The San Francisco call., 1897-10-17
Clever Capture of Two Ex-
pert Thieves With Their
Plunder.
Stole Ten Large Boxes of Tea
and Had Negotiated It's Sale
Last Night.
William Kelly, an Ex-Oonviot, Thomas
Edwards, Alias Kearney, and
James Conlan, Arrested.

An important capture was made last
night by Detectives Ryan and O'Dea and
Chief Special Officer c. G. Crowley of the
Southern Pacific, Captain of the Watch
Patrick Kindelon at Fourth and Town
send and Special Officer levin.
For years the Southern Pacific Company
and the Federal authorities have been
worried py bonded cars and bonded ware
houses being broken into and articles
stolen.
Tuesday night between 8 ana 10 O. clock
a bonded car at Fourth and Townsend
streets was broken into by forcing off the
Government lock. The car was filled
with boxes of tea and ten boxes were
stolen. In the hurry TO get away the rob
bers had dropped two OF the boxes between
the cars.
Next morning Kindelon and levin dis
covered the two boxes of tea and the open
car, and after talking the m natter over they
suspected it was the work of William Kelly,
an ex-convict, who was arrested on No
v5mber q last year by Ryan and O'Des
Tor breaking into the California bonded
warehouse. corner of Second and Town.
Sc nd, on September 1 and stealing several
L
Tullv and Thomas Conwell were with
Kelly in that Job. Kelly and the Tullys
were tried in Judge Cooks court and &C,
quilted, but Conwell, who was tried in
judge Wallace's court, got three years in
San Quentin.
Kindelon and levin notified Ryan and
O'Dea, and they came to the same con-
clusion. kelly's movements were watched
and II was discovered that he was trying
TO sell the tea by samples.
The officers discovered that Kelly and
Joseph Edwards, alias Harry Kearney,
were implicated IN the robbery, and that
Tuesday night they had broken into the
stable of a coaiyard, 938 Fourth stree I,
and stolen q horse and wagon. The V
drove 10 the car at Fourth and Townsend
streets, broke the lock of the gate, Lowered
The platfJrm as they had previously
broken the bonded lock, and rapidly
loaded up the ten heavy boxes of tea,
some OF them weighing eighty-seven
pounds.
They drove the wagon to the cellar oi
Mrs. Lyons house on Clinton street, near
Brennan, and stored the tea there, and
then commenced 10 negotiate for is sale
The officers learned yesterday that the
tea had been sold to an unknown mer-
chant, ana that it was to be delivered at
the corner of Cough street and Rose ave
nue. last night.
Kelly and Edwards employed James
Conlan, an express man. 10 deliver the
Dad, and they accompanied the wagon.
The officers were on hand and when the
wagon reached its destination, about {
o'clock, Ryan, O Dea, Kinoe on and Levin
closed IN and promptly placed Edward
and Conlan, The expressman, under ar
rest.
Kelly jumped from the wagon and
dashed along Rose avenue, pursued by
Crowley, who drew his revolver and yelled
10 Kelly that he would shoot unless be
stopped. Kelly realized that Crowley
would not hesitate o shoot, so threw VI
his hands and stopped.
The three men were taken TO the CITY
Prison and were placed in "the tanks
pending further Investigation. The tea
was deposited in the prison and the hors
and wagon were taken to a stable OF
Seventh and Brennan streets.
The police are elated over the capture
as it was skillfully followed up and exc
Cuted,