The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-26

a sensation was sprung in police circles
this morning by the arrest OF Patrolman
charged with burglarizing several houses
in Georgetown.
The OFFICER was taken into custody as he
came Off duty, shortly after l O'Clock, at
the Fifth precinct station house, on Capt.
tol Hill. Detectives Boyd, Helan, and
Lacey, who made the arrest, acted under
instructions from Inspector Hollinberger.
Pierce had been on duty during the
morning, and his section was nelieved at
unsuspectingly, and was at once placed
under arrest. When his brother officers
realized what had happened, constema-
tiol reigned. The matter was kept en-
tireiy secret. and the mission of the de-
tectiyeS was unknown until they took
Pierce into custody.
Inspector HoIlinberger is confident that
he has abundant evidence against the man
aud had put off the arrest until the last
moment for fear of making a mistake.
The complainants against Pierce are
Mrs. Major NcMilion and Mrs Minnie
Cooke. Mrs Cooke lives at No. 2S16
street, and a portion Of her furniture
was stored in a vacant house on the corner
of Thirtieth and Q streets. Some weeks
ago she discovered that a thief had en-
tered the premises and made off with her
property.
The robbery was reported TO police head
quarters and Detective Boyd was assigned
to the case The officer began an inveSti-
CATION, hut had worked on the case bat
day or two wnen a similar robbery was
reported from theimmediate ncighhorhood.
Mrs McMnlon, the wife of Major NC
Million, OF the Army, reported that the house
had been entered and several hundred
dollars worth or furniture stolen
Major McMiilon is at present stationed
in New York, and the report came in the
form Of letter Inspector HOllinberger
at once tciegiaphed for a description Of
the missing property, which Mis-. No Mil
Ian promptly furnished.
In tie ,ouIs,- ii nIs investigation, De-
tectiye Boyd learned that Pierce, who
was stationed IN TIE Georgetown precinct
at that time, was on the beat when The
Iobberics were committed He question
ei tie officer concernlng what steps ne had
taken toward apprehending the thieves,
and from his answers and manner the de-
tective became suspicious.
iIyrCe n-,I Always .oTne an excellent
reputation. and Boyd was Ioath to be-
heTa him connected in any manner with
the rohberaS.
At This Time Detectives Helan and Lacey
were called IN FOR consultation, and the in
veStigalion was pursued with the utmost
caution The detectives worked OH the
matter for several weeks, ana finally OBJ
tainc sufficient evidence TO warrant them
m taking decisive step. Accordingly,
Mrs coke was communicated with, and
yesterday she swore oIs a search warrant.
This morning the detectives went to
TIercc's house and searched It. The man
lives at No. 6IT street southeast, and
tna Officers were careful u ~ There
while he was on duty. and could not be
al home. They gained admission easily,
aad at once found evidences that Pierce
had at least u portion ef Mrs. Cookies
property In his possession.
Mas. Cooke Is the daughter OF Admiral
Nicholson, and the goods stolen repre-
sentcd a portion OF the collection of cuTios
Jne nara ufiiccr haI picked up ia foreign
countries
AlusH. the articles taken were valuable
pieceSol japanese glassware, a ntique CHINA,
and rare objects of ycrtu frUru strange
lands These things, the Officers say,
they found scattered about artistically in
Policeman Piercc's house.
Immediately upon satisfying themselves
that the. property was Mrs. Cookies In
spector Holunberger was commune cated
with and he At once ordered Pierce taken
into custody.
The arrest came as a great surprise to
the mans brother officers, and it WAS
some time before they could realize the
seriousness Of the charge against their
comrade.
l-le.c,. mas been member q tire police
force about four years, and. SO far as is
known, has never been in trouble before.
He VAS transferred a few weeks ago from
Georgetown TO the East Washington pre-
cinct, but il is believed that this was done
at his own request, as he lived in that
section of the city.
were commit ted is unknown. The last time
Mrs. McMillon had her house opened was
soon after the big cyclone last September,
At that time the furniture was in place
and there was no evidence that thief
had been upon the premises.
Tn" house remained unoCcupicd until
SOM tine in The latter part of March,
when ii was opened at Mrs. Mchillon's
request. and il was discovered that over
$3.50 worth of furniture had been taken.
Late this afternoon the detectives
recovered additional property from Pierce's
house Of an estimated value of 81 800.
The property consists mainly of valuable
rugs. Chinaware andother household effects.
Pierce was brought TO policeheadquarter
this afternoon, and when confronted with
the accumulated evidence against him,
practically admitted his guilt.