Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-16
TRAPS PORTER and BARBER
Railroad Dstsctiyss Arrest Pair On Charge
Of Robbery.
RESULT Of LONG SERIES OF ROBBEaEs
Passengers on Overland Limited Have
Complained Of Losing Money
and Company Makes ERort
90 Catch Thieves.

The arrest OF Lewis Seldom, colored per-
ter Of a buffet car. and Wayne shoup, a
white barber. both employed on the North
" estern-U Union Pacific overland passenger
train. IL believed BY the ~ofhciais Of these
raiIroadh to solve the mystery Of the nu-
merous robberIes which passengers Of late
have complained Of. The arrest OF the two
men was brought about By J. G. Fsnning
and n. r. Stevens, detectives employed by
the Northwestern road. Seldom and shoup
are now sojourning in the county Jail pend
ing the determination OF their preliminary
hearing on q charge OF larceny from the
person, which was begun before Justice
Bryant yesterday afternoon.
For the last six months the Northwestern
railroad has received complaints from pas
sengers on the overland limited who had
been robbed Of various sums OF money.
Only a week ago one passenger reported the
loss Of 500. Investigation led TO the sus-
picion that Seldom and shoup we're respon-
sible for the thefts and that the victims
were robbed while In the barber shop com
pertinent Of the buffet car.
Special Ofioors flaming and stevans we're
detailed on the case. Thursday night they
assumed the role Of passengers on the over
land limited. In his coat pocket Detective
flaming carried a notebook containing a
htnutA VI Anuihtu Wv ullAAs tno nuulUS1
Of everyone Of which had been written
down on a slip OF paper. The two detectives
were apparently travelling for pleasure with
plenty Of money 70 spend and they FREE
Quently patronised the buffet. taking. how
ever, careful note OF everything they or
dered and paid for and at the sam time
keeping tab on what Porter Seldom supplied
to other passengers.
10th Are Attentfwe
Early yesterday morning the two detec-
tives arose from their berths in the sleeper
and repaired TO the buffet car where they
ordered something 70 ''brace up on. Dc
tective decided he wanted q shave. Bar
Der shoup was most accommodating and
attentive to his customer. Hot towels in
plenty we're spread over bis face 70 keep
away that tired feeling Porter Seldom
was equally attentive and vigorously
brushed the detectives coat. All this time
Detective Stevens was watching from q
point Of vantage. The porter finished
brushing the coat and the barber finished
shaving Detective Tanning, who rejoined
bis companion in the buffet compartment.
Barber shoup was seen to reioin Porter
Seldom and then the two detectives de-
cided the time was ripe for action. They
surprised the two men just as the porter
was handing the barber = IS gold piece.
Hastily pulling open the p~ortsr's cash
drawer in the buffet. Detective flaming
discovered. as he alIeges. one Of his marked
$40 bills which he had previously missed
from his note book. He had taken care to
note that all the bills we're in the book
before ne went into the BARRIERS chair.
The porter and barber we're at once placed
under arrest and on the train reaching
Council Bluffs were turned over to the
authorities. Detective Tanning Ming an
information against the two men before
Ju0ge Byrant.
seldom Refuses TO Anawer.
During the preliminary hearing seldom
refused to answer a question put TO him
by Assistant Attorney Kimball which the
court decided be should. The court
threatened to commit him for contempt n
he persisted In his refusal but the tive
cclored men refused to answer II. The ques-
ton asked him was WHISTLER the rules Of
tho company did not require him to use q
certain check book IN which 10 keep &C
count Of all goods sold from the buffet,
This question was asked during seldon'I
INSTRUMENTATION. a. he claimed that the
money found In his drawer had been re-
ceived IN payment for drinks sold by him
and the prosecution was endeavoring Il
show that no such SUM Of money could have
been received when compared with the
goods sold.
just about when seldom was being taken
to the county jail By the constable ~
weakened and offered TO answer the ques-
tion but once back In the witness stand
his attorney refused to allow him 10 anawe
the question and the court ordered tbs
porter removed 70 the county Jail. which
was done and the hearing postponed
snoup was also committed 70 the count,
jail.
seldon's attorney left the court room
threatening to institute habeaE corpus PRO
cesdlnss 20 secure the release OF theil
client.
seldom when arrested was found in poa'
session Of . large roll Of bills. and tire.
valuable rings. two set with large diamonds
and one with opals.
Keep clean. Uss Puews Mssnanie's soap
n.via aans oahnfa