The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-13

A. ID. Persons wholesale produce
store on lower Lackawanna avenue
was broken into between 6 and Z
o'clock Thursday evening by Clarence
Foster 15-year-old colored boy whose
parents live at 430 Hitchcock court,
and $40 in cash was stolen from the
safe. Foster was arrested yesterday
and locked up in the central police sta
ton. In the evening Sergeant Ridge
way and Mayor Bailey had talk
with him, and he told them where to
find the money.
The mayor and sergeant followed the
directions given and at $50 o'clock last
night they went to Fosters home,
which is located in double house.
the other part of which is occupied by
a man named Jackson. Under the
kitchen of Jackson's part was slowed
away the money box of the safe, and
in it was little over $50. The exact
amount was not ascertained as there
was a big bulk of pennies.
Foster implicated John Loomis, of
Kellcys Patch, and Frank Lee, of
Penn avenue. Lieutenant Davis ar
rested them. They denied having any
part in the burglary, but admitted
that afternoon shooting rats. Fosters
story was poorly connected and the
two boys were permitted to go on
parole until o'clock this forenoon, at
which time Foster will be given a
hearing.
ROBBERY DISCOVERED.
When the employees came to work
yesterday morning evidence that some
one had entered the place during the
night was speedily discovered The
rear basement door had been forced
open and through the cellar the street
floor was reached. Despite the loca-
ton of the safe near the front windows
and under the glare shed by the cleo
trio lights, the safe was rfled.
The door of the safe was not locked
when the clerks left Thursday evening
The drawers were fastened. A hatchet
found on the floor indicated the sim
pie means by which the drawers had
been forced open. About $40 was Sc
cured. OF this amount s35 was in bills.
Chief of Police Gurrell was early
notified of the case, which was re-
ferred to Mounted Patrolman Dyer for
investigation. Before o'clock in the
afternoon young Foster had been
| placed under arrest. He stoutly main
| tanned his innocence, but the evidence
was strong against him.
Nobody was suspected of the theft
until Dyer's inquiries revealed that
Foster had been hanging about the
place for several days, some of which
time he had been riding with and help
ing the draymen. His place of resi-
dence was soon ascertained but the
arrest was deferred until some evidence
was obtained that he might be guilty.
| 1t was ascertained that he had given
| his mother a small sum of money and
| had purchased for himself new shoes,
| stockings, shirt and other articles of
clothing.
| When arrested the boy said he had
| earned the money to give his mother
and make the purchases. Where he
earned it he would not say Although
the amount of money expended and
| given away did not approach the sum
stolen, $40, no considerable amount was
found about him. The youth qualified
| his statement about earning the money
| and said he had received some of ii
| from various sources, five cents and a
dime at a time. When it was shown
to him that he could not have saved il
| without his mothers knowledge, he
| said he had kept it hidden beneath a
| coal bin.
| The explanations did not exactly tai
ly with the appearance Of things and
| the boy was arrested.
ANOTHER THEFT
Another job of thieving occurred tht
same night. This second piece of worl
was at the barber shop of NJ. j. Wat
kins, on Market street, where tn,
plunder secured approximated $25 il
value.
Entrance was effected through a rea
door. Eight razors and a pair o
shears were among the articles taken
Two of the razors had tortoise shel
handles. On one was the name "Ton
Bannon," and on the other Fred Tech
er."