The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-26
FoR RoDBrNG \ STRANGER.
John Hills to Answer the Charge in
Police Court.

John Hills, a well known gambler, was
arrested yesterday by City Detective Ju-
hus Stark, and is locked up al the station
house. He is charged with entering the
room of a stranger, wlth whom he had
been viewing the sights OF the town. and
divesting him of his watch, chain and SO
in money.
The name OF the stranger is not Smith,
but Smith will answer the purpose and
cause less trouble. The name of the man
from whom the money was stolen, and the
name of the hotel at which he was stop
ping at the time are not given. The dis
closure of either would cast odlum that
the facts scarcely warrant.
Thursday afternoon smith, who had
been in town all day became desirous OF
seeing that part of the city that IS not
open to the gaze OF the public, ana While
keyIng himself up 10 the proper pltcn OF
enjoyment, fell afOul Of Hills and
friend of the latter Smith was taken
around from one barroom 10 another, par
taking plenufully, but no- wisely at all.
At all OF them too he displayed his watch
"a handsome one-and a roll Of notes. and
as he got more intoxicated he talked
freely OF the Valuables h carried.
About o'clock IN ID. afternoon he SEN
sibly determined that DE had more than
he could carry, and decided TO 90 TO his
hotel and 10 bed where he might sleep
off the jag without hirlrance or annoy
ance. His whilom companions reluctantly
consented to this cours- and in the hack
in which the trio had been viewing the
city re departed BY ms time some con-
siderable portion of his money had van
!shed
At his hotel he called for the key to
his room and asked to be shown up. On
oil hoy tCpl
he had on his watch and chain, the former
peeping from his pocket The bellboy ac-
companied Smith 70 his room, and, be-
cause of his condition. watched him I'M
dress. He saw that his watch was still
in his possession, ana saw Smith count
his money and put it with the watch I'M
der his pillow. Smith almost Immediately
fell into a tipsy slumbsr, and the bellboy
closed the door and left him.
During the evening the night clerk a,
the hotel noticed Hills in the lobby, wan
dering about in fashion apparent aim
less. He had frequently seen individuals
in the business Hills followed about the
hotel at all hours, and attached no i'm
portance 70 their c0mlngs and goings.
Suddenly Hills disappeared, and the clerk
thought no more about the matter until
yesterday.
In the morning Smith wanted to know
the tine and reached under the pillow for
tigation revealed the fact that his money
had also departed He made other
! searches, but without any different result.
His money and watch were both gone He
dressed himself hastily ana hurried to the
office of the superintendent of police, to
whom he unfoided his tale of woe. He
mentioned the fact of his ramble with Hill.
lis and his friend and confessed that when
he went 10 bed he was much the worse
for wear. He had a faint recollection that
Hills asked him the number of his room
and that he told him. He knew the hack
man that stecred the party about to The
various resorts and volunteered TO point
him out to the d5tecGves In
the midst of an im0assioned piece
of declama ton Smith told of The grief that
would OVertake him should his watch mol
be recovered.
Detective Stark went at once in search
Of his prey. He interviewed the hack
man, who told him the name Of the man
with whom Smith saw the sights of the
city He knew thing or two not 10
Hills credit, and his suspicious were
aroused. Conversations with the elevator
| and bell boys and with the night clerk of
the hotel rendered him reasonably positive
OF the manner in which the property
had disappeared, and he started out after
Hills, who was found in house in the
tenderloin and was arrested ana accused
OF the crime. When taken to the station
| house he told a tale of Smith having given
him the watch and denied that he had
stolen the money. Tales told bv Hills.
which We're found not to be borne OUT
by the witnesses to whom he referred De
tective Stark. lead the police to the con-
clusion that his statement is a fabrica-
ton.