Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-02-03
The "whooIy. Coolies" Captured.

In that place, but the GROWING atroc-
ity came three or four weeks ago,
when ninety-four tombstones and
monuments were overturned and many
Of Them broken in Riverview cemete-
ry, this desecration being followed by
the breaking of the organ in the Luth-
eran church.
Four men have been arrested,
charged with the cemetery desecra-
ton. They are Thomas Barry, saloon
keeper; OFT Sharar, employed at the
Byron tannery, Williamsport; Harry
10y, a painter; Samuel Newcomer,
employed at the Crawford bicycle
works, Hagerstown. John Harsh, it
is said, has made confession.
After the cemetery outrage, and
when it had become evident that ex-
traordinary means would be necessary
to ferret out the gang, Sheriff Seibert
and States Attorney Wagaman en-
gagged trained detectives and set them
to work on the case. First one and
then another came, tried, failed and
went back to Baltimore. Then came
clever man, says the Hagerstown
Herald, Jerry Allen by name, con-
nected with the international Detec-
tive Agency, Baltimore. He landed
in Williamsport on Monday, January
"a, early in the morning
Allen is jolly fellow and became
popular in Williamsport at once. He
got job at the Byron tannery and
went to work, giving his name as jim
my Murphy. In less than a day he
was on good terms with every man in
the tannery. He sang lively songs
and danced like a professional. In a
few days he was a celebrity, sought
after by the men and cutting great
dash among the girls. He pretended
to prefer the society Of the latter and
to care little for the men. At the
Saturday night dance in Goddard's
Hall he was the most popular fellow
on the floor. All the time, however,
Allen, or Murphy, as he was known
in Williamsport, was on the alert and
was gathering up, piece by piece, clues
that would prove the identity of the
members of the "Hooley Cooley
gang. The guilty men fell into his
trap quickly.
OFT Sharar took particular fancy
to Allen and Saturday night coaxed
him to go along to Barry'S saloon.
Allen wouldn't go. He wanted to see
the girls. He did GO down to the sa-
loon later, however, and there he found
Harry 10y drunk and talkative. Tom
Barry, the proprietor, dropped in later,
and from the two Allen got lots Of in
formation.
Monday morning Allen went to work
as usual. He stuck to his work until
2 o'clock in the afternoon, when he
suddenly quit, went up town and
joined Squire Gruber. The two board
ed a car and went to Hagerstown.
Here, after consulting with States At
torney Wagaman, Allen swore out the
warrants and at once set about max
ing the first capture, that of Newcom-
er. With Squire Gruber, he drove
out to the bicycle works, met New
conner as he was coming from work,
arrested him and took him to jail.
Then the capture Of the others was
planned. About s o'clock Detective
Allen with Deputy Sheriffs Tice, Flora
and Harley took a car for Williams
port. When they arrived there they
went at once to Barry's saloon. All
three of the men wanted-Barry, 10y
and Sharar-were there and the Off
GERS at once arrested them. The men
were, of course, surprised, but only
Sharar, the smallest of the lot, offered
any resistance. Sharar was very drunk.
The men were marched to the car, fol-
lowed by an excited crowd. There
was outspoken rejoicing over the ar
rests. One enthusiastic man, prom
inent citizen, shouted: Ring the bells!
Blow the whistles Build a bonfire
Let's celebrate. AS the car pulled
out cheers were given for the detective
and officers.
Sharar, who is not native Of Will
Transport, but came to the town only
a few months ago, gave the officers
considerable trouble on the way over
and had to be handcuffed. When the
car stopped in Hagerstown to let the
party off he had to be carried out and
refused to walk. He was pulled along
part of the way and finally was picked
up and carried to jail. Barry and 10y
went along with the officers without
trouble.
Tuesday the four men had hear
ing before Squire Gruber in Williams
port. There were ten charges against
each one. The justice held them in
$500 bail for every offense, or total
Of $4,000 for each man. Security
was offered so they could be released
on bail, but was rejected as insufficient,
Barry's mother and several friends,
who own considerable property, were
ready to give the necessary security,
but they were given to understand
that their efforts would be fruitlesS;
fol-, if bail were furnished for the
charges already brought against Barry,
he would Immediately be arrested on
fresh charges. There were over nine
ty monuments and tombstones dam
aged, it will be remembered, the prop
erty of many different persons, and
warrants will be sworn out for every
case, if necessary, to keep the men in
Jail.
Additional evidence is being secured,
and the officers claim that conviction
l..