The San Francisco call., 1896-11-26
TWO AUTHORS OF
MANY BURGLAR|ES
Robert Phelan Has About
Twenty to Answer
For.
He Is Now in the County Jail
Awaiting His Trial on
One Charge.
Ezra Estes, a Boy, and Peddler
Breke Into Three Houses and
Stole Jewelry.

Robert Phelan, 80 years of age. has been
in tie County Jail for several weeks wait
ing for his trial before the Superior Court
on a charge of burglary. He broke into
the plumber-shop of A. Roth, 95S Howard
street, on Septem ber 25. and stole guam
tity of plumbers material.
He was arrested by Policemen T. L. Ryan
and Ed o Dea, and since then they have
been investigating into other burglaries
which they had good reason to believe
Pheian had committed.
They found that on Septem ber he
broke into the shop of NJ. H. Dugan, 331S
Geary street, and looted the place. Every
thing of value had been carried away.
The officers have located the stolen prop
erty.
Phelan's most successful attempt was in
the millinery-store of Miss 1. E. Conner,
SO Geary street, on September %. She had
just received a consignment of French
hats and other stock, and Phelan made a
selection of ten of the most expensive hats,
fifteen rolls of silk ribbon valued at $3.50
and other material, altogether costing be-
tween $500 and 800. Three of the hats
were recovered in the Blanco House.
had sold them, and four of the rolls of silk
ribbon from Mrs. Smith, who keeps a
grocery and saloon at Fifth and Clara
streets.
Phelan had a fancy for carpets and he
broke into the vacant houses on Morton
street and stole all the carpets, which he
tore from the floors. He also stole q car
pet from 127 Ellis street and one from a
house on Geary street. near Williams.
Several additional charges of burglary
will accordingly be booked against Phe-
Ian. He is a weIl-known petty thief, and
was once tried for killing man, but was
acquitted.
Ryan and O'Dea have also been working
on other cases of burglary, and Yesterday
they arrested Ezra Estes. boy is years Of
age. He was charged with having broken
into the house oil Mrs. Fred Thomas, 81
Harriet street. few nights ago. and steal
ing four gold rings, pair of gold cuff
buttons, pair OF opera-glasses, two gold
necklaces, and other articles OF jewelry to
the value of about $500.
Estes when arrested confessed that he
had been with q bigger boy, who had COM
mitted the burglary while he stood out
side. They carried the stolen property to
the basement of a vacant house at Sum
shine place, between Howard and Folsom
streets, and buried it. Estes took the
officers to the place and they found the
otOIch NHiCA WAS ldLST lQ6ntl0eQ
by Mrs. Thomas.
Estes and his bigger companion are sus-
pected also of having broken into the
house OF Mrs. McCabe, 12S Russ street,
and stolen lady's gold watch and chain.
lady's silver watch, four gold lockets, five
gold scarfpins, pair of gold earrings, gold
chain and bracelet, two gold rings, four
gold charms and other articles of jewelry.
They are also suspected of breaking into
the house at % Russ street and stealing
quantity of jewelry.
The reason why they are suspected is
from the fact that the means of entrance
IN each case was the same. The glass in
a rear window had been broken near the
catch, which enabled the burglar to un-
fasten the catch, open the window and
climb through. Advantage in each case
was also taken when the family was tenn
porarily absent from the house.
Estes companion is peddler, and the
officers expect to have him under arrest
at any moment.