary, they would help her them
selves. Detective Auble, who has a
soft spot in his heart, could not stand
her appeals, and moved off around the
house to get away from the affecting
Scene.
While back of the shanty he saw a
fine inter box and saw lying on the
ground, and on them was stamped the
name r. w. Smith. Auble happened to
remember that a theft of such an ar
ticle had been reported by Smith, who
was working for Contractor r. II. Rey-
nolds on a building at Ocean avenue and
Alvarado street. Between the night of
Saturday, the 18th of this month, and
Monday morning, the 14th, Reynolds,
had lost some fourteen new window
sashes complete; glass and ALL several
interior doors and a couple of screen
doors. With them also went lot of
paints and oils. etc. Auble glanced into
one OF the rooms of the shanty and his
eye lighted on the missing windows and
doors. Into the place he went. despite
tne protests OF the woman, who said
Yhat she wanted to close up and go away.
ana pegan search. The result of the
search was astounding even to the off,
Ger. ana showed to what extremities the
poor family was reduced for food.
besloes tne doors, sashes, ETC., there
were one complete chest and one hoy
full Of fine carpenters tools Another
box was filled with scroll sawin es, and
fine, hand-carved grill work and orna-
ments OF solid oak. In corners. in hoy
es. under. pieces of gunnysack. stowedi
away In every conceivable hiding place,
the stuff was unearthed. There were q
full case OF condensed milk, an unopened
6O-pound box of soap, q gunnysaclx Of
beans, one barrelful and a sack of pota-
toes, four sacks of flour and cornmeal.
olives, olive oil, sardines, q full boy of
fine chocolate, cases Of canned goods,
meats. vegetables. fruits, etc., one full
box extract Of beef, boxes of candy,
boxes of cigars, pencils chewing gum,
some cheap jewelry, magic lantern, d
typewriter, cutlery, house hardware,
sash rope, brushes, bolts of carpet bind
ing, rolls of oilcloth, hose, cans of coal
oil, and stuff without end. In fact, the
proceeds Of numerous robberies, was
there, much of it still bearing price
marks. a tx g&4 'YSi
The patrol wagon was called and made
two trips conveying the stuff to the sta
ton. When Runge saw that the game
was up he shut up like a clam and re-
fused to make any statemeut ,Ha Wa