The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-04
HAD A BAGFUL OF PISTOLS.
BURGLAR CORNERED N LOvELL's
Sons HARDWARE STORE.

The Robbery Discovered by Mr.. Ed
ward LoveII-Tbe Police Summon
ed and the Burglar Found slowed
Away in the CeIlar-CIaImed TO BE
William Watson of Wilmington,
Del That He Went 80 the
store with Three Negroes TO Sleep
and That They Robbed the Place.
Police Think They Have an Old
Timer.
daring attempt TO burglarize the hard
ware store Of Edward Lovelrs Sons was
made last night and came very near be-
ing successful A man who gives his name
as VIII Watson and his residence as VIII
rnIngton. Del. IS under arrest charged
aith the crime.
About 70 O'Clock Mr.. Edward s. Lowell.
as is his custom, returned TO the store for
the purpose Of working on has books. As
he entered he heard a noise Ia the rear
which al once attracted his attention. He
Investigated and found that a hole had
been made IN the bottom OF the freight
eleya tor; and lying beside it vas a bulky
bundle, securely wrapped up in someb body
overcoaL On the floor Of the elevator were
two reviewers.
Mr. Loyell loaded a revolver for him
self and then went to the door and had
a passerDy telephone the police. He was
AFRAID 10 telephone from the store for fear
the burglars might overhear him and take
the alarm He did not know how many
there were and therefore, whether. ne could
effect their capture single handed In
few minutes the patrol wagon with two
policemen and Detectives Garrity and
Stark responded to the telephone call and
a search Of the premises was begun.
First the upper floors of the building
were gone over and every nook and corner
thoroughly examined without revealing
anyone or the trace OF anyone. This con-
sumed half an hour. The cellar Of the
store next received attention, and close
search was made here. This was reward
ed finally BY Detective Stark's discovery
OF white man, lying upon the top Of
lot OF fishing poles. which were laid upon
brackets near the ceiling Of the cellar He
was commanded to come of his perch"
and did so without trouble or controver-
~.
The man was brought Up to the first
floor and closely interrogated He said
that MS name was VIII Watson, and thar
ne lived in Wilmington Del. According to
MS story he reached Savannah a few DAYS
ago, and yesterday afternoon was invited
Dy three negroes to spend the night in
the store of Edward LoveIPs Sons This
invitation, he said, he accepted, and about
DUSK the four entered the store at the rear
door and secreted themselves in the cellar
The negroes finally determined to rob the
store and tried TO induce Watson TO foin
in the enterprise. This he says he firmly
declined TO do. They knocked a couple OF
boards OF the foot of the elevator and
went up. This was the last he saw OF
them. He heard them going up toward the
top noors at the time he heard the door
open. out had not seen them since they
left him in the cellar.
Though no one believed Watsonss etor,,
or that there was anyone concerned in the
burglary except himself, another thorough
search was made Of the upper floors as a
measure Of precaution. BY this time De-
tectlVes Barrett and Shea had arrived. and
assisted in the search No one was foun1
The package that had been found bv Mr.
Lowell was opened and found to contain
sixteen Smith & Wesson revolvers of the
best make
Watson stuck to his story. and con,d
not be induced 10 say that he was the only
one VINO had been in the store He was
seatcheu ana - an small change was found
upon his person. Part Of this was con-
cealed IN his stocking. 1t is not thought
that he obtained the money IN the hard
ware store, but that he had been prac-
ticing his arts somewhere else. and that
this money represented the profts of other
midnight transactions. Watson was sent
to the station house, where mis- case will
be Investigated by the Recorder this morn
ing.
Numerous attempts at burglary have
been made in the last week or two end
II is thought by the detectives that Wat
son IS one of gang that has been doing
this work. He bears every facial indica-
ton OF being hardened and accomplish
ed thief The method he took to conceal
his money and the effrontery with which
he answered the questions of the detee-
tives bear out this belief