The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-11
A Detective Joins the Gang and
Leads Them Into a Neatly
Laid Trap.
THEY ARE NOW IN THE TANKS
Thought TO Be Guilty of a Half Dozen
Burglaries Committed in the
Same Neighborhood.

In the tanks at the City Prison are two
men who will be charged with robbing the
house of Mrs. Conreitch, Gil Eddy street,
as soon as the detectives have completed
their efforts to trace some half dozen rob-
berries committed within the last three
weeks to the same parties.
In the meantime the accused men are
down in the "small book" and the police,
with customary discreetness, refuse to give
their names or even talk about the case.
However, the capture made by Captain
Lees on information furnished by a
neBsboy is regarded in police circles as
most important. Outside of this it carries
all the sensational features of an up-to-
date novel, including a detective turning
robber-the thieves searching the jewell
box, only to find that the precious gems
have been distracted, and then the eli
| max-staiwart policemen issuing from
secret hiding places and commanding the
midnight maurauders to surrender.
The story as told by the neighbors-Mrs.
Conreltch refusing to talk until given per-
mission to do SO by the detectiyes-em-
braces all the features above recorded and
others equally thrilling but old. Last
Thursday night shortly after o'clock a
! newsboy lettering along Eddy street, near
Taylor, observed two men engaged in
earnest conversation. As he was about to
pass his quick ear caught the word rob, y
followed second later by 1911 Eddy
Under some pretext the boy managed TO
remain within earshot without exciting
suspicion, the result being that he learned
the whole plot.
Quick as his little legs could carry him
the boy was off TO the Central Station and
there told what he had heard. Captain
Lees at once detailed man on the case
said to be Detective Seymour-and late r
conceived neat scheme to effect the cap
ture of the would-be burglars. The detec-
tive called at the house of Mrs. Coureitch
and attempted to tell that lady of the plot
10 rob her house. But the landlady would
have nothing to do with him, fearing that
her reputed savior was one of the robbers.
| Disguised at his reception, the detective
retired, to return few minutes later with
couple of officers and a star displayed
conspicuously on his own breast.
This time Mrs. Conreith was willing
enough to believe the story, and readily
agreed to secrete officers in any manner
or place desired. This much accom-
plished the detective retired temporarily
from the scene.
Just how the detective managed it is not
apparent at present, but in short time
he met the robbers and was soon ''boon
companion" The burglars took their
new-found friend into their confidence.
the detective, of course, falling greedily in
with the scheme. He was willing to do
anything which promised fair return for
ha TINA nj 10 hor ;pxaetad
At 1:30 O'Clock Friday morning the
three men arrived at Gil Eddy street. and
without much ado cast about for the most
available entrance. 1t was finally deter
mined that one of the bay-windows, some
seven or eight feet from the ground would
be easy to overcome. A Jimmy did the