Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-23
lie Gave Corpulent Officess Gid :
dings the "Hottoot."
LIGHT OF FINGER AND HEEL
New York Negro Lifted Diamond R;np
from a Jewlery store. other Think
et' Of Value Found on the
Prisoners Person.

An exciting chase, the sequel to a
Jewelry theft, occurred on Queen and
VINE streets about 1:39 P. M yesterday
N which smooth negro thief who
ewes his name as Alex White was the
fugitive, and his pursuers were
sergeant Giddings and a crowd or
oehers who had been attracted by the
a1y OF Stop, Thief" Down Queen and
thence into Wine the fugitive sprinted
ana. being hard pressed by his pur-
&uers, he turned into the yard OF
chiles' livery and attempted to scale
Inc fence separating it from the Bap-
Iist church lot. 1t was at this point
mat the pursuers rounded him up and
captured him, leading him in triumph
20 the Jail.
White, or whatever his name really
IS. mad a short time before stolen
diamond ring from Mr.. John T. Bentley.
Ard 1T was on information lodged with
The police by this gentleman that the
chase occurred. The negro came into
lscntley's jewelry store and asked to
ihoW him some rings with small dia-.
hsond setting, stating that he wanted
n?!e that would not cost him more than
tvn dollars. The jeweler had just such
q ring and showed it to the prospective
purchaser. After looking at several
ltngs the negro said he would rather
nave one set with two diamonds, but
1he dealer stated that he had none
such In stock at the price the purchaser
Nas willing to pay. In the course Of
me conversation the negro stated sew
sral times that he was from Smith
tield. Finally he said he liked the $40
diamond ring shown him, but would go
down the street to another jewelry
store and if he saw nothing there to
suit him better he would return and
purchase the ring chosen. With that
remark he left the store.
When Mr.. Bentley examined his ring
tray moment or two later he imme-
diately discovered that one of the lew
eled hnger ornaments was missing and
he at once attributed it's disappearance
TO the negro who had just gone. Co
Ing to the door the found Sergeant
iiddings and briefly informed him of
ms loss and his suspicious, telling him
that the thief had probably gone to
some other jewelry store. Accompan-
led by Br. Walter H Burke, one of
Mr. lBentley's employees the officer
proceeded to Cary's; jewelry store and
Burke returned to notify Mr.. Bentley
to stand guard outside the store.
The negro had recognized Mr. Burke
and the officer, however, and
seeing them together knew there
vas trouble brewing fol, him.
q
White hastily left the store and on be-
, ing hailed by the officer. did not heed,
put, made dash and ran. The Ser
geant is not built for sprinting and is
not now the runner he once was. and
owing to the crowded condition Of the
street at the time he was unwilling to
fire at the fugitive. However. he kept
close on the heels of the fugitive and
enlisted the aid of others. by means Of
which, the man was finally captured
Alessrs. John May and Cunningham
were lin at the DEATH in the chase,
selling the man as he was trying to
scale the fence.
White was, of course. promptly
searched when captured. but the ring
S:olen from Mr.. Bentley was not found.
There were found in his possession,
however, two other rings. some earrings
and Il bunch of keys. The officers hope
TO locate the missing ring which was
probably dropped of thrown away, or
concealed about his clothing some
where. When seen in Jail yesterday
the negro said he was from New York,
but that he came hither from Baltimore
=. few DAYS ago.