The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-17
DISMANTLED A MILL
John Stewart Stole BraSseS
From Machinery.
DUG THROUGH.7HE WALL
To Get in and Completed De-
Struction at Leisure.

John Stewart was arrested last evening
by Detective Harry Sutton on the charge
of dismantIing the machinery in the -four
ing mill on South Hydraulic avenue and
stealing the brass and babbit bookings.
The value Of the brass and other metal
taken is estimated to be about $40 but
the damage done to the mill and the ma
chinery which is in il, is said TO be not
less than $500.
For over week Detective Sutton has
noticed that large quantity Of brass
and babbit metal was being sold to the
secondhand dealers by man claiming
TO be John Stewart and giving his resi-
dence at 4OS South Topeka avenue.
Detective Sutton thought that some
thing must be wrong and upon invesuga-
ton discovered that the man did not live
where he stated he did. The mill in the
meantime had been sold by the mortgage
company which owned it and the new
owner found that it had been dismanued
from top TO bottom All the brass and
other metal boxing had been removed
from the machinery and the large 49,
horse power engine had been practically
torn to pieces. The damage done was
great and the actual value Of the ma
terial taken was small.
The mill had been closed up tightly and
it was some time before it was discovered
how the thief gained entrance. Detective
Cairns investigated the situation and dis
covered that the man had gained en-
trance by digging through four-foot
thick stone wall on the north side of the
mill. Once in he had evidently pursued
his work of destruction systematically at
his leisure.
Suspicion was at once directed to the
John Stewart, who had sold so much
metal. A good description was obtained
of the party from the secondhand deal
ers. Last evening about o'clock, while
Detective Sutton was going home, he met
a man answering the description Of the
party wanted and arrested him.
1t proved that he was the man wanted
and Detective Sutton said last night that
the man confessed and admitted the rob-
berry and claimed that he had done all
the work himself. 1t must, however,
been large job for one man TO dismantle
a heavy engine, as was done. to remove
the bsasses and bookings.
Late yesterday afternoon it was dis
covered that the old City Roller Mills on
East Douglas avenue had also been en-
tered and some of the machinery dis
mantied. Gerald Volks says that he re-
members hearing a noise in the mill one
day as if workmen were engaged making
repairs of some kind
W d. Young, living on North Main
street, was arrested last night by De-
tecttve James Cairns on suspicion of hav-
rs stolen some leather betting from the
NIL on Hydraulic avenue. This robbery,
ii IS said took place some months ago.
Someone entered the mill at that time
AID cut a section from the large drive
belt Of the engine. The belt was a valu-
aS-e one being twenty-five inches wide
AID three-ply. It was the best quality
ana cost s. a foot. About ten or twelve !
feet Of the belt had been cut off and
would make a heavy load for one man. |
II is claimed that Young was in possess |
sion Of a portion of the belt and cut it |
up in sections and sold it to secondhand |
dealers and shoemakers for use as sole I,
leather. Young claims that he did not /
steal the belt but secured it from another /
party.