The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-12
ROBBED ST. JOHNS RECTOR.
JANITOR RHODES LIKING FOR
BOOKS GOT HIM IN TROUBLE.

Rector'S StereOPticOn ana SIDES
IN Entomology and Egyptian Life
Carried on and Used by a Negro
Lecturer Through Georgia and
South CarOIina-The Robberies
Discovered Through "a Pawn Tick
ct in Slipper.
William c. Rhodes, the colored janitor
of ST. Johns Church. was arrested yes
terday for a series of thefts by which he
carried away $500 worth of books and 9th
er property belonging to the church and
to its rector Rev. Charles H. Strong.
Beside stealing Rev. Mr.. Strong's stere-
opticoh, and valuable slides collected in
England, the negro has succeeded in de-
pleting one of the most extensive libra
ries in the city.
The thief has been suspected for some
time, but no arrest was made because it
was not desired to adopt such a course
unless there was strong evidence of guilt
1t was from series of thefts that the
matter became known. Articles disap-
peared from the church and from Rev.
Strongs private library, with such regu-
larity that Rhodes was arrested on sus-
street, was searched. The search reveal
ed a small cart load of books, on the
backs of many of which appeared Rev.
Strongs name. They were taken TO the
barracks by the detectives and will be al
most conclusive witnesses against Rhodes
In police court this morning. The works
recovered include the cream of library
which it required years to collect, and
which embraces books principally on lit
erature and theology.
There probably never was a slicker thief
in Savannah than Rhodes. The story of his
theft at st. Johns and the history of the
articles stolen from the time they left the
church. to the pawn shops and then over
the country on lecture tours, would form
volume the size of a governmental report
Mr.. Strong's stereopticon and slides
which have been seen by so many in Sa-
Vannah Were collected during his trip
abroad in 1872 The stereopticon was valued
at $50, and with it were two sets of slides
Z One set consisted of colored views of in
sects and the other consisted of pictures in
Egyptian life They could not be easily dup
Heated, and the two hundred
was valued at about $500. Among the more
valuable books stolen is a set of George
Eliots, THE Story of the Nations"
new series by Scribner. Considerable
other property is thought to have been
taken from the pews. consisting of UNI
brellas, gold-headed canes and other ar
ticles left in the church, but never found
again.
The first theft was discovered in an
amusing way by Mr. Strong himself He
had just returned from his vacation, and,
before going to the church, sent Rhodes
hurriedly TO get pair of slippers, which
were left under the desk. The janitor
was gone something like two hours before
returning. This puzzled Mr. Strong some
what, but he gave little thought at the
time. Mr.. Strong retired to his library to
rest and was putting on the slippers
when he found in one a pawn ticket in
Rhodes name. The surprise was about
as complete as when one of. the 1.-TWO
Johns" pulled out his handkerchief in the
midst of the play and sprinkled a hatful
of his "uncle's tickets" on the stage. OF
course, Rhodes long absence was per-
fectly clear to Mr.. Strong then. The ne
gro had had the slippers in pawn. and,
when they were called for, hustled up %
cents, the amount of the pledge, and got
them out. Not wishing TO misjudge the
negro Mr.. Strong called the attention of
the detectives to it, and an investigation
showed that Rhodes had pawned the slip
pers. No action was taken, because 1t
was desired to show leniency.
When the stereopticon was stolen, the dis
covery was more embarrassing to Mr.
Strong 1t had been stored at the church,
where il was used in the lectures deliv-
cred regularly Thursday nights in the par
ash hall until about two years ago.
When Mr.. c. T. johnson was here in
June for the purpose of inspecting the. ar
tesian wells, there were several requests
that he lecture at parish hall on dlscov-
cries made while supervising the drainage
canal at Chicago which extends some
thing like fifty miles, and is the most stu
pendous works of its kind ever undertake
en-. MIR. Johnston secured Dr. Strong's
consent TO use the stereopticon in eXhib-
iting the slides he had brought to Savan-
nah with him. The audience gathered
and nothing was thought of the stereopti-
con until about time to get it out when
the discovery was made that it was gone
As the lecture could not be well given
without the stereOpucon views the stua-
ton was somewhat embarrassing. Rhodes
was called and told to bunt up the lantern.
which he did but said he could not find it.
As result the lecture was postponed I'M
til the night following, when another lam
tern was secured. 1t was not announced
what the trouble was at the time, however
and there are many who never knew why
Mr.. Johnston's lecture was postponed
III the scenes through which the stereop-
ticon has passed since it was stolen could
be portrayed, 1t would doubtless excel the
best of comedies. Rhodes took il to a
pawn shop, the goal of all his acduisi-
lions from the church. Shortly after il
was pledged, a negro named johnson.
who is now in the penitentiary at Col
umbia, S. c., for larceny, having been
arrested by Detective Scully and con-
victed, took the stereopticon out of pawn.
Whether he knew il had been used by
Mr.. Strong to illustrate lectures is not
known but he started on lecturing tour
through Georgia and South Carolina giving
several lectures" at colored churches and
houses in Savannah. Chief McDermott
knew of the lecturer at the time. but as
no theft of stereOpticon had been report
ed at the barracks no thought was given
the one johnson had. Just how long the
lectures and exhibitions continued and
whether they were a financial success Is
unknown IL is reported, however. that
johnson had packed houses at every exhi
bition and when he would appear IN n
country town and advertise an exhibition
and lecture, all about bugs and Egyptian
life, to be followed by an old-ume dance
the negroes had to be turned away. This
continued for some time, but johnson fin
ally got tired of touring the country and
brought the stereoptcon back to its old
abiding place at the pawn shop 1t proved
friend-in time of need and he put 1t IN
for a small amount Shorty a ftaru,ar1 70