Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-02-15

STOLEN BRASS RECOvERED.-Frank
1snrIes. n white youth about Is years
Of age, was arraigned before Mayor
simpson in the Police Court this mOrn-
inp charged with the larceny of four
brsss chime heads and two brass plan
IMP heads used en- flooring machines,
from Uessrs. Aitcheson & Bro, and
pece Of brass pipe and boiler plate
rom a boat owned by Mr.. Joseph
Mo re.
Mr.. Peter Aitcheson was the first
witness and testified that his property
io i,s present condition was worth
about $45, although when new it was
worth over 800.
Lieutenant smith testified tn at he
had been informed of the theft an had
proceeded to the junk shop of Tom
Arlington, colored, in the south west
ern portion of the city, but ha d met
thst Individual on the street, who
mon being questioned stated hat q
white boy had brought two pieces of
brass to his place of business vest erday
and stated that his father had sent him
there TO sell the articles, but nat he
(Arnngton) would not purchase them
Without a note from the boys father.
Toe lieutenant further stated that while
10 conversation with Arlington Officers
Knight and Ferguson had approa cbed
AMI informed him of the larceny of the
articles and that they Immediately pro-
ce-ded to Tom Arrington's shop, Sc
cured a description of the boy from Ar
rngton's brother and arrested Jeficri es,
who confessed that be had disposed of
the property to Mr.. Dreyfus. The leu
tenant then stated that he, in compan Y
with Officers Knight and Ferguson, ha,
proceeded to Mr.. Dreyfus's junk sboL'
and demanded the articles purchased,
but was informed by Mr.. Joseph Drey-
iu- that he had no such property in his
possession. But upon searching the
premises he (the lieutenanO and Officer
Eoight had found the stolen property
ID q bag n back room.
Mr.. Joseph Dreyfus stated that he
was not aware that such articles were
Oh MS premises, but upon Investigation
he md discovered that a colored man
in MS employ by the name of William
Gngsby had purchased them for cents
The Mayor fined Jeffries $40 and re-
manded Mr.. Dreyfus and Arlington
aud Grigsby for trial tomorrow morn
ing.
The Mayor in summing up the case
said that Cupidity oftentimes led men
and boys into the crime of stealing. but
there is another and greater tempta-
ton, especially to minors, and that is
the Willingness of men to buy stolen
goods. Boys # unable to dispo SO of
articles would not steal them. The
State law has this idea probably in view
when it throws about the purchal'e OF
articles restrictions such as apply to
Junk dealers who are required to eli ter
upon book or books names, descripti ons
aud prices of articles purchased by
them with the names and descriptiO rus
Of parties from whom bought, and he
law further requires copy of the tire. rs
action to be furnished the Chief OF
Police every morning, except Sunday,
before II o'clock forenoon. Ia view OF
this law be would direct warrants to be
issued against the junk dealers md
their employees, who were connet ted
with the buying of stolen goods from
Frank Jeflries, and who failed to 10 axe
report OF such dealings and would OF der
blanks to be prepared by the Chic f of
Police to be furnished junk dealers for
daily reports of all purchases except
rags, bones ana scrap iron.