The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-07
NAVY YARD STORES STOLEN
THREE ACCUSED MEN ARRESTED IN
BROOKLYN.

Edward l.. Wheeler. ship Chandler,
Charged with Stealing 5000 Worth of
Sheet Metal, and Cawthorne and -
said to Have Becn His Accomplicss
For the past several months somebody has
been making a regular business OF robbing the
general stores at the Navy Yard In Brooklyn.
Rear Admiral Philip made up his mind to stop
the thefts and catch the thieves II he could.
He caused iron barred doors to be hung at
the main entrance to the general stores and
had iron Rratlngs placed at the lower wndows
Then he informed the Navy Department
that he would like to run a detective
bureau for q time. but the Department
informed him that Congress had neglected to
make any appropriation for the conducting OF
such an enterprise In connection with tho
Navy Yard.
The Admiral determined to catch the thieves
and, accordingly. he and Naval Constructor
Bowles talked the matter over and concluded
to do their own sleuthing.
There was something. however, about de-
| tective work. they found, that called for differ
ent kind OF talent from that required in
| constructing q battleship or fighting that
ship once it was constructed. 30 the Admiral
| called In Capt. Reynolds. Chief OF the Brooklyn
detectives. and asked for help.
| Capt. Reynolds assigned Detectives Harring-
| ton. Rudy and Donovan to do the work and
yesterday the first arrests were made.
| Edward l.. Wheeler. 35 years old, living at
$40 Bergen street. Brooklyn. and conducting q
ship chandler's store in Furman street was ar
rested at Court and Montague streets. charged
with stealing. on Sept. %. from the Navy Yard
four cases Of steel metal. valued at $4,000.
The DOM plainaut was James s. Russell. the
general storekeeper. Wheeler was taken be-
fore Magistrate Bremen in tho Adams street
police court. who turned him over to Deputy
United States Marshal Caldwell He was
| arraigned before United States Com
| missioner Benedict. who held him in
| $1,000 bail for examination. He furnished
the required bond last evening. He said he
had never had four cases OF steel metal from
the Navy Yard in his possession and couldn't
understand why he should have been arrested.
He said he had been in business for years and
there was no blemish on his business repu-
tation.
Last evening John B. Cawthorne. 80 year,
old. OF 74O Decatur street. and +. F. Poynter
! Al years old. both ship filters and employed
at the yard for years. were arrested by Deputy
| United States Marshal Caldwell charged
| with being accom- plices OF Wheeler. They were
taken before tho United States Com m issioner
held for examination and locked up in Ray.
mond street Jail in default OF $4,000 bail each
Like Wheeler. Cawthorne and POINTER pro
tested their innocence
While waiting for developments. Admira
Philip received an anonymous letter few
days ago in which the writer stated that q
day or two before tho letter was written
heavy wagon left the yard loaded. aecord
ing to the pass which the driver turned
over to the guard at the Sands stree
gate. with drift wood. The letter stated tina
the wagon contained only enough wood to hid,
large quantity OF metal which had been stoleI
from the general stores. The detectives sa,
that Wheeler has been identified as the mar
who was in charge OF this wagon.
Cowthorne and Poynter. who have beer
earning 81 day at the yard for many years
were In the habit OF getting orders issued t.
them for material to be used on vesse
being refttsd at the yard. A day O
two ago. person. whose name tn,
detectives do not care to make public at pres
emit. presented to Mr. Russell for his signature
an order calling for the transfer OF metal from
| the general stores to building TO
The material never went to building rs. but l
had been taken from tho general stores ant
could not be found in tho yard.
Mr.. Russell said yesterday We're not dom
with this business yet. by any means. an,
some surprises may be occasioned by some o
the arrests we expect to make"
One Of the detective ssaid yesterday that
naval officer estimated the losses at anywher
from 81. 900 to $4,000.