The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-21
FLORIDA'S GOLD BUG CAUGHT.
JOHN HICKS. WHO STOLE FORA
KER's GOLD ARRESTED.


sence and Proceeded 10 Blow in
the GOId-Bought n Horse and Paid
For If in Coin-This Led to His Ar
rest For HicLs-The Latter Had
s644 when Arrested-AbOut 500
More I'm sight.
John Hicks, the negro who stole $500
an gold from his employer, Mr. Foraker,
at Baldwin, Fla, last Friday
is now behind the bars at
the nolice station His brother. Jack
son King. is also under arrest here
Hicks was arrested yesterday on the
Ogeechee river 10y Constable Joseph Fer
rin and Mr.. G. Is. oliver Of Pooler- He
had s644 when arrested. all but 81 being
IN $40 gold pieces He was brought down
10 Savannah last night by Messrs Ferrill
and oliver, who turned him over to Cmef
McDermott.
Mr.. Foraker has been wired to come TO
Savannah for his money and to bring an
officer for the negro. Besides the money
found on Hicks, SIS were found upon
King when he was arrested, and In addi-
ton Sl35 paid by King for horse and
$40 for a suit Of clothes ordered by him
will probably be recovered.
Hicks brother and sister were robbing
him with as little conscience as he had
robbed his employer, and had they been
allowed 4 few days longer, the whole
sum would soon have been dissipated.
About ! o'clock yesterday Chief Nc
Dermott received a dispatch from Con-
stable Ferin at Pooler asking for a de-
scription of Hicks. and stating that the
fugitive was believed TO be there. Chief
McDermott wired a description, and sent
Detective Scully to Pooler on the next
train. When the detective arrived he
found that Constable Ferril, with two
other men, had left for the Ogeechee riv-
er the direction taken by the negro sup
posed to be Hicks. The description Civ
en- the detective by parties, who saw the
negro at Pooler tailed very closely with
that of Hicks. He was said to be flush
with money, and to have had paid hack
man 50 to take him to the Ogeechee river
bridge in the morning.
Hicks is an "Ogeechee COON and this
confirmed Detective Scully in the belief
that Constable Ferrill was after the right
man In the meantime something else
had happened.
Chief McDermott was taking things easy
and enjoying the fine breeze on the back
piazza of the police barracks about
O'Clock when he received word that
negro who appeared to be loaded down
with gold had just bought a horse at
YoungloVe e GOOdman's stable, paying Tor
II in gold and that he had just left the
stable In a buggy with another negro, stat
ing that they were going out for a ride,
1t was supposed on the ThunderbOlt road.
The chief was in a quandary. Detective
Scully was at Pooler, Detective Barrett
was at work on a case in the southern
81 ba off NJ Foreman
was out with the chiefs horse and buggy.
He managed to find the latter, however
and set out on the trial Of the two negroes
in a buggy, leaving word for Detective
Barrett to go to YounglOve & Goodman
stable He drove first to the Thunderbolt
toll gate where he was Informed that no
one had passed in over an hour. AT the
White Bluff road toll gate he was inform
ed that no parties answering the descrip-
ton given by him had passed He drove
out the Ogeechee road some distance and
learned from parties coming in from
distance that no such buggy as he de-
scribed had been met by them. He took a
turn through Frogtown and then drove
down West Broad street. As he neared
Youuglove & Coodmans stable he saw the
buggy with the two negroes in 1t come
out of State street.
Detective Barrett, who was in waiting
at the stable, ran out and stopped the
buggy and the two negroes were placed
under arrest AT the barracks they save
their names as Jack King and Lewis
Houston.
When searched at the barracks, Ss1 were
found upon King. there being three so
gold pieces in the lot At the stables II
was learned that he had paid $135 for the
horse, laying down seven $40 gold pieces
and receiving s. change.
King answered the description of Hicks
very closely. except that he appeared TO
be older and that both eyes were clear.
whereas Hicks was said to have a defect
In one eye.
When questioned at the barracks as to
how he came by so much gold King gave
very peculiar explanation.
Il work at the Plant system wharf" he
eaid Saturday, after We knocked off
work. l started to town along the Tybee
railroad track. At the Bilbo canal trestle
met three men sitting down. l spoke to
them and one of them asked me where they
could find somebody to play skin with L
skin I said. They asked me II / had a
pack OF cards and l told 'em / would get
pack and come back there. l had about
SIS In money saved up. / got the money
got my pistol got a pack Of cards and
went back there between and s o'clock
We played skin and / won $3.50. Then we
came on TO town together and the stores
were Just closing up when we got here"
King said that one OF the three men
was short and stout, and that he had a
sachel with lot Of gold in It, and some
paper money. He claimed that he ala
not know the names Of any Of the party.
and that he had seen nothing Of them
since.
Chief McDermott thought it extremely
improbable that If King had struck such
snap he should have said nothing about
Il to anybody, and should have made no
attempt to follow IL up. II was still more
improbable that he should have gone out
alone 10 play cards with lot of stran-
gers, and <nnt they should have allowed
him TO get away alive with so much OF
their money.
King was sharply cross-questioned. but
stuck 10 his story. lie said that he was
employed at the Plant system wharf. and
that he could show that he was at work
there Friday and Saturday last. If this
should be the case he would be clear of
having committed the robbery, az this oc.
cured Friday.
When asked why he blew his money On
on horse King replied that he had beer
saving up 10 buy horse for a long time