Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31

Not dollars worth was recovered, nor was
there an arrest made. The shoplifters came,
robbed right and left, packed their plunder,
shipped 1t away and left the city without
even having to buy policeman drink
DIAMONDS GO, TOO.
II might be well fcr the ministerial peti-
tioners to interview Sol Hopper who mad
valuable diamond stolen from him whlie et-
tending one OF the principal theaters OIL the
city. lie reported his loss and the nearest
the detectives and police came to arrestng
the thief was 20 arrest one OF the pest
known young business men OF Councli
Bluffs.
A Mr.. Edwards was robbed OF a valuable
diamond in the same theater that same
night. Mr.. Hopper, after learning that the
police could 10 nothing, placed the case IN
the hands of ex-Chief of Police Martin White
and the latter located the stolen diamond
at Atchson. Kan. Mr.. Edwards relied on
the Omaha sleuths and thus far has learned
nothing as to the whereabouts OF his gem
The United States clothing and jewelry
house on Douglas street another victim.
The day following this robbery three Of the
stolen watches were pawned at pawnshop
on the same street, less than two blocks
distant. The proprietor of the pawnshop, in
his daily report to the chief OF police, gave
the numbers OF the three watches and these
corresponded with the numbers given by the
owners when they made their report OF the
robbery. Had the chief been attending to
his duties he could have compared the two
erty was part OF the plumber from the cloth
ing house and in this way obtained clew
that. If properly followed up, would have
resulted in the arrest of the burglars. 1t
was not however, until one of the burglars
was arrested at Kansas City aud confessed
that the police learned OF 1t. The chief then
turned to the two reports and made the dis
covery.
About six months ago a gold watch was
stolen from the residence of j. II. Blake,
1f.r nt nslav rNR. h.N MIN 10
and make of the stolen watch was given to
the Omaha police, but no clew to the stolen
property could be found short time ago
Mr. Blake's son found the watch in Council
Bluffs pawn shop. If any effort had been
put forth by the Omaha police the watch
could have been easily found, as all that was
necessary was to have Looked over the Council
Bluffs reports.
Still another victim is the firm OF Bishop
C Osborne, whose store on Military avenue,
near Forty-fifth street, has been robbed sew
eral times, the last time about three weeks
ago The goods are still missing and the
thieves are at large.
The proprietor of the cigar stand in the
United States National bank building was
robbed often that to keep from losing
everything he had, he retired from busl-
ness.
SALOON MEN ARE VICTIMS.
Five times within the last year the bust
ness establishment of William McKenna
Sherman avenue and Corby street, has been
burglarzed. Each time he telephoned to
the police, but only twice did they respond
The last time, about November 49, about 5000
worth of goods were stolen. He telephoned
the police, but they paid no attention. He
had proof that a notorious character,
SLEEPY" Hewitt, committed the crime and,
accompanied by ex-Sergeant Whalen, re-
paired to Hewitt's quarters and there found
much Of the stolen property. The police
had nothing to do with the detection Of
Hewitt.
1t is but short time ago that Buffalo Bill
was entertaining the people of Omaha with
his ''Wild West" Like every other concern
of this kind this show was followed by a
band of crooks The crooks came to Omaha
and they found fat geese to pluck at every
turn and nobody to interfere. Four Of them
paid a visit to the establishment conducted
by exMarshal Cummings near the old fair
grounds. They ordered q round OF drinks
and rendered bill in payment. Cummings
had to make change and to do this put his
hand in his pocket and extracted a roll of
bills. He was watched. and when he entered
the wine room to return the change he was
seized by two of the men and held while
the other two went through his pockets and
robbed him of $3.50. At this very time when
the robbery occurred. 1t Is said, two police
officers were in the back part OF the saloon
drinking bear.
In November last man named Ollar had
costly buggy stolen from in front of Nc
Cormick's barn, Fourteenth and Howard
streets. A few days after the robbery oc-
Cured he saw two men in a vehicle which
he was sure was the one stolan from him. ON
Ger Wilbur of the mounted police force came
along on horseback and Ollar told him that
two men had just driven past in a buggy
stolen from him. The officer could easily
have overtaken them, but he grufIly informed
Olar that he going to dinner, but
would ride up that way afterwards" That
was the last seen of the missing vehicle.
The night before the recent election DR..
]. j. Saville went to the depot to greet the
democratic nominee for president. He had
watch which he had carried for forty-tve
years, and to which he was greatly attached.
That night he parted company with 1t and
when the timepiece was taken he, according
to his own statement, was Crowded right
up against two policemen" He had so much
confidence in the ability of the police not to
find anything that he never reported the loss
to them.
About December 10 last many persons were
robbed on board the street cars. Major
John B. Furay is said to have had his pockets
rfed at that time. More than thirty cases
made.
Scores of bicycles have been stolen in
the city during the past year, but not one
of the thieves has been caught by the
police. Some of them, however. have been
apprehended, but through the efforts Of the
local dealers.
Not long ago the Grant Street Christian
church was robbed and the fact was re-
ported to the police, but no one has been
arrested. Emboldened by their success, a
few nights later the robbers again entered
the church and remained there for some
time, searching for valuables. No effort,
however, is being made to capture or locate
the parties
The foregoing are some of the robberies,
but not all of them. In the light OF such a
record what defense can any fair-minded
man make in pleading for the maintenance
OF the present law, commission and police
force?
HASN'T MUCH FAITH IN OUR POLICE.
MIR. KiIpatriclSs Experience with One
of Omnhn's blue Coats.
Thomas Fitzpatrick, the dry goods man,
had a little experience Wednesday night
calculated to make him disagree with the
preachers that testified to the efficiency and
foresight of the Omaha police department.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick had just gotten about COM
fortably retired when he was aroused by a
policeman, who informed him that there was
some trouble down at his store, and that
there was a terrible odor OF gas escaping
In his haste TO look after his prop
erty and accompany the policeman
Mr.. Fitzpatrick neglected to put on clothes
required by zero weather. He hurriedly fol-
lowed the policeman to the corner of Doug
las and Fifteenth streets. but his most siren.
uous efforts failed to detect anything like