The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-05
BURGLARS IN JAIL
Men Caught Who Robbed Mr..
Piatt's and Mr.. CosSitt's.
STOLEN GOODS RECOVERED
Three Negroes Taken to the
County Jail Last Night.

Yesterday morning Detective Carroll
and Officer Thompson caught three ne
groes who committed the burglary at
both Mr.. c. NJ. Cossit's and Mr.. R. M.
Piatt's houses Most of the stolen prop
erty was recovered
It was about IL O'Clock when the police
department was notified of the theft at
Mr. Piatts, and at in the morning the
thieves were behind the bars in the city
prison. The three negroes had been bach
ing in little house on the northeast cor
ner of Wichita and Central. The officers
have had them under surveillance for
some time. AS quick as they heard of
the burglary they went to the house oc-
cupied by the negroes and found no one
at home. They Swallowed the place, and
late in the morning two OF them, Fred
Hall and John Hudson, put in an appear
ance. They were given enough time TO
put their booty away and then the officers
bounced down upon them. Hall lit a
lamp, and while Officer Thompson watch
ed them Detective Carroll instituted a
search for the stolen property. He found
most of it in a cupboard. Hall tried to
get him not TO go into the room where
the stolen goods were, but when Mr.. Car
roll insisted Hall threw the lamp on the
floor in hopes of setting the building on
fire and thus leave no convicting evidence
behind. The lamp, however, did not break
but considerable oil leaked out upon the
floor and ignited. For a few minutes Mr..
Carroll had to fight flames.
All of the property stolen from Mr.. Pr
ats house was recovered. There was a
handsome hammerless Smith &; Wesson
revolver, lady's gold watch and chain.
a lady's brooch and pair of mother-of-
pearl gold mounted opera glasses. Mr..
Plat was out of town at the time and
Mrs. Piatt had been over to Mr.. and Mrs.
J. H. Blacks spending the evening. When
she returned home she found that every
thing had been turned topsy-turvy. Mrs.
Piatt ran Immediately to Mr.. Blacks, and
he telephoned TO the police. The burglars
gained an entrance by breaking a few
Stats off the outside shutter and by reach
ing in raised the window. They first tried
to pry open the back door with big file
which they found in a chest in the barn.
After the officers had caught Hall and
Hudson they went after the third man,
who is supposed to be the promoter of the
robberies. His name is Tom Laws and
he was working for Mr.. Fritz Schnitzler
at his place on West Douglas avenue.
Hall and Hudson. when they found that
they were caught and that the evidence
was all against them, told the officers
that Laws had been with them.
Mr.. Cossit's home was robbed about 8
o'clock on Wednesday night while he and
his wife were out visiting. Entrance was
gained by breaking window pane and
then unlatching the lock and raising the
window. One of the party stood on the
front porch and ate peanuts while the
other two ransacked the house. He was
there to give warning if any one should
appear.
At Mr.. Cossit's house the thieves OBJ
tanned a silver plated revolver, a pair Of
opera glasses, twenty-five or thirty old
and rare coins, a gold bar breastpin,
pearl stick pin. an emerald ring. a pair
of solid gold cuff buttons and a cigar
case All of Mr.. Cossit's property was re-
covered with the exception Of few small
stick pins In appreciation of the good
work performed by the officers Mr.. Cossit
presented the force with box of fine ci-
CARS. 1t is the first time an yone has re-
membered them and they are very CRATE
full to him for the Havanas.
Last night at o'clock the three negroes
were taken to the county jail for safe
keeping. They will probably be given
their preliminary hearing this afternoon.
The officers think they will be able to
trace the burglary committed about three
weeks ago on North Wacoshrdluta OHM
weeks ago at Mr.. Stearns,' who lives on
North Waco, to them. Hall recently re-
turned from Kansas City. where il is
thought he disposed of the stolen proper
~ taken from Mr.. Stearns' residence.