Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-04-27
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
POLICE CAPTURE a BOLD BUR-
CLAIR.
Was In Wolf Nichols Store Trying to
Open the Safe When De-
tected

stluctiYe burglaries, the city now bids
fair to be rid of them for a season
After mnay nights OF eeascless vigils
the police caught burglar in the act
of looting Wolf Nichols dry goods
store on Main street.
Chef Craig has been making eycry
endeavor in his power of late to Dut
an end to the thieving which has been
of frequent occurrence in the ity of
late and has hal several extra men
at work at night
Last Saturday morning, about q
O'Clock, Officers Frank Stewart am,
John Wilson, while passing Wolf Mich
ols store in making their rounds. de-
tected noise in the store. 4 careful
investigation followed and thief was
discovered working on the safe in all
eGdcaVof to get into it.
Assistance was summoned from
Headquarters and in very short time
the building was surrounded on all
SIDES by the officers. The negro soon
discovered by the cOmmotion outside
that he had been caught in a tran and
ne endeaVored to make his escape In
t2e furtherance Of his design he crept
back to the rear door, with a transom
overhead and cautiously peernd ont To
take in the surroundings. AS he did
so, Officer john Wilson, who had been
stationed at The fear of the building,
detected the outline, Of his head and
thought at first from The measured
movement Of the figure that. it was a
cat IN the transom. Another glance
reVeaied to him the face of the negro,
and, pulling his pistol. he fired noinnt
olahk at the figure. The negro had
mounted ladder to look out through
the transom and he fell to the floor ae
II shot Wilson thought that he had
Killed him and told the other officers
mat he had. But they all STAYED at
.helr stations, and presently his muf-
He'd footsteps were heard again.
lie tried the second time to escapa
through the rear entrance, but Wilson
again brought his gun into plav and
Hired another shot at him, which failed
to take effect. Every other possible
exit from the building was tried by the
negro, but he found them all covered
by the officers.
IN the meantime, after the building
mad been completely surrounded by q
Gordon of officers. Mr. Nichols was
telephoned and told to come down
and unlock the door. When he arrived
everything was in readiness for put
ting nlppers on the thief, and he was
soon discovered. He submitted to ar
rest without a struggle, and he was
carried to the station and locked IN
for the night.
He stated that his name was Frank
Moore and that he was from Monroe.
La. Upon being searched, two reyolv
ers was found on his person, one OF
which he had secured in the store in
which he was captured, and another
from negro shoemaker.
The negro was as indiscreet as he
was daring. He foolishly attempted
to enter large Mosler safe, which was
safely secured, and before he was de.
tected had broken several safe fix.
lures, causing damage of $40.
Saturday morning he was taken out
OF the calaboose into private office
at the station and closely questioned.
he confessed to committing the Mead
Harper company and Nelson Morris
but denied committing the
other burglaries of recent occurrence.
He was given another opportunity to
make a full confession Saturday aft
ernoon and he then confessed to the
burglary of J. S. A. Rosenberg's store.
but denied the Nelson Morris burglary,
saying that he misunderstood the Of
hcers in the morning. He implicated
a negro whom he knew by the name
OF John johnson in the Mead Harper
but stated that he WAS alone
IN the others.
Several grips containing stolen
were found at his room on
East Third avenue. most of which was
secured in the Mead-Harper haul |
other &oods We're found v ilich the
aeerc stated ne had stolen in Monroe
La.
Several hours eftef the arrest 81
Moore was accomplished four other nc
sfoes were arrested in box car and I
.aEcn to the station. where they were
held as suspects, but all were released !
later
Moore is very deeenerate-looking
specimen Of his race, and the police /
have made capture that the may
well be proud of, for, with the pres
ance of such a criminal in the city no
business concern would be safe.