The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-15
Seattle Electric Company Causes
Arrest of -Four Employees.
DISCOVER COPPER WIRE STEAL.
Police Omcer Kelly Locates Evi-
dence of Systematic Robbery Dis
trfbufed in Numerous Junk shops
Throughout the Cfty-Foreman
Bailey, A. N. BfgIin, Thnd Rose
ana w. Carey Are Under Arrest.

Onciais OF the Seattle Electric Com
pany believe that they have at last un-
earthed a Systematic plan Of larceny
whereby the company has within the
past three months been robbed OF copper
wire valued at hundreds and possibly
thousands of dollars. An investigation.
which has been In progress for the past
week. yesterday eliminated in the arrest
OF four men in the employ of the COM
pany upon charges OF grand larceny.
The men who were arrested are G. q.
Bailey, line foreman: A. NJ. Biglin, Thad
Rose and w. Carey. linemen under the
Immediate supervision of Bailey. Oficer
John Kelly. who produced the evidence
upon which tho warrants were sworn out
claims that careful search of the city
among the Junk dealers who Seal in this
class OF material has resulted lin the dis
covery of the wholesale theft and that
bundles OF wire varying in value from
q few dollars 10 s125 have been located
in the various Junk shops.
According to information In the hands
OF tho police the Seattle Electric Com
pany has been convinced for weeks that
fits stock of wire. used for lighting and
other purposes, was being stolen and two
weeks ago an investigation satisfied its
officers that they had secured sufficient
evidence 10 warrant the discharge OF o.
ID. Cowhart. foreman occupying a po-
sition similar TO Baiieys. Immediately
after cowhart's discharge he disappeared
from the city and in an attempt TO locate
the stolen wire which he f. believed to
have disposed OF Officer Kelly claims to
/, have secured the proof necessary 10 con-
Wet the men now In custody In a Junk
shop conducted by a man named
Schwartz, on Western avenue, Kelly as
certaIned that Cowhart had disposed Of
wire valued at Si23 for which the books
OF the dealer show he was paid by check.
In checking over the wire which Cow
hart Is alleged to have sold II was dis
covered that not only Schwartz, but at
least half dozen other dealers had
stored In their warehouses innumerable
coils OF copper wire which belonged orig
inally 70 the Seattle Electric Company.
A chose watch was kept upon the supply
rooms OF the company and yesterday
afternoon G. NJ. Maxwell appeared before
Judge Cam and swore out warrants for
the arrest OF Bailey, Bislin. Rose and
Carey, charging them with the crime of
grand larceny. The men we're immedi-
ateiy arrested by Ofhcer Kelly and
locked UP at police headquarters.
The company claims to be unable 10
approximate the exact amount OF wire
which has been stolen. but Officer Kelly
. and Detective Sam Corbett state that,
after careful inventory OF the stock
0Htady f'totth III tut minus u luHh
dealers believed TO have been taken from
tho company's supply. the value OF the
wire can not fall far short Of $1,000.
AZ the station last night r. -. Hughes
who represents the accused men, stated
that his clients were able 10 prove their
innocence. He said that on Monday last.
when chinaman who yesterday identi-
Ned the accused as the men who
at that time offered quantity of wire
for sale TO Schwartz. they were engaged
all day In stringing wires near the corner
OF Third avenue and Madison street. and
did not leave the locality except for
dinner.
Bailey and Biglln deny their guilt They
arc married men and have resided In
this city for nearly u year They claim
that II was generally known among the
linemcn In the employ OF thea company
that Cowhart had stolen large quantities
OF wire. but that there IL no evidence to
provo their connection with the theft.
All four men will be arraigned In tho
Justice court today for preliminary OK
animation.