Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-04
CONVICTED OF LARCENY.
Thomas Wheeler Pleads Guilty to
Eight Charges.

Ihomas Wheeler, the young man who was
arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion
OF being responsible for robberies al num-
Der of boarding houses, which have been
reported to the detective Office during the
last few days, was arra.gned before Judge
kimball of the Police Court this morning
on nine charges of larceny, the members of
the detective force having been successful
in tracing that number of thefts to him.
Wheeler pleaded guilty to eight OF the
charges and not guilty to the remaining
the latter being dismissed after the court
heard the evidence which was not of a
character which pointed to his guilt. Be
lore imposing sentence Judge kimbaIl took
occasion to remark that he was prevented
by section 934 OF the code from giving the
man more than year in jail on collective
sentences, and announced that he would
sentence him on four of the charges-,hree
months in jail on each one. The court told
Wheeler that 1t intended that he should
spend at least two years in Washington.
and instructed the clerk to have him
months, and sentence would be imposed in
the other four charges.
Wheeler. who Is about twenty-four, acted
in an Indifferent manner when arraigned
in court, and was constantly smiling and
at one time when broad grin spread over
his face the court said: Il don't want any
more of that, because 1t won't be so funny
when get through with you.
Wheeler carried out the same program at
each house he visited. and that was to en-
gage a room, and after remaining a few
minutes he would leave. saying that he
would go out and get his trunk, but he
never returned. and later inmates OF the
house made the discovery that he had
taken some article with him
Miss Lena Shepherd. who resides in a
boarding house near the corner OF 18th and
L streets northwest, told the court how she
had lost her gold watch, valued at $25
When l returned home one afternoon
last week." she said, the landlady told me
that she had rented the room adjoining
mine to a very charming young man, and
after l had entered my room l found that
my watch had been taken" .-=-z5-
Other of Wheelers victims told the court
that he had changed his clothes. taking
their property and leaving his behind a bu-
reau washstand. .-.l
Would you like to make a statement?"
Judge Kimball asked Wheeler after the
evidence for the government had been, SUBJ
mitted.
Yes. SIR" he replied as he mounted the
witness stand. go -
The defendant said that this was the first
time he had been in trouble and that he
hoped the court would be lenient with him.
Detectives Weldon. Parham. Muller,
Baur. Father. Pratt. Miller and OfDea,
who worked the cases up against Whseler,
covered some Of the property which the
defendant had taken and of his statements
to them
Wheeler was sentenced in the following
cases: Miss Lena Shepherd. watch and
chain, valued at s25; Henry Holden. pair of
shoes, valued at 50: Henry Vonef. pair of
shoes, valued at So: Edward Hammond,
coat and vest, valued at $40.
The cases on which he will be sentenced
at the end Of six months are: William A.
Martin, suit of clothes $50: Henry Surguy,
suit of clothes, SIS: John H. Lindsey suit
of clothes, $40: Mary Miller. umbrella 81