The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-09-13
SAFE BLOWER
In THE TOLLS

Philadelphia, Sept. 13.-The man
who is believed to have robbed the
post office at Alloway, N. j., late
Wednes day night has been arrested.
He gives his name as William Brooks,
and it is thought that he is men,
Der Of a gang that looted the post
office at Shiloh Tuesday night and
the post offices at Cape May, N. j.,
and Landsdowne, Pa, several weeks
ago.
Other arrests will probably follow
this one, and Post Office Inspector
Dixon expects to clear up the mys.
teries Of recent post office robberles.
The burglary at Alloway was dur
ing heavy thunderstorm. An en-
trance was made by forcing the front
door, and then prying open the door
to the inner office. The safe was
blown open with charge Of nitro.
glycerine. Stamps, money order and
postal note funds to the amount Of
5000 were taken.
After the robbery Brooks escaped
across country to Swedesboro. where
he subsequently took train for this
city.
The officials on the West jersey
| and Seashore Railroad had been noti-
tied by the post Office inspectors to
keep a sharp lookout for suspicious
characters, and when Brooks boarded
he train yesterday he was marked by
the conductor as a man probably con.
nected with the Alloway robbery.
Brooks was well dressed and carri-
ed an umbrella and valise, but his
shoes were dusty and he had the APP
pearancc Of having completed long
walk.
w. L. Moore. a farmer of SwedeS.
byro. also suspected that lie was one
Of the men who had robbed the Allo-
way post Office and determined to fol.
I low him TO this city,.
Brooks actions continued during
the trip and MIR. Moore determined
to have him arrested as soon as the
train reached Philadelphia.
Arriving in Camden little after
7 a. m., both men took the ferry
boat tor Market street. After land.
ing on this side Brooks walked up
Market to Third street, where he
entered saloon for drink. Just
then Moore, who had been follow
ing him, saw Policeman Stuart,
who was on his way to report for
duty at the City Hall. Moore stop.
ped the policeman and asked him
TO arrest the man who had ust en-
tered the saloon. Stuart hesitated,
but When Moore told him that he
suspected the man OF having rob-
led the Alloway pos vt office. the
night before, the police man lost no
time. Entering the saloon, in citi-
zen's clothes, he laid his hand on
Brooks shoulder, saying: YOU'RE
the man that blew open the safe at
Alloway last night you'll have
to come to the City Hall with me.
Brooks, who had Just taken
! glass OF beer, was too much aston.
ished to deny the charge He was
taken before Magistrate kocher.
spcrger, whene he gave his name
as VIM Brooks, and said that he
came from Delaware. More than
this he would not say, and al his
own request was committed without
BAH 10 await hearing before the
L. S. Commissioner.
In his vallse were found s. AZ in
notes, $3.50 in silver, So. Is lnepen-
mics, a loaded revalver, 3 burg ar 8
bits, roll OF stamps and some nj.
tro-glycerlne. In his umbrel a
siX-inch stick Of nllro.glycerine
was found.
Post Ottie Inspector Dixon said
yesterday that he thought Brooks
was one of gang who had been rob
bng rural post Offices IN all parts
of the country. recently, and that
efforts would be made to round up
the rest OF the gang within the mex
few weeks.