The evening times., 1896-07-30
'R0cKs|E" M'KENNA TAKEN
Notorious Hotel Thief Arrested
in New York City.
WANTED FOR CRIMES HERE
Chase in Pajamas In the Hotel Marl-
borough Halls-H. Grnftan Dom.
nelly, the Playwright, In at the
Finish-He Is Stxty-one Years Old
and One of the Most Noted Thieves.

famous hotel thief, who is badly wanted
by the police OF this city, has been trapped
by the New York sleuths. Under the alias
of Samuel s. Richards, he was arrested
In the Hotel Marlborough, Thirty-sixth
street and Broadway, New York city. 1t
sook tliree men 10 overcome the aged crinii-
nal. They were George S. Dayton,
civil engineer; F. S. Willard, tie night
clerk, and IL. Grattan Donnelly, the play
wright.
'Rocksie'' McKenDa is wanted here for
several OF the biggest and boldest hotel
robberics ever committed in this city,
The principal crime with which McKeDna
liz charged here is that OF the robbery OF
Congressman Grove L. johnson of Cali
fornia ut the Hotel Cochran last winter.
lie Is also thought TO lie the thief who
robbed Manager Frazier OF the Hotel Raj
eigh OF diamonds and who robbed Congress
man Hatch of Missouri. The robbery at
the Cochran netted the thief over $4,000.
The Washington department has sent q
man 10 New York TO identify the suspect.
The story OF his arrest follows:
Mr.. Dayton, who has been living in the
suburbs, brought his wife 10 New York last
Monda on shopping tour. AT nj ght they
registered at the Marlborough, and were
assigned to a room on the fifth floor
Shortly after a. nj. Mrs. Dayton, who is
avery light sleeper was awakened with
feeling that there was some stranger in the
room.
She heard the Jingling OF silver and keys,
and in the dim light that entered the room
through the transom she was enabled TO
make out the figure OF a man near the
,rip I IIa in ,fnrhf rnlf
and was industriously engaged in rifling
the pockets OF Mr.. Dayton's trousers.
Fora moment Mrs .Daytonwas speechless
withfrig ut. Then she gavevent 10 a scream
that not only awakened her husband. but
penetrated to the office On the first floor.
Jumping out OF bed, Mr.. Dayton, without
stopping TO dress, pursued, in his pa jamas,
the shadowy figure that was attempting
to escape into room No / 81, in the annex
of the hotel.
CHASE IN LIGHT ATTIRE.
'Hi, tberer' he cried, but the figure
"hied" elsewhere, and when next it came
into view it was on the floor below. Down
one flight of stairs chased Mr.. Dayton, and
up the other the thief
Meanwhile several guests, in light attire,
had joined the chase. Night Clerk Willard
and II Grattsn Donnely. VINO had been
conversing at the desk. heard the screams
and dashed up stairs to see what was the
matter. They arrived just in time to see Mr.,
Dayton pinion the marauder TO the floorand
hear his frantic appeals for assistance.
The man who had arrived at the hotel
Sunday afternoon and registered as Philip
Heath, of Chicago, loudly protested his in
4, a at-a,.
the room of the Daytons for the bath, Po
licemaD Carey, of the West ThTteth street
station, had been summoned, and, although
the alleged Mr.. Heath threatened an sorts
of dire Things, he was taken into custody.
When confronted by Capt. o'Brien and
the entire detective staff of New York yes
terday. Mr.. Heath" attempted TO MAIN
tain his position, but The effort resulted in
most signal failure.
"Why. that's 'Rocksie' Mckenna,' said
Detective MeCaulcy.
.'Surei'' replied dozen. in chorus.
you've made a grievous error" pleaded
the old Iuan indignantly II am Philip
Heath, a retired merchant of Chicago"
HIS PRISON CAREER.
Your name is Samuel S. Richards put
in the chief. land you hailed originally
from Louisville, KY. You were arrested in
this city in April, 1895, for your connection
with a robbery at the Astor House.
prior to that you served terms in the
Western Penns sylvania Penitentiary for
crooked work in Pittsburg. You also served
In the State Prison OF Ohio for robbery at
the Hotel DeDnison, Cincnanu, committed
during 1856, and in S93 you were arrested
,Yt tod Ia
larry in the CASTOR House and the shooting
of porter. while trying to escape. Do you
deny all this?'
The prisoner broke down and wept. Later
when he was arraignedin Jefferson Market
police court Judge Deuel. held him in
So 500 for examination.
For twenty-five years McKenna has been
one OF the foremost hotel thieves in this
country and Europe. He is still full Of
vigor. Efforts are being made to locate
his comrades.