The times., 1901-06-24
AUDACIOUS In HIS SCHEME
The Remarkable Goodness of a Col
Ored Man Now Under Arrest.
Evans Charged With Stealing House
hold Goods and Hauling Them
Away Openly i'm n WhecIbarroyv-A
Preliminary Blum OF Lawn Moving

/ William Evans. a colored man. who has
served time in the penitentiary, is under
arrest at the Third prs@- station,
| charged by at least five pe.>lns with
housebreaking and grand larceny. A large
| quantity of goods. including carpets, cur
| tains, hats, furs. and chairs. was piled
! high last night in the station. attesting
! to the work of Evans during two months
| of liberty, and the subsequent efforts OF
the police TO recover property he is said
to have stolen.
The story behind the arrest of Evans
dates back to his release from the peni-
! tentiary at Trenton, N J., about two
| months ago. Evans returned to this city,
his former home, shortly after leaving
prison. Not long after complaints began
to pour into Headquarters from every
direction of thefts of every nature from
various residences. A majority of these
reports came from the Northwest section,
where Evans once lived. A photograph
of the ex-convict was taken from the
Rogue's Gallery at Headquarters in con-
nection with the investigation of the rob
berries, and showed to the detectives and
others engaged on the cases. Then began
search, both for Evans and for the
goods which disappeared mysteriousIy
zens. Among those who had complained
of losses were Mrs. Van Hoesser, a clerk
in the War Department, whose home is
at 1910 Nineteenth Street northwest; Amos
b. Castleman, of I4I0 Hopkins Street
northwest; Thomas 2. Moran, of 1715
Riggs Street northwest; Mrs. C. NJ Jor-
dan, of 2l07 Street northwest, and Silas
Merchant, of 1918 r Street northwest be-
sides others whose property is still miss
ing. Most of the goods so far recovered
belong to those whose names appear
above.
Years ago Evans lived in Linger Alley
northwest and worked for Mrs. Merchant.
This fact was known to Detective O'Brien.
of the Third precinct station, who, togeth-
CT with Policeman Buckley, has spent
much time on the cases of theft Not
long ago it was discovered that Evans
had been seen in his old haunts, and it
was found that he had been noticed haul
ing about the streets many carpets and
other goods in d WbeelbarroW. Various
policemen asked him where he secured
the goods, to which Evans said that he
had taken the carpets to clean and was
returning them to their owners. Suspic-
ION attached to the prisoner, however.
and his past record led to q close watch
being set on his movements A week or
more ago Detective OBrien learned that
Evans had been selling goods. such as
carpets, dress goods, even chairs and
furniture, to negroes and otherz at prices
ridiculously low. Some Of this property
was recovered and afterward identified
by its owners. Those who had bought
the goods said that Evans had sold more
at various houses IN the Northwest sec
tion, and it was determined to Arrest the
suspect While search was being made
for him, the police learned that Evans
had sold goods to well-to-do people as
well, and those named above were after
ward notified to call at the station ana
identify their goods which had been re-
covered.
Evans was at mis- home in Linger Alley
when Detective 'Brien went for him last
night. He was taken out of bed and
lodged in a cell at the station. He told
the police after his arrest that he had
taken some property from various houses,
which did not belong to him. but that he
never forced his way into any house. Ii
is his method to visit a residence and ring
the door bell. always first placing his
wheelbarrOW in frCnt Of the house. where
it can be seen from the door. If there is
anybody at home, Evans asks on re-
sponse being made to his summons.
whether he can cut the grass. and points
out his wheelbarrow. together with
scythe. If refused, he goes to the next
house, until he finds a residence tempo
rarily vacant, or which has been closed
for the summer months This, Evans viii
at leisure. taking everything of value and
hauling it away in his wheelbarrow. For
weeks Evans carried out this scheme. IN
III he had stolen property worth hundreds
of dollars.
Records at Headquarters show that
Evans was arrested in this city about
three years ago. and sent to the peniten-
tiary for larceny. Policemen COnnors and
Burrows, of the Seventh precinct station,
made the arrest at that time.