Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-26
An Officer Arrested On a Charge of
Robbery. '','.-s
A SENSATION In GEORGETOWN
Facts That Came Out After a Row
in the Family.
PILFERING ON HIS BEAT

VI oiShoneSty' perhaps burglary. Pierce,
who is twenty-eight years old, had been a
member of the force for four years, and
after having done duty in the sixth pre-
cinct for some time was transferred to
Georgetown Had he not got in trouble
there he would probably have been doing
duty west of Rock creek today. but since
this trouble he was transferred. 1t is
now charged that while doing duty in
Georgetown he was carrying on a system
attic robbery at two houses. in which was
property belonging to Mrs. M. Cooke,
daughter of Commodore Nicholson, and
Mrs. Fannie Mcmillan. '-.--.-.-a .,.--.
The houses robbed were not occupied at
the time. Mrs. McMillan's household eff
fects were stored at 1884 2Sth street, and
worth of china. cutlery and household
articles were stolen. Mrs. Cookies IN
occupied house at Both and Q streets was
robbed of similar articles, but not 50 many
some time ago. Mrs. Mcmillan being in
New York at the time. From Gotham
she communicated with Inspector Holm
berger. and Mrs. Cooke made complaint
Boyd and Lacy were assigned to the cases,
and their investigation resulted in the
arrest of the policeman this afternoon.
The Investigation.
When the complaints were made to In
detectives for investigation, they naturally
went to the precinct officers. Pierce. among
others. was told of what had been done.
ard was ordered to make an investigation.
The houses being on his beat, he was sup
posed to have Deen more deeply interested
in the matter of experimenting the burglar
than were the otner officers not on that
beat. He listened attentively to the read
ing of the report, and perhaps jotted down
the names and numbers.
He showed no signs that he knew any
thing about the robberies, nor did any of
his brother officers suspect for a moment
that he was able to throw light on the
affair. If he visited the house for the os-
tensible purpose of examining the premises
ne did so in the regular daily routine. and
did not attract any unusual attention.
Day after day he went along, making his
rounds as he had before the robberies
were committed. But time came when
he had trouble at home. When he went
nome on tie occasion referred to he found
L brother officer. Policeman Edwards in
his house with his wife, and desperate
fight was the result.
Then came a trial before the police trial
loard. and the fate CT the two policemen
is now in the hands of the Commissioners.
Would Not Believe 1t. ....
Just how suspicion regarding the robbery
was first directed toward Pierce Is not
known. and the police will not tell But it
is said that the fight with his brother Of
ficer and the consequent family disturb
arce resulted in the giving of the first in
formation against him. Even then the in
formation was discredited. The detectives
old not think Pierce could be guilty They
had heard of such Things IN other cities
but they were 10th to believe that a MEM
Der of the metropolitan police force of
the capital Of the nation had been mixed
Up in such an affair
Still the detectives wore mot erniDg IN
abandon such a clue, and Saturday they
became satisfied that they were on the
right track. Pierce lived at 617 c street
southeast. and the officers had informal ton
that the plumber. or at least some of it.
was in this house. Today's search proved
to them that they had not been misin-
formed. This morning Mrs. Cooke was at
police headquarters, and after a consuita-
ton with Inspector Hollinberger and the
detectives in the case she went to the Po-
lice Court and Swore out a search warrant
giving in the legal document long list of
property alleged to have been stolen.
1t was about noon when this was OBJ
tanned. ard Mrs Cooke went with the three
officers 10 the house in Southeast Wash
ington. ...., B..
Pierce's Arrest.
An hour later a message was received
at Headquarters that a considerable amount
of the plumber had been found in the house
OF the policeman, and then Inspector Hol-
linberger called up the fifth precinct on the
telephone and inquired: 'Is James E.
Pierce in your precinct?" When an af-
hrnative response was received he called
in the transmitter: When he comes off
duty at 1 o'clock arrest and hold him for
this Office t@'~-
1t was about lis when the officer re-
turned to the station from his beat. He
appeared surprised when Informed that
he was a prisoner.
A Barrel OF Plumber
This afternoon when the detectives re-
turned to police headquarters they had a
barrel well filed with beautiful china. that
had been recovered from the policeman's
house. as well as a couple of slumber
robes The goods had been used in Pierce's
house for decorative purposes, and some
had been in use on the table. This, the
detectives said. was only a small amount
of what was stolen, and they had been told
where they would find more of it,
Later developments show that much
more property was stolen than was at first
supposed. and the detectives say mat they
have recovered about Leo worth TINS
far. Pierce was on duty when his house
vas visited, and he was SO completely
surprised when he was arrested that he
could scarcely speak
Pierce. who. as stated, Is only twenty
eight years old. has been on the force since
1881. He is native of Vermont and was a
street car conductor in this city prior to his
appointment on the force. The arrest of
a policeman on a charge of dishonesty is
LOT an altogether new thing, but SO far as
Washington policemen are concerned the
II stances have been rare. Many years ago
when Col James G. Berret was mayor of
the city, an officer was arrested ON a charge
OF robbing his house, and because of the
pleading of Mrs. Berret he was sent to Ia
II stead or to the penitentiary
That robbery was committed under cir
cumstances not exactly similar to those in
the present case There was consfderabIa
stealing In the city at the time and the
oI1cers were put out in citizens clothes to
look for the burglars. One officer a COL
ored policeman, who went out In citizens
clothes. visited the mayors house for the
purpose of protecting it. but once in the
house the temptation 20 steal was fco creat
and he yielded. Detective German, who
was then sergeant. arrested MIN.
Taken to Hcndauarters.
The prisoner was brought to Inspector
Hollinbergers office this afternoon shortly
before O'Clock by Detective Boyd. On his
way to headquarters from the station he
made a full confession to the detective
He said that somebody else was impli-
Gated. but he will never divulge the name
of his confederate. He called attention to
the fact that only part of the goods had
been found In his house, and said his con-
Tolerate had the remainder of them,
Detective Boyd feared that the officer