The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-28
WARNED BY WIRES
ORDER FOR HIS FRIENDS AR
REST.
WHILE WAITING FOR A TRAIN.
IKE LEWIS CLOSE CALL AT MEL
DRIM STATION.

PawnbrOker's Clerk Robbed Kas-
kelPs Place Congress street
and Left for MeIdrim-His Brother
and Friendly Telegraph Oper-
atOr Went with Him-The Men
Were Standing at the Station
when supt. ReiIly's Request for
Levy's Arrest Went Over the Wire.
The Trio Chased Through swamps
by Armed Posse, but Escaped.
Levy Cleaned Out n PawnshOp and
Among other Things Got Five
Gold Watches and a Diamond Pin.
The fact that he was accompanied by
telegraph operator was all that saved
Ike Levy, a pawnbroker's clerk and
man well known in sporting and police
circles from arrest at Meldrim yesterday
morning, on a charge of robbery. Levy
was standing at the little station with
his brother and the operator when a mes
sage from Superintendent of Police Reil-
ly came over the wire.
The strange operator had been listening
to the ticking instrument for some time
and heard messages transmitted that in
no manner interested him. Suddenly he
clutched Levy's arm and listened. The
description of the pawnbroker's clerk was
being given and the massage was ad-
dressed to the sheriff at Meldrim. Letter
by letter the operator spelled out the tel
egraphc message asking for Levy's ar
rest for robbery. Before the name of Su-
perintendent Reilly had been transcribed
the opera tor told Levy of what had come
over the wire and the three men started
in a run for the nearest swamp.
The Meldrim operator saw the men
dash off and it flashed across him at
once what had happened. He recognized
Levy as the man whose description he
had just taken and lost no time in giving
the alarm. An armed force was hurr.edly
organized end the trio was followed to
the swamps. City Detective Stark left
for Meldrim ON the morning train and
arrived there only few minutes after
the telegram was received, The Savan-
nah officer Joined in the search for the
men, but they managed to keep them
selves concealed in the swamps. The Of
ficer returned to the city on the dinner
train, empty-handed.
The robbery for which Levy is wanted
by the police was a daring one, and oc-
been employed as a clerk in Edward Kas-
kelps pawn shop on Congress street, and
while it was not believed that he was as
straight as a die, no one suspected that
he would take anything that had been
mailed down. With three other persons
in the store Levy cleaned out a window
and show case and left the place
1t was probably an hour after his de-
parture before the robbery was discov-
cred, and the matter was then reported
al police headquarters. Proprietor Kas-
kell was unable to say what had been
taken from the place, and will not know
until he has taken stock. He estimates
his loss at about $780, according to the po-
lice but it may run over that amount
Levy evidently had some one on the out
side to help him. and he lost no time in
leaving the neighborhood with his plum
der.
Among the articles stolen were five
gold watches, diamond pin and a Smith
g. Wesson revolver. Some of these arti-
Giles were located by the detectives, and
in this manner Levy was slowly tracked
to Me.drim. Detective Stark learned
that the man had joined his brother. and
the telegraph operator and that the three
had left on a Central train. Yesterday
morning they were traced to Meldrim and
the telegram, ordering the arrest of at
least one member of the party, was sent.
The search through the swamps around
Meldrim lasted for two hours and every
effort was made to locate the man. De-
tective Stark secured a buggy and drove
over the surrounding country, without
even finding a trace of the men. He eft
armed men around the swamps, but Levy
and his companions had not been arrested
up to an early hour this morning. The
authorities at Meldrim are of the opinion
that the men are still in the swamps. and
say that if this is the case they cannot
escape. At police headquarters it is be-
lieved they will probably be arrested to-
day.