The record-union., 1899-09-08
STILL CROPPING Up.
MORE STOLEN GOODS ARE BE-
ING RECOVERED.
Several Reputable Citizens Vo1uh-
teer to Testify Against
Van Norman.

Since G.. w. Van Norman's confine-
ment in the County Jail, number of
other articles heretofore not mentioned
which were stolen by members of his
gang of self-confessed thieves, have
been traced to his establishment.
Several sets Of heavy farm harness
and a riding saddle stolen from Super
visor Curtis, a set of double farm har-
ness, stolen from a rancher near Elk
Grove, a number of large and very val
liable faucets out of large watts from the
California Winery at Twenty-frst and
streets, a lawn mower from Oak
Park, a hack bride and lines worth
SS, from John Toomey and a valuable
pipe cutter from local plumbing shop
are among them. Some of these goods
them have been recovered by the Off
GERS who are attending to the case.
A copper sodawater tank with stop
cock attachment, stolen from the back
porch of Callahan's drug store last May
was also traced into Van Norman's S
hands. He shipped the tank to San
Francisco.
He is Stunned by the rest of the pris-
oners at the County Jail, some of them
being old and experienced criminals,
and they, while not claiming any virtue
for themselves, abhor the idea of teach
ing or encouraging small boys to steal,
and among the inmates of the County
Bastile Van Norman is referred to as
/ "Fagin" Van Norman.
On Sunday last a mechanic of the
railroad shops, named Galley, called on
Assistant District Attorney Wachhorst
and said he had read an account of
Van Norman's arrest in the Record
Union" He referred to that portion of
the article where small boys were seen
to bring all kinds of goods to Van Nor
man, which goods, so the article al
legged. were bought by Van Norman
without asking any questions. Said
Galley:
Il have come voluntarily to offer my
services as witness, should you re-
quire me as such. 1t is hard thing for
a father to admit under oath that his
little son has been taught to steal, but
in this case I am ready to do So"
Mr.. Galley explained that several
months before Van Norman's arrest
two small boys induced his little son
longing to a machinist named Frank
McKeever and wheeled it down to this
junk shop, where Van Norman gave
them % cents for it. Galley took the
boy to task for it, and learned that a
number of small boys were in the habit
Of bringing goods there. He, in COM
pany with his boy, called at the shop
and compelled the junk dealer to give
up the grass cutter. Galley told Mr..
Wachhorst that the first he knew about
it was when a man named Franklin C.
Smith told him Of it. Smith was en-
ployed by Van Norman to assert junk
and when the latter found out that
Smith had given the matter away to
Galley, he upbraided him for it and
Smith quit.
Mr.. Wachhorst at once notified Off
Ger Max P. Fisher, who has charge
of the case, and this officer, after quite
hunt found Smith at the race track
Smith admitted the truth Of Caley's
statement and said that on. several oc-
casions he began to suspect that there
was something wrong, as any man
might know that children could not
own articles such as were brought
there by them, and he said these goods
were never entered on the books as
prescribed by law.
A man named p. Hawkins, who also
worked for Van Norman, was seen by
the officer and from him it was learned
that Van Norman would hold up an
article and say to the boys: "See what
Charley brought me, / gave him 30
cents for it, he went to the show on it,
A prisoner in the County Jail named
John Haggerty, alias Shorty the
Painter" and who is undergoing an
eight months sentence for stealing,
now admits to the officers that he not
only sold many stolen articles to Van
Norman, but that Van Norman had
full knowledge that the articles were
stolen property, and that on several oc-
casions he was told by Van Norman
what kind of articles were in demand
and where to obtain them.
Mr. Wachhorst has been of great as
sistance to the officers in this case and
he has on hand a number of names Of
reputable citizens who have offered
themselves as witnesses, if Van Nor
mans character should be made an is
sue in the cases pending.
When Officer Max P. Fisher was
asked as to whether he had ever seen
any young boys selling articles to Van
Norman he said that he did not like to
say anything about it till the proper
time came. He admitted, however,
that it was true that on one occasion
he and Officer. Hayes saw a crowd of
boys in there emptying their pockets on
the floor of lot of small railroad
brasses.
"Some of them were incorrigible
boys" said Fisher, 'but there were two
little fellows with them; they looked
SO nice and clean, they looked as if
they had good mothers"
Since his arrest Van Norman's shop
has been locked up and the neighbors
are unanimous in rejoicing over the
good work of the officers. 1t is be-
lieved that the District Attorney will
bring additional charges of receiving
stolen property against him and Mr..
Wachhorst said that the Folsom Elec-
trio Power Company is anxious to get
shy at Van Norman, provided that
the charges now on hand should result
in his acquittal. Also several angry
ranchers have during the week spoken
to Mr.. Wachhorst about swearing to
complaints against him.
FRAUD Won TURKHEIM.