Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-02
MILK THIEF CAPTURED.
Caught In the Act by Policemen 0iiiiue
and BurchinaI, Who We're on the Alert


Caught In the Act by Policemen oiliiug
and BurchinaI, Who We're on the Alert.
Patrolmen George Gilling and Will
liam j. Burchinal, by a neat piece OF
detective work, made an arrest shortly
before 5 o'clock on Fl iday on Pine
street, between Sixth and Seventh,
which will be exceedingly welcome
news to people who have been annoyed
by thieves who have been stealing milk
from their front door steps early in the
mornings. Tho person arrested Is Q
negro, supposed to be between IL and
20 years Of age. He gaye his name as
Sherman Mcdaniel and said he had no
home. He told Capt. Chambers that
he came from Chester about two
months ago and although he had
worked few weeks for the Diamond
State Iron Co., had no regular lodging.
house and slept wherever he could find
place to lie down. He is short and
rather stout and is somewhat on tho
mulatto order. He will tell very little
about himself or relatives, and, Judging
| from the guarded manner in which ne
| talks, he does not care to say too much
He is believed to be % stranger in the
city and the police are suspicious OF
him. He is likely to remain in. jail Tor
some time and the authorities VIII
have an opportunity to learn whether
his character is good or bad in places
where he lived before coming to viii
lmington. They will look up his history.
4 The technical charge against Nc
Daniel is larceny Of a pint Of milk val
ued at A cents and can valued Ut 5
cents, the property of Frederick klund,
q milk dealcr, of No. GIT East Fourth
street, but as the can which Mcdaniel
Is known to have stolen is the 10th one
missed from the same neighborhood by
Mr.. Klund in the last three weeks, the
total value of McDaniel's plumber may
be more than cents.
T.. Recently Mr.. Klund, and several
other people living between Poplar and
4 Church and Fourth and Ninth streets
complained to the Police Department
that receptacles containing milk had
been stolen from the doorsteps ut their
residences early in the mornings. and
this morning, at about the time milk
dealers usually start out to make thor
daily deliveries, Capt. Kane detailed
six officers to go to the territory men
toned in citizens clothes and watch
for milk thieves.
Patrolmen Chilling and Burchinal
were in the squad. The former was in
hiding on Pine street between Seventh
and Eighth and the latter on Pine be
tween Fifth and Sixth. At about ., 30
O'Clock both noticed the negro Nc
Daniel apparently following and watch.
J ing Mr.. Klund deliver milk in cans al
houses along Pine street, and they also
saw Mcdaniel 60 to the front door Of
the residence of Mrs. Margaret Hopes,
No. GA Pine street, about A. so O'Clock
q few minutes after Mr.. Klund had left
a can of milk there, and appropriate
! the can. Mcdaniel did not act as il
; he suspected that he was heine
j watched, but as soon as he took thu
, can of milk went into the alley be
tween Mrs. Hopes residence and thu
. one adjoining. He probably intended
. either to drink the milk and discard
: tho can or hide the can under his Goa
t before returning to the street. At an.
! rate, he did not have an opportunity t.
t follow either plan.
q Officers Gilling and Burchinal hat
$ been approaching unnoticed to Nc
: Daniel, and he had scarcely entered tn
# alley when they closed in on him ant
placed him under arrest, They foun'
i the can of milk intact and also q loa
i of bread, the ownership Of which ha
j. not been established. The patro
/ wagon was quickly summoned and tn
n negro and his plumber were sent to tn
o Dolce station.
y The officers also notified Mr.. Kun
G and he replaced the can which ha
d been stolen, and Mrs. Hopes did nc
% know, until she was summoned late
|. in the morning to appear against th
e alleged thief, that the can had bee
l. stolen.
'f Mcdaniel was arraigned in the cit
court and charge of larceny was pre-
Vt ferred against him. The evidence col
l, responded with the, facts given above
:, Officer Gilling, Mr.. Klund and Mr..
n Hopes testifying. Mr.. Klund said th
D.. people on the east side had been Yer
ID much annoyed, as not only milk br
m receptacles were frequently stolen.
.. The negro was held in 5000 bail
J. answer the charge at the Court of Coz
TO eral Sessions. In disposjng of the ca:
Judge Ball expressed regret that thel
was not an opportunity for speed
trial,so that the county might be save
~ much of the expense OF trying a larcer
y case in which valuation of only
o. cents ) involved and keeping the pri
OF oner for some time to await trial.