Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-03-27
ARREST OF HoUsEBREAKERs.

Perry Shields, colored, Caught WINE
Attempting to Break into store
PIunder of Former Robberies Re-
covered.
Officers Smith and Sherwood about one
O'Clock this morning made an important
capture by taking into custody negro
named Perry Shields while he was max
ing preparations to break into Mr.. G.
NJ. Adams's furnishing store, on King
street.
Shortly before one o'clock Mr.. viii
Wildt, who was about to retire, heard
somebody walking on shed in the rear
of his fathers residence and store, on
Royal street, between King and Cameron,
and proceeded to a back window on a
reconnaissance. He saw a man on the
shed and appraised his brother, Mr.. Ed.
Wildt, of the fact, and waiting until the
trespasser descended into an area which
leads into Capt George Young's store
as well as that of Mr.. Adams, he at
tempted to telephone to the station
house. Finding he could not call it up,
he proceeded thither and informed
Officers Smith and Sherwood of what
was going on. The officers repaired to the
scene when Mr.. Sherwood stationed him
self at Capt. Young's front door and MIR.
Smith went to the rear. In the mean
time Mr.. WiIdt had procured lantern
which he attached to line and lowered
over the twelye-foot wall enclosing the
area. Officer Smith investigated and found
the coIored man in the closet in the rear
of Capt. Young's store. Mr.. Sherwood
was dispatched to Capt. Young's house
and that gentleman soon appeared and
let the officers and prisoner out of the
front door on King street. Officer Hen
derson later found some children's shoes
in the place where the darkey was cap
tured and there is reason to believe that
the intruder disposed of some burglars
tools while in the closet. The prisoner
upon being taken to the station house
gave his name as Perry Shields, and
said he lived on the south side Of Prince
street, between Lee and Union. Later
Officers Smith, Nicholson and TIGER
went to the house, where they found
enough stolen articles to stock Il combi-
nation store also about a dozen pawn
tickets which showed that Shields has
been disposing of watches, over
coats, &C., in Washington and
Baltimore. In the pile were watches,
clocks, pistols, razors, knives, forks,
spoons, combs, brushes, pocketbOoks,
coatse, trousers, vests, jackets, underworld
all sorts, handkerchiefs, suspenders, gar
tiers, gloves, towels, etc.
Shields made no attempt to deny that
he had stolen the goods and his wife cor
roborated his statement in the main. 1t
was at first supposed by the officers that
when caught he was about TO rob Capt.
Youngs store but the negro said such
was not the case, but that it was his
purpose to enter Mr.. Adams's store, as
he heard money was left there at night.
Shields was brought before the Mayor
this morning. Messrs. Bernheimer and
Wolf appeared and identified the ar
ticles exhibited as their property. In
answer to questions Shields said he had
entered the Bernheimer store twice, al
though his wife had stated that he
brought the goods home at one time.
Shields also said he had been engaged in
housebreaking since Christmas. The
Bernheimer store was entered about
week ago and for about three months
previous to that time the store had been
entered several times. Shields said he
had only broken into and robbed this
store, although the pawntickets showed
he had disposed of Overcoats and other
articles which may not have come there
from. Mr.. Baer's store, it will be re-
membered, was entered last October and
an overcoat and some other articles
stolen. Shields denied that he had con-
federates on any occasion.
The Mayor sent the prisoner OF to the
grand jury.
Later Shields admitted he had accom-
plices, and named John Dogan and Ben
amin Hughes, well-known colored indi-
viduals, both of whom have served terms
in the penitentiary. They were immed-
lately arrested by Officers Young, May
hew and Lyles. Officer Smith had in
the meantime gone to Washington where
he recovered several coats which had
been pawned in that city. As had been
surmised, some of the clothing proved to
have been stolen from Mr.. B. Baer in
October.