The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-19
STOLE HIS MASTERS GOLD.
NEGRO THIEF FLUSH WITH THE
YELLOW METAL.

Dir. Foraker of Baldwin, Fla, would
Not Trust to Banks, But Buried
His Gold In Jar I'm His Yard.
John Hicks, n COIOred EmplOyc,
Learned the Hiding Place nnd
Fuched the whole AmOunt-He
sDent some of the Gold in savan-
nah and Left For Atlanta.
Colored visitors with $500 in gold on
their persons are not frequent in Savan-
nah There was one such visitor here
day or two ago, however. His name was
John Hicks and he displayed profusion
of $40 and $40 gold pieces to the few per
sons who made his acquaintance.
Hicks blew himself to q suit of blue
clothes and a light hat, besides other ar
ticles of personal adornment while here.
Being a prudent fellow he did not remain
here long, but is supposed to have gone to
Atlanta.
Had it not been for a poorly worded tel
egram Hicks might now be resting behind
the bars at the police station. Saturday
morning Chief McDermott received tel
egram from Baldwin, Fla, to arrest John
Hicks, "black negro with light mustache.
Has plenty of gold on him"
The telegram was signed John Upton,
Deputy Sheriff" Chief McDermott was
at a loss TO know why he should arrest
John Hicks. The fact that he was
black negro with light mustache and had
plenty of gold would not be a sufficient
charge under the Georgia laws. lie
accordingly wired the deputy sheriff at
Baldwin for further information.
A reply was received early yes
terday morning, stating that Hicks was
wanted for the theft of $500 in gold. The
matter was given prompt at
tention, and 1t was found that
Hicks had been here, as stated, but that
he had last been seen at 9:35 o'clock Sat
urday night, when he stated his intention
of taking the 10 o'clock train for Atlanta.
Chief Connolly of Atlanta was wired to
look out for him.
Last night Deputy Sheriff Upton and
Mr.. Foraker arrived here from Baldwin
in search of Hicks, and told the story of
the robbery. Hicks, who is only % years
of age was in the employ Of Mr.. Forakers
father, a well-to-do citizen of Baldwin.
Like many other people Mr. Baldwin had
a distrust OF banks. He put his savings
in gold and kept them in an old jar, which
he buried on his premises. He had ac-
cumulated something over $500. Last
Friday morning he went to his hoard and
took from It the amount In ex-
cess of $500 leaving that sum
in the jar. Hicks, who probably
suspected his employers secret, watched
him and learned the hiding place of the
hoard He was not long in possessing him
self Of the amount and left at once.
When Hicks absence was noticed his
employer grew suspicious, and an inVes-
tIgation showed that his precious hoard
had been looted. Not an eagle nor half
eagle had been left. kilograms We're at
once sent TO Jacksonville and Savannah
and other places for the arrest OF Hicks.
and circulars were gotten out, Offering 800
reward for his capture. It Is supposed
that he took the train and came right
through to Savannah without stopping In
Jack sonville. Had the first telegram to
Chief McDermott stated the crime
for which Hicks was wanted it
is more than likely that he would have
been arrested here.
Chief McDermott has made II
a rule never to make an arrest of
this kind unless the charge is specified In
the telegram, calling for the arrest
There is no law in Georgia for holding a
prisoner without a charge against him,
and in case 1t should be found that there
was no ground for the arrest the party
arrested might make 1t a serious matter
for the officer making the arrest. Hence
the precaution of requiring that the
charge against the party wanted be
named.
Messrs. Upton and Foraker called at the
police barracks last night. They were
very much disappointed when they found
that their man had been here and flown.
They stated that $3.50 reward would be
paid for the capture of Hicks. Hicks is
described as five feet four inches high,
black, with small mustache.