The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-30
ms SHOES FILLED WITH WATCHES.
Suspected JeweIry Thief Captured
by Detective Barrett.


by Detective Barrett.
Five hundred dollars worth of watches.
supposed to have been stolen. were recov-
cred yesterday from a negro named Henry
Alexander. by Detective James J. Barrett.
The theft was probably not committed in
savannah for the reason the negro had
only been here half an hour when he was
arrested.
The story of the capture reveals the re-
suits OF arresting suspicious characters,
which has been the policy Of the detective
force during Chief McDermotts admins
tration. From what could be learned by
Detective Barrett. Alexander reached Sa-
Vannah from Jacksonville on the Florida
Central and Peninsular train about 1879
O'Clock. He wanted to raise funds on the
lot of valuables he had, and went to a
pawn broker TO hypOthecate watch De-
tectlNe Barrett was in the pawn shop, on
the watch for what might turn up. Suspi-
clon fel on the negro as soon as he entered
because of the manner in which he eyed
Detective Barrett, and tried to keep the
transaction secret.
Walking 10 the desk behind the curtain,
Alexander produced a fine stop-watch,
commonly used by turfmen, and offered to
pawn IL for Sl5. Detective Barrett was
standing cioser enough to see il was a val
liable watch, worth probably $3.50, and such
as not TO be generally found in the pos
session OF negro of Alexander type. Be-
lore the transaction with the broker was
consummated, the officer walked up, asked
for the watch which was held by the brok-
er, and took Alexander a prisoner on sus-
piclon. The man was dumbfounded, and
never dreamed he was pulling out the
watch in the presence Of an officer. 1t was
before the arrest that Alexander did all
the talking about being from Jacksonville,
and having just reached the city.
Detective Barrett started toward the
market house with his man to ring up the
police station. At the call box desperate
encounter took place between the officer
ana Alexander, who attempted to escape.
While the detective had a bunch of keys
IN one hand and his prisoner with the
other, the negro made a lunge grabbing
the officer by the collar with a view to re-
leasing his hold. The attempt was ali up
IN moment The detective dropped
everything and reacfed for his club, dealt
him several brisk blows over the head,
which soon took all the fight out of him.
lie was bruised on all sides of his face
when he said he was willing to behave
himself and make no further attempt to
escape from the officer, who had been
misjudged many times before on account
of his size. A crowd gathered at the call
box, and, there was considerable excite
ment until the patrol wagon rolled up.
Alexander had to be severely touched be-
fore he would get in the wagon.
The story was told when Alexander was
searched at the police barracks. He had
good reasons for wanting TO escape be-
cause the evidences of heavy theft were
on his person. In his pockets the officers
only found a few small things and $40
in cash. But they reached for the pris-
oners shoes, and on feeling some thing
rather clumsy there, made an investiga-
ton and took out three gold watches and
a silver watch, the value of which, to-
gether with the, one recovered at the pawn
shop by Detective Barrett was estimated
at about $500. The watches are high grade
E.gin movements and the most of them
are handsomely engraved. On the back
of the stop watch are the initials "a. F.
c." On a gold and platinum chain, also
found among the jewelry, appeared the
initials -. L." There was also a gold
bracelet on which a gold dollar was at
tached as a bangle.
Chief MeDermott at once communicated
with the chief of police at jacksonville to
learn If any robberies had been reported
there. The chief is inclined to the belief
that Alexander has raided a hotel or some
place where he got the things at one pass.
The fact that the watches were all run
ming when taken from the prisoner is an
indication that the robbery is probably a
recent job Alexander win give no account
of them, and his desperate effort to escape
from the detective on finding he was to be
taken to the police station is considered
strong evidence of his guilt.
The catch was good one for Detective
Barrett. 1t is the more credtable be-
cause of the fact that Alexander was only
in the city about a half hour, and the
pawnshop where he was detected was the
first place he had visited. He is black
looks to be As years of age, and is muscu-
lar in physique.
Chief McDermott is convinced the rob-
berry had recently been committed, be-
cause the watches were all wound and
running He does not think the negro
would have taken the trouble to wind
them, though this could easily have been
done, as all were stem-winders.