Rock Island Argus., 1897-03-12
MORE BRASS FOUND
Missing Property Beneath
Patterson's House.
THREE MEN UNDER ARREST.

Police Authorities Think the Guilty
PARTIES, Two of Whom Have Been Held
Before ON Suspicion of the Same oh.n.e,
Have Been Finally Apprehendsd.
Another batch OF brass was located
on the premises of John Patterson,
21l3 Fourth avenue, this morning.
Patterson, who is an old man who
makes out an existence by mending
shoes, and his son. George, and
Robert Collins are now in the county
Jail awaiting a preliminary examina-
tion to charge OF the larceny of
brass from the Burlington railway.
About one hundred pounds of that
sort OF material, some OF which was
identified by e. j. Dempsey, fore
man of the Burlington's round house,
was found in the cellar way at Pat
terson's house.
The police authorities, with the
assistance of Messrs. Romano and
Buckley, detectives for the Milwau-
kee and Burlington roads, and Sher-
i'll Hemenway, have been working on
the case ever since the theft OF a
large amount Of brass from the Mil
waukee's car repair shanty about six
weeks ago. Nearly four hundred
pounds were taken. The brasses are
valued at 90 cents per pound. Soon
after followed the Darlington job.
A couple of hundred pounds were
made away with in this haul.
After thorough investigation OF
the situation Chief Etzel and Detec-
tive Romaine settled their suspicious
on Robert Collins and George Patter-
son, both OF whom we're placed
under arrest. Collins is said by the
police to have very shady reputa-
ton, anyhow. He formerly resided
on Second avenue east of twentieth
street. but he and his better half sep
arated few months ago, she having
returned home from u visit to her
folks in Davenport, one day, 50 she
told the police. only to iinc that CJl-
Inns had decamped with the furniture.
Patterson and Collins were detained
few days and were put through
rigid examinations, but nothing
which would throw any new light on
the brass mystery was learned.
So Patterson vas released. Collius,
whom it was suspected knew more
about the affair than his associate,
was held, aud sent down Oh a charge
of vagrancy, to which he plead
guilty. He served his time ana re.
joined his companion, Patterson,
who had promised the police that il
he ol'd get on to anything new con.
cerniDg the case he would let them
know. This did not help him out
any, although he may have thought
so. He was watched. So was Col
Inns.
Detective Buckley and Bailiff Steve
Hull afterward hi. on the trail of
George Patterson and arrested him
on suspicion. Bat he was subse
quentiy released. Hull then got out
- search warrant for the premises of
John Patterson. young Patterson's
aged father, on F,uit1 avenue,
where the brass identified as part OF
that stolen from the Burlington was
found in the cellar.
Oficer HIIilsr's Find.
Officer Miller pait visit to the
Patterson place this morning. He
became curious as to the probability
Of some property not belonging there
being under the house. He had s
couple OF boys crawl under and they
hauled out couple of hundred
pounds of railroad brass, most of il
bearing the c., Nj. & St. Paul mark
Some Of it however, is branded c..
3. & Q. The brass, which is used
as an axle protector on the truck o.
car. had been heated and broker
by the thieves. who had evidently
disposed OF the paits which could
n nt ha idanfifiad n In L dnalarr