, 1898-07-02
PROF. CAY IS IN JAIL
CHARGED WITH BURGLARIZING
A MUSIC STORE IN DEN
YER, COLO.
Was Formerly a Resident of Laramie,
Where he Taught Music and At
tempted to Organize an Orchestra
Stole a Number of Nioiins and
Bows-A Sensation Coming.

years ago., lived IN Laramie, WIcFe
he taught music and made an unsuc
cessful attempt to organize an orches>
ira Prof. Gays reputation in Lara
mic was not a bad one, and the aCount
OF his fall will be read with surprise by
many people of the Gem City. The
Times says:
Prof. Silas Gay. the ~well-known pro-
prietor of the Gay Dancing ~accademy
over l549 Champa street. is not feeling
quite as gay this morning as he was
last night. Behind prison bars he la
ments his actions of the wee sma' hours
this morning, at which time he com
mitted the penitentiary offense OF burg
larry.
Prof. Gay admits that he robbed
Nichols Bros, music dealers at l549
Champa street. of a number of violins
and bows, but says he did not smash
the large plate glass. the breaking OF
which gave his easy access to the store.
In fact, he claims that if the glass had
not been smashed before he appeared
on the scene he would not have entered
the place. And again, he has troubles
that make him do things he would not
do otherwise. His daughter cloped and
married a Japanese dental student sew
era months ago. and his own wife has
deserted him for the more congenial
company Of her daughter and yellow
husband at Greeley. Colo.
Some remarkable detective work was
done on the case this morning when
Nichols Bros. reported the robbery to
the police. They said five valuable vio-
Inns and thirteen bows had been stolen
from their store last night. Sam Howe
put Ed Carberry on the case. Mr.. Mich
C!s told the sleuths that Gay had come
looked around suspiciously three or
four times. That settled it. Gay was
the thief. Carberry found the dancing
master reclining on a sofa in the ladies'
dressing room in the rear of the dane
ing hall.
Come out Of there" said the sleuth
in stentorian tones.
what, me?" said Gay. Il have no
business with you, l am Prof. Gay, my
man, and will have you know III take
no such nonsense from you"
"All right" replied the detective,
I'm going ito search these rooms. any
way" He could see Gay inside and
felt sure he was guilty, and was thor
oughly convinced when he saw the
guilty look on his face as a better light
shown on it. Carberry crawled into
the room through a little window and
began to pull out fddles. From the
hat drawer he took four Of the instru-
ments. much to the chagrin of Gay,
who stammered and family made a
break for liberty. He attempted to es-
cape from the ROOM. but Carberry was
too quick for him. Eleven bows, four
violins and a dancing master were
landed at the city Jail in a few min
utes and a search for the fifth violin
IN t"o hllSSIlS bo"S ptSul. III llt
pawn shop OF II. Solomon. 1915 Larimer
street, the other fiddle and a bow were
found. Gay had pawned them this
morning very early and spent $3.50 of
the 50 he received for drinks before be-
ing captured.
When he realized his predicament he
begged the authorities to let him be
booked under an assumed name. and
asked that some n save him. gu the
stern one at the clerks desk wrote
Professor Silas Gay. Jailed for burg
larry and grand larceny" in a bold hand
and the individual in question was
thrust behind the iron bars among ho-
boes that form such a contrast to the
smooth floor Of a dancing academy with
a bevy of gliding beauty.
Gay says he came along at - o'clock
last night and saw some stranger throw
a rock through thewindow. He could
not resist the temptation to crawl in
over the broken and jagged glass and
take whatever he could get his hands
on. A few months ago his daughter
eloped with J. C. Hara, a Japanese STU
dent, and was married. after which
they moved to Greeley. Hara was sub
sequently accused of bigamy from
Frisco. Mrs. Gay then left her hus>
band and Joined her daughter, leaving
three daughters in his care. Their ages
are 20, 10 and II respectively. The Gay
home is 1862 Broadway. but when the
professor goes out at night he sleeps
at the academy.
For two weeks detectives have been
at work on charges which, if proven
true. will brand the prisoner among the
worst criminals in the country and Gre
ate a sensation. The nature of the
charge Is not yet to be divulged. since
the 8 is in embryo The arerst OF
Gay this morning enables the police to
make much better progress. and If II
comes at all a sensation will be sprung
in a few days