The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-16

dpollS, MT. " COnnOr ran across a guam
tity of church silverware in a pawnshop.
1t was learned that this was not part of
the property stolen In this city, but tt sub
sequently developed that it belonged to
the House of the Good Shepherd of Mime
apolis, that had been burglarized the
night of April 2. The evidence at the
House of the Good Shepherd showed that
the burglar was undoubtedly the same
one that operated in this city An en-
trance had been gained by boring through
the door, and the chapel had been desc
Grated. Working on the additional clues
now at, hand former Chief of Detectives
O'Connor began to get
CLOSER TO THE QUARRY
until last Saturday he discovered in the
pawnshop Of David Shapiro. 623 Wash
ington avenue south, MINNEAPOLIS a
quantity of the silverware stolen from
the Convent of the Visitation. The
property was identified positively. AT
this stage of the investigation an i'm
portant part OF the evidence against the
robber when he should finally be run
down came very near getting away.
Former Chief of Detectives O'Connor
asked the secondhand dealer If the per-
son who had pawned the silverware had
also disposed of a satchel. The second
hand dealer said he had The satcheI
taken from the convent was described
and the paWnbroker said that was the
one ne had purchased But he added
that he had sold the satchel scarcely
an hour before the trail led the former
chlet OF detectives to the pawnshop Mr..
shapiro explained that the satchel had
been purchased by two French people"
who could talk little English. They had
said they were going to San Francisco.
The paWnbroker said he would recognize
the persons who purchased the satchel,
and accompanied former Chief OF De-
tectVes OConnor to the Minneapolis
depot NO one with such a stachel
showed up to take a departing train
Then former Chief of Detectives O'Con-
nor recalled that the opera troupe that
played in French grand opera in this
city last week was filling an engagement
in Minneapolis He suspected that some
member of this company had purchased
the satchel and visited the Metropolitan
opera house in the Mill City Here the
search was rewarded by finding the
satchel in possession of J. B. Delisle,
member of the company, who told of
purchasing it at the pawnshop The
satchel was brought to this city and was
at once identified by the pupil at the
convent, from whom it had been stolen.
From this point the trail was followed
back to this city. Meantime former
Chief of Detectives O'Connor had sew
eral times visited the workhousa and had
seen Meyer. He was strux by the pris-
oner's resemblance to the description Of
the man for whom he was searching and
confronted Meyer with Mr.. Shapiro, the
Minneapolis pawnbroker. M" Shapiro
positively identified Meyer as the man
who had pawned with him the silverware
and the satchel identified as having been
stolen from the Convent of the Vista
ton. This was regai ded as proof posi-
former Chief of Detectives O'Connor had
with Meyer the accused practically ad-
mitted his guilt, it is alleged.
IS AN OLD OFFENDER
The investigation shows that Meyer
has served two terms at the Ramsey
county workhouse Once he was ar
rested by Officer Cline and sent out for
vagrancy, and the last time Officer Ben
Morse picked him up on April for lott
ering about the street late at night.
Meyer this time gave the name of Will
lam Kroeger, and the police had no idea
that he was the man they s sadly want
ed for the convent and other robberies.
The prisoner was sentenced by Judge
Hine to serve fifteen days in the work
house. AS he was hustled back to the
"bull' pen he called out, This is a
h of note" Judge H1ne
ordered the prisoner again brought be-
fore him and imposed another thirty
days sentence for contempt of court.
Meyer is about fifty years of age, and
from his methods in the robberies he is
alleged to have perpetrated is believed
to be professional criminal. He admits
having been under arrest in this city
several years ago, but will not say fol-.
what offense. He appears to be cunning
and bright enough in his talk, but it is
the belief of those who have watched
him that he is possessed of mania in
connection with his alleged criminal pro-
clivities that is responsible for the out
RACES he is accused of perpetrating upon
Catholic institutions.
From Shapiro, the Minneapolis pawn
broker, former Chief of Detectives OCon-
nor learned that some of the silverware
stolen from the Convent of the Visitation
had been disposed of to farmer living
near Minneapolis. Mr.. O'Connor expects
to recover this part of the stolen property
and also the other articles that have as
vet Remained undiscovered.