The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-30
MAY Be The SAFE
CRACKERS,
three Suspects Captured by
the Police Here Yester-
day and Held.

Three men are held by the Raleigh po-
lice as suspects of the recent .safe-cracking
at various points in this State, notably
at Apex, and a fourth is being eagerly
sought- as on the latter's head there is
reward of $500 outstanding in the West
The police made the capture yesterday
afternoon, taking the three men at oEe
time. All had been watched closely during
the day and their movements had been
such as to cause suspicion. The fourth
man, who is still missing, is supposed 20
have left on a night train, though there
Is a belief that he will return unless his
fl lends are liberated. The men held at
the police station deny any accusation Of
wrong doing, but the police are confident
thae they have in hand deep-dyed crinIi-
mails. who are wanted in many cities. One
elaine to be from Philadelphia, and ell
three insist that they have just met here
by chance and were not acquainted be-
lore reaching Raleigh.
At the police station the three suspects
are confined in the same cell. 1t is not
known to hem how long hey will be held
or Yha charge will be preferred against
them.
Chief Mullins and his force are work
ing hard to locate the fourth man and
have just received photograph of a
safe-cracker, who did disastrous work IN
the West, and carried away with him
sufficient funds to warrant the offer Of
$500 for his arrest With the photo
graph came word from the authorities
that they have positive information that
this man has recently been working
Western North Carolina.
The man who has thus far been smart
enough to. escape the cleverest detectives
and police is a short, thin man, who
walks stopped over. He is about five feet
TALL clean shaved and when seen here
was wearing black derby hat, q dark
coat and light pair of pants. Nothing
could be learned about his whereabouts
late last night.
An official said last night that there was
every reason to warrant the arrest of the
three suspects now in the station house.
They will not be brought up before Mayor
Powell this morning unless last night
plans are altered. Information regarding
the presence of the supposed safe-crack-
ers in Raleigh is said to have been given
to the police on yesterday morning after
one of the suspects had made visit TO
the Southern Express office. where he IS
said to have tried to sell shoe-strings to
different employees. Later this same man,
with the others now In prison, was re-
ported as having made inquiry at the
residence of the cashier, Mr. Hastings
Poe to learn if he cashier of he Southern
express Company lived in that house.
This is supposed to have been asked with
a view to watching for Mr.. Poe to go
nome last night. Later the three men
were seen emerging from the back yard
of the Southern Express office and shortly
after this they were placed under arrest.
During the day yesterday. according to
an officer, the missing man, who cannot
now be located, visited the Southern Ex-
press office and asked to see the cashier.
He had a sheet of paper on which there
were columns of figures, but Mr.. Poe re-
ferred him to Mr.. Hodges, but the man
is said to have then taken an immediate
departure The police received this in
formation and worked all the evening and
night in vain search for the supposed
criminal.
1t is said that every movement of the
men arrested caused suspicion to- rest
upon them.
Information of the arrest of these men
will be sent to the various towns which
have recently been visited by safe-crack-
ers. and efforts will be made to identify
them They will be given opportunity
TO prove their identity, and if they are
nc+ the safe blowers it is probable that
they will get off light by being sent out
&C town with warning not to return or
b. turned over to the work house for
thirty days or more for vaGrancy.
JOHN RUSSELL So. dduecpare g..
Governor Aycock yesterday pardoned
John Russell, of Winston. convicted OF
larceny and sentenced to twelve months
He has served eight months of his time
The pardon was recommended by a large
number of good citizens. including all the
county officials The man had borne a
good character heretofore.