Evening star., 1898-02-11
ALLEGED CROOK ARRESTED
John Dempsey Appreciated Here for Crime
Committed in Massachusetts,.
Accused of SandbagEins and Rob-
berry Confescss to Detective
Boyd That Charge is True.

Detective Boyd, yesterday evening, ar
rested John Dempsey, alias Jonn Devere.
alias Herman Taylor, an alleged noted
crook, and locked him up at the sixth pre-
cinct station for the Boston authorities.
The arrest was made at the request of
Chief Inspector Watts of the Boston po-
lice department. A telegram was received
yesterday morning by Inspector Mattingiy,
asking that the man be apprehended. The
telegram explained that he was wanted for
sandbagging druggist and robbing him
of $3.50. 1t was also explained that the
alleged crook usually went armed. This
was warning TO the officer and when De-
tective Boyd met his man in the lobby of
Wizards Hotel he was prepared for any
emergency.
a scar on Dempseys neck was the means
of Identification, and when certain he had
found the right man, the detective spoke
to him, calling him by name. He, of
course. denied that he was the Dempsey
wanted, and made an effort to talk the Off
Ger out of arreSting him.
You may not be the man wanted said
the detective, but I'll have to take you
Down to see the inspector
Dempsey, who had registered under his
right name, soon showed a change Of
front. Instead of repeating his claim of in
nocence, he became confidential, told the
story of the crime and offered the detective
500 for his liberty.
The Crime Alleged.
The story as told by the Massachusetts,
officers is to the effect that the crime for
which the prisoner is wanted was commit
ted in Roxbury the night of December 8,
the victim being Newell Paine. Roxbury is
a suburb of Boston, and Paine, who has
been in business there for many years, was
known to have kept considerable money in
his store. The night in question two men
called at the store about the time for clos
ing and committed the assault, as stated,
with a sand bag.
There was only one light burning in the
store, and Druggist Paine was about ready
TO retire when there was knock heard
at the door.
Il want a bottle Of witch hazel" said the
man who was In sight, and the druggist,
suspecting nothing, opened the door. As
he did so he was grabbed and sandbag gged
and afterward chol<ed until he became un-
conscious. Then his store was searched
and from trunk in rear room the rob-
bers got the 81 800.
1t was stated that Dempsey had made an
effort to get former clerk of the druggist
to take part in the robbery, anu it was
probably because of this effort that Demp-
sey was thought to have been engaged in
it. Dempsey, known in Roxbury as Devere
left the town soon after the robbery was
committed. telling friends he was going to
the klondike, but he subsequently returned
10 Boston, and five days ago he came to
this city.
''fOOk Trick in New York.
DO you want me for New York or Bos-
tcn? the prisoner asked Detective Boyd
on his way to headquarters. He admitted
that he rad taken trick in New York
since his participation in the Roxbury
robbery.
During his talk with the detective Demp-
sey said he had participated in the robbery
OF the druggist with a crook known as
English Tom" who he thinks, has gone
to England. Some days before the occur
renee, he says, he went to the store and
bought some medicine to get the lay of
the place and afterward secreted himself
IN the cellar, hoping to gain entrance to
the store during the night and get the
money without having to commit an as
ssUlt He found however that he could
rot get in the store and so that plan was
abandoned
The night of the robbery he appeared at
the store and did the talking and English
Tom used the sand bag. He says they got
only SLIGO from the trunk They knew
the druggist had other money, but did not
have time to make thorough search.
Druggist Newell was found unconscious
on the floor by policeman. He was COW
cred with blood, and the officer thought at
first that he was dead, but he soon re-
covered sufficiently to tell of the assault
The prisoner told the officer last night
that he had 800 and some jewelry plant
ed in New York. Inspector Gaddis of
the Boston force will come here for the
prisoner.