The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-02
TOOK MOST ANYTHING
IRVING HARDY HAD BEEN SYSTEM
ATICALLY ROBBING A STORE.
Morris #. White, n Colorcd Society
Leader, Charged with Receiv-
ing the Stolen Goods.

On the theatrical posters Of the Colored
Dramatic Club he figures as Morris F.
White, stage manager. On the slate at the
station house his name stands Maurice
+. White, receiver OF stolen goods. He
was arrested yesterday evening by detec-
tive Thornton, together with Irving Har-
dy. Whites companion in misfortune Is
charged with grand larceny. There is
story back of the arrest of the two colored
men. Hardy obtained a situation as por-
ter at Lilly & Stalnaker's hardware store,
No. Ga East Washington street, about a
year and a half ago. Mr.. Stalnaker said
last night Hardy was an intelligent, good
natured fellow, and the members OF the
firm as we'll as the clerks soon learned
to like him. He was little shiftless at
times and often took advantages of the
rules Of the firm, such as falling to re-
port for duty for a day or two at time,
but as he always Rad some laughable ex-
cuse for his shortcomings. and as he was
regarded perfectly honest and straight
forward, he was retained. In addition to
his duties about the store he was required
to drive light delivery wagon on certain
occasions. One day he got into trouble on
the street with his horse and was heavily
fined, Mr.. Lilly becoming good for the
liked, the firm frequently advanced MIN
money to buy good clothes and favored HIM
in every way possible. About two months
ago. Mr.. Stalnaker says, Morris F. White
first appeared the scene. He had a
habit OF coming into the store during Har-
dy's noon hour, and would generally re-
main two hours. Little was thought of the
circumstance, and while White was some
thing OF dandy and a little destinations
in displaying a large roll Of money which
he carried, no objections were raised to
his .abit of loafing in the store. About
this time other colored men began drop
ping into the store from time to time
leave money for Hardy. A few days before
Christmas clerk discovered pearl-han-
died ole knife and fork were missing from a
$lo set or table cutlery. Another colored
man, at that time but recently married,
was suspected of the theft and was dis
charged on other grounds, however. The
firm notified the detectives of their sus-
picions, and the man was carefully
watched. for several days. An intimate
friend of the mans wife visited the house.
expecting to see the knife and fork appear
on the dinner table, but nothing came of
the effort to place the guilt on the man,
and the detectives turned their attention to
other people. In the meantime other arti-
cles OF value disappeared from the store.
First a valuable pearl-handled carving set
was missed; then a ten-dolar chatting dish
and stand were missing. During all this
time White continued his visits at the
store. Detective Thornton in the mean
time made quiet inquiries among the men,
bers Of an exclusive colored social set in
which White posed as a leader and learned
that certain colored woman had ele-
giant set of table cutlery that corresponded
to the description of one taken from the
hardware store. The woman finally made
admissions that lead him to suspect White,
and that gentleman was quietly looked UP.
The upshot OF the matter was White and
Hardy were. arrested yesterday evening.
Hardy was In the store when taken into
10 RI no
ly surprised, and said he could not under
stand why he was arrested.
That won't work, Irving" said Thorn
ton. II have got you dead to rights and
you might as well tell the TRUTH
Mr.. Stalnaker says Harely then admitted
while. The money left for him by other
colored men was. the price of stolen razors,
knives, revolvers, etc. Hardy told me-"
came cam in here noon it H was for the " pure
pose OF selecting articles he desired to pos
sess. II want that IS clothes wrlnger," he
rected Hardy 10 get the carving set" A
large assortment of cutlery, worth about
$50. waffle irons, clothes wringer. several
the original packages. as well as a miscel-
found at Whites home, in North Indian
apols. So much plumber was concealed
about the house Thornton had to take a
wagon to haul it to the stationhouse, where
1t is now stored away in Captain Splan's
IF this stealing has been going. on ever
since Hardy came to work for US, judg-
ing from the goods recovered, should say
the firm has lost several hundred dollars
worth of stuff" Mr.. Stalnaker said. In
a store Of this kind such pilfering could go
on for an indefinite time without being
discovered. II the single knife and fork
had not been taken from the SET it is
possible we would not have missed the other
articles. Mr.. Thornton could hardy believe
it possible that White was really guilty,
as he is highly regarded by the colored
people, but / am inclined to think he is
more guilty than Hardy. We intend to
push the case against him and / insisted
that White should be arrested as well as
Hardy
Mr. Stalnaker said that Hardy was al
ways among the first to arrive in the
store at the hour for opening. 1t is sup
posed he concealed the smaller articles in
his pockets as he went back and forth
about his duties and that the larger ar
ticles were carried out to the delivery
wagon, ostensibly for delivery to customers,
but in reality to be hauled to Whites
home. Edwin White, Morris Whites faith
er. owns real estate in North Indianapolis.
Last night he went to the stationhouse
and signed his sons bond for $1,000. Hardy
remains a prisoner.