The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-21
ROBBED THE De SOTO
SAMPLE ROOM AT THE HOTEL
BURGLARIZED.
COSTLY ARTICLES TAKEN
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF
PLUMBER REMOVED.

Albert GOOdwinE. Formerly n Bell
Boy in the Hotel, systematically
Robbed the PIace-StoIe Costly
Cutlery From Travelling Man
Whose Trunks He PIundered IA
Year AgO-DetectiVc Murphy Nab
he'd GOOdwing shortly Afterwards.
VaIuabIes of All Sorts Found at
His Two HOmes-A Fan Alone Cost
S5O-NegrO Only Went in For the
Best.
After committing innumerable thefts
at the De Soto, and accommodating
silks, satins, linen, neckwear, jewelry,
silverware. leather goods and cutlery,
valued at several hundred dollars, be-
sides realizing snug sums from plum
der that he disposed of. Albert Good
wing, at one time a bellboy in the
hotel is a prisoner at the police sta
ton.
The negro was arrested near the
Union Station yesterday afternoon by
Detective J. j. Murphy. At that time
cutlery stolen from sample room
used by J. r. Linn, representing a
New York cutlery house, was recov-
cred. The robbery had been reported
at police headquarters during the
morning and Detective Murphy went
TO work on the case. The arrest of
Goodwing with some Of the plumber
followed in short time. When made
a prisoner the negro declared that the
razors found by the officers had been
given to him.
1t had been suspected that Good
wing was stealing from the hotel when
he was employed there, and because
of these suspicious he was discharged
some time ago. 1t appears, however,
that even though he was not an en-
ploye of the hotel he found plenty of
opportunity to continue his thieving.
Robbiug sample rooms seems to have
been his long suit, although some of
the De Soto linenWare was also car
ried away. The sample rooms are in
the basement, and Goodwing expert
enced no difficulty in burglarizing
this by taking the screws from the
hasps with which The double doors are
fastened.
NaIuabIes Taken.
After the prisoner had been lodged
at the police station Detectives Muir
ply and Wall visited the house of his
alleged paramount, Clara Rhett, No. 5O7
Charlton street, east. A large quantity
of stolen property was secured from
this address. More was found at the
home of the prisoners mother, No. soy
WaldburS street, west. Goodwing lived
a that address.
Among the stolen property recovered
by the two officers wore "a pearl and
lace fan valued at $50, valuable cutlery
of all description, twenty-three neck
ties, silver forks, knives and spoons
silver mounted purses, stick pins. rings
and gold buttons, towels, sheeting, silk
scarfs, silk skirts, silk waists and
scores of trinkets of one sort or an
other All of the plumber was removed
to police headquarters and an inven-
tory was taken in the office of the SUI
perintehdent.
Among the property was a knife
stolen. with razors and other cutlery
from Mr.. Linn's trunk, a year ago. The
sample room was robbed in the same
manner at that time and the travelling
man had long since given up all hope
of recovering what he lost at that time
GoodWing was then a bellboy in the
hotel, and was suspected of the theft
No evidence, however, could be secured
against him, and he was never arrest
ed. The fact that one of the knives
stolen from Mr.. Linn then mas been re-
covered fixes the guilt of the robbery
OF year ago on Goodwing.
Negroes Partial Confession
When the negro was confronted with
the evidence of his guilt he weakened
and made a partial confession. He adj
mitted taking the cutlery from the
sample trunk of Mr.. Linn, and for this
crime was indicted by the grand jury
in the afternoon. He will probably
plead guilty to this charge to-day. In
the event that he gets long term in
the penitentiary other cases that can
be made against him will probably be
dropped.
While Goodwing admitted taking
the cutlery that was found on him he
refused to confess the many other
thefts. He declared that the costly
fan found at his home was picked up
by him in the hallway of the hotel
more than year ago. He refused to
admit stealing any of the other arti-
cles, or to say to whom they belong.
tt1e claimed that many of the articles
had been stolen by others in the hotel,
and given to him. and that for this
reason he could not say who the losers
We're.
On the towels and linen owned by
the hotel the name De Soto had been
burned out, and the holes made were
patched. This was done in every case
where the stolen property bore the
mark of the owner. The hotel people
and the superintendent of police are
convinced that most of the stuff was
stolen from the sample room and that
a majority of the articles recovered
were used by travelling men as sam
pies. Because the prisoner has al
ready been indicted by the grand Jury
1t is not likely that he will be ar,
raigned in Police Court this morning.