The sun., 1898-11-25
Notorious Burglar Arrested by
/ Officer Ford While Begging
on the Streets.
TOUCHED THESAME MANTWICE
Thomas Walsh Again in the Tolls
RObberies in Which He and His
Pals Cleveland Jimmy and
Chester Jones Were
Implicated. ...

AuUIlJd0 Vuiou, ALIAS Whipping
Tom" alias Brooklyn" was arrested
late yesterday afternoon by Officer Ford
At Fourth and Jefferson streets.
The arrest is an important one as
Brooklyn" is one OF the most notorious
burglars in the United States.
Four years ago Walsh and his two
pals cleveland Jimmy" and Chester
alias Tom Smith travelled through every
section Of this State cracking safes.
One Of their most desperate robberies
was that at the house OF ex-senator John
Dortman in Sussex county. Here they
succeeded in getting away with over
3l4OO.
Another bold robbery was committed
BY them at the Smaley stone house at
Harman station where they held up the
coIored watchman, bound and gagged
him and then cody blew open the safe
and got away with over 500.
After these last two robberies State
Detectives Walter Witsil at Bernard J.
NcVes were placed on the c.oes but they
did not succeed in capturing this trio OF
burglars until six months later.
In the meantime the burglars had
made many rich hauls and the persons
residing in the rural districts of the State
were completely terrorized.
The men after their capture were tried
in the courts here, and each sentenced
to two years in the New Castle Jail, with
an hour in the pillory and fifty lashes.
Walsh served out his full term, but
Cleveland jimmy and Chester Jones
succeeded in making their escape during
4 1,n Ann ,f
One day at noon they held up the
turnkey, Howard Reed, took his revol-
yer from him and compelled him at the
weapons point to open the doors that
led them to freedom.
A speedy search was made for them,
but they succeeded in getting out of the
State and have not been heard from
since.
Brooklyn, when interviewed yester-
day afternoon, denied all knowledge of
his former pals whereabouts, and says
that he is now living honest and
threading needless" By this he meant
that he was selling thread and needles.
Brooklyn" was arrested while en-
gagged in working the sympathy racket.
He had placed fly blister on his left
L'oAu anu thlS, "Hci Bicdbcu, lHdue IL
look like a running sore.
He had touched" one man for quar-
ter of dollar by the old soldier tale,
and, as he was slightly under the in
,huence of liquor, forgot all about it,
walked around the square and, unfortu-
nately for him, again met the same
party.
Unable to recognize his late Samaritan,
Brooklyn" tried to get another quarter
by relating an entirely different tale.
The gentleman naturally refused to be
imposed on, and, acquantlng Brook
lyn" with that fact, that burglar" COM
menced to give him cursing.
AT this juncture Officer Ford, who had
been watching him, approached and
took him into custody and he will have
occasion to explain his sudden lapse of
lnemary to Judge Ball in Municipal
Court this morning.
In the same cell with Brooklyn was a
pal who also had fly blister on his
hand. He gave the name of Frank
Thompson to the house sergeant.
Detectives Witsil and McVey were
familiar with his features but were un-
able to place him.
The police department warns all resi-
dents against all threading" men, as
most of them use this method OF ascer-
tanning easy houses to break into.
The city is infested by these petty
thieves and the officers are keeping a
close watch on all their movements.