The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-25
GAY TIME FOR ROBBERS
ENGINEER SWIFT WAYLAID LAST
NIGHT AT A PROMINENT CORNER.
Decentralization of the Police Force
burglars Discovered i'm b. #. Smiths
HOme-BOy Detectives.

1t is evident from the number of robberies
of all sorts occurring in the city that the
demoralized police force is unable to cope
with the gang or gangs of thieves which
infest the city. Day after day reports of
numerous burglaries, highway robberies and
housebreakings are reported to the police,
but it is rarely that an arrest is made.
At o'clock yesterday morning the neigh
borhood of Highland and Marlowe avenues
was startled by the screams Of women and
the shouts of men and the crash of glass.
burglar had awakened the family of
Benjamin +. Smith. 257 Highland avenue.
The burglar was in the act of ransacking
the house. He had the bOldness to enter the
sleeping rooms up stairs after having
searched the lower floor He carried
candle. and coolly searched through draw
ers and cabinets. When Mrs. Smith awoke
he departed hurriedly making his escape
through a front window.
good description of the fellow was fur
nished the police, as he was recognized as
man who had appeared in the neighborhood
during the afternoon begging at back doors.
Since the burglary the neighbors have COM
pared notes, ascertaining that several had
given food to the alleged tramp, more than
he could possibly have needed. He was a
short, spare-built man, fairly well dressed
in a black suit, with frock coat. He wore
a brown stiff hat. He secured some jewelry
at the Smith residence.
Yesterday morning a merchant policeman
making the rounds on West Washington
street, discovered that the saloon kept by
John Bush, at cold number) 172, had been
burglarized during the night The side
board had been opened and large quantity
of goods taken.
AN ENGINEER WAYLAID
Last night Frank Swift. an engineer, who
boards at the Roosevelt House, was waylaid
oy three men at the corner of Michigan
street and Capitol avenue. The assault oc-
Cured at II o clock-a time when there are
many people on the street in the vicinity
The assault was for tire purpose of robbery
but as Swift carried neither money nor a
watch. the thieves got nothing Swift was
painfully injured. He received a blow
across the head which rendered him unoon-
scious for a time.
Yesterday afternoon some boys saw a man
acting suspiciously on Fletcher avenue. He
would go into houses. and IL there was no
one at home would Try to effect an entrance.
They told paSSefsDy or what they saw, and
the fellow ran. The boys followed him
however, and the police were notified. The
bicycle cops" tried To catch the fellow
but he did not stand still and wait to be
captured, so they did not get him. But the
boys who were following him simply
''trailed' along without arousing the fell
low suspicious. determined TO follow him
until they met a policeman. On Indiana
avenue, near Vermont street distance of
three niles from where they began follow
ing him. the boys met Patroman Winn in
citizens clothes He arrested the man on
a charge of housebreaking He had en-
tered the house Of Mrs. Prank English, 1445
Fletcher avenue before the boys discovered
his work He gave the name of James
Smith and Salina, Kan, as his home.