Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-04-25
Thief CAUGHT.
Mystery Of Robberies 10 be
Cleared Up.
Two Men With a Tipcart, PoIicemaoa
Alleged Thief and Others in 1t
Amateur Detective Gets in Good
Work.

Boston, Mass.-Two men in tipcart
closely followed by an officer of divi-
sion 8 with a prisoner and an amateur
detective, not to speak of the ever
increasing throng that trailed along
behind just to see what it was all
about, was an attraction offered TO
pedestrians along the line of Blue Hlll
avenue, RoXbury.
In the cart was a mysterous-look-
ing bag, on which the officer kept
very watchful eye, while with the 9TH
er he looked out that his prisoner did
not escape. Small boys ran along and
wondered what was the matter, and
there was an inquiring look on every
face.
Slowly the procession moved down
the avenue until station 8, at the cor
ner of Dudley street, was reached.
Then the cart was backed up to the
front door and the two men on the
seat jumped and let down the tall
board Amid many exclamations they
reached in and gave the bag a pull.
There was a rattle as the bag dropped
to the pavement
Meanwhile the officer, his prisoner
and the amateur detective had looked
on, and in the opinion of the cart men
it was up to them to carry the bag into
the station up the steps. After some
pleading the two men again grabbed
the bag, which was heavy and carried
it upstairs and out of sight of the Curl
Gus throng assembled outside.
Stories of terrible murders had
gained currency by this time, and it
was a dissatisfied gathering that was
left outside when the bag and its at
tendants passed into the station. Once
inside the men dropped the bag on the
floor just in front of where Lieut.. Lib
by was writing and it came down with
such thump and din that he jumped
from his seat.
Then in came the officer, the pris-
oner and the amateur detective. The
bag was opened and there was dis
closed to view a collection of sections
of brass piping of different lengths and
diameters. The contents weighed
nearly 200 pounds and if sold for old
junk would bring more than $40.
The prisoner was questioned, and
said his name was John Jones. This
was too good a joke to believe, and
again the question was put to him but
he maintained that was his name. He
was searched. and in his pockets were
found about a dozen drills and dies,
which together with the brass piping
had been stolen. Further than saying
his name was John Jones. he would
tell nothing, saying he knew his rights
and when the officers told him the stuff
had been stolen, he said he would give
them a chance to prove it. In his poe
kets was also found 25-cent piece.
He was put down stairs in a cell and
then the story of his capture came out.
First the amateur detective was heard.
He had en- a pair of slippers covered
with dust. He said he was a milliman
and put up his horses in stable near
Fields Corner. For the past six months
he explained, articles stored in the
stable had been stolen, and he had en-
deavored to catch the thief, but with
out success.
AT night he went into the stable
about s o'clock and found more of the
stuff had been taken, and he started
out in pursuit of the thief. He ran
quite distance and then jumped on a
car until he overlook a tipcart being
driven down Blue Hill avenue. From
the platform of the car he could see
the bag in the cart and he left the car
and went back and made an investiga-
tion.
His suspicious We're correct and he
hailed a patrolman Of division 8 and
told him the circumstances. Mccarthy
Immediately laid siege to the outfit
and took the alleged thief into custody
and ordered the men on the cart to
drive to the station with the swag.
The drivers of the cart said they
were perfectly honest in the matter.
They told the lieutenant they were
driving along when the man with the
bag asked them if they wanted to
make quarter, and they said they did.
The bag was put aboard and the jour-
ney to Roxbury continued.
Jones was later sent to station 12 in
Dorchester, and the bag and contents
went with him. While in station an
effort was made to identify him. but
without success. The police say that
for long time there has been raids on
the tool chests of workmen employed
on new buildings in Dorchester and
Roxbury.