The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-08-26
SAFE CRACKERS CAUGHT.
Men Arrested at st. Augustine
Probably Guilty of Crescent
CITY Job.

plain clothes officer james w. Ann
of Tampa. who had been on their
trail for several Weeks and who had
assisted ia din, cJin% t'Ieir movement
through this place AL finally to ST.
Augustine through decoy letters and
kilograms ,purporting to come from
their conlcderates in Tampa.
Credit for the arrest of the two desv
perate men is due Sheriff Joe Perry
of st. Augustine, vino took the men
on descriptions furnished by Sheriff
Howell. And when he took them he
had to do it by being real quick with
his gun-and just a little quicker
than the other fellow. While Perry
had the gun pointed at the desperate
men and their arms were held aloof,
a deputy went through them and re-
lieved both of murderOHs 4l-calibre
Colts revolvers, sticks of dynamite,
fuses, wires and bottle of nitro ely
ccrine.
Detective Aim of Tampa came to
Palatka last Friday. He immedi-
ately saw Sheriff Howell and told
him his business. He also told the
sheriff that there would be a safe
cracked in the vicinity Of Palatka
that night, most likely at Hastings
There was, true to Mr.. Aims predic-
ton, safe cracked that night, but it
was at Crescent City and not Hast
ings. The sheriff's Office then set
about to watch trains and depOts,
and descriptions of the men were
given to officers in all nearby places.
Sheriff Howell telegraphed a thor
ough description to Sheriff Perry.
EI1d according to Detective Aim the
men were bound to show up at St.
Augustine for their mail. The post
master was asked to watch.
The arrested men are Fred Staff
ord and James Ward.
The st. Augustine Record tells of
the arrest us follows:
Stafford called for his mail Mon
day morning and was put off until
the next mail. Meantime the sheriff
and marshal were notified. The man
wore derby hat indented like fe-
dora, and Sheriff Perry recognized
him ON the street, but did not arrest
him at that time. He took up his
station in the plaza with Marshal
Hinch, waiting for the men to appear
at the postofiice. The marshal went
to dinner and Sheriff Perry remained
alone. Finally he spotted Ward
coming along and followed him along
st. George street. Ward went into
Bruer's saloon and officer Nelson
was sent to attend the front door to
keep the man from emerging. Ar
thur Colee was in the saloon and the
sheriff entered the rear door, his
coat over his hand, in which he held
a revolver Ward was sitting at Il
table when the sheriff walked over
and poked the muzzle of the~gun in
his face, and told him he was the
sheriff, and not to move. AT the
sheritf's request Arthur Colee re-
lieved the man of his gun. On leav-
ing the saloon they encountered Stat
ford in front of the Magnolia hotel.
He placed his hand over his mouth
as signal to the prisoner, and then
reached for his gun, but the sheriff
covered him and told him to throw
up his hands Mr.. Colee and officer
Nelson also covered Stafford, and his
hands went up Alike rocket. His
gun was taken and he was arrested
after struggle. The officers ran con-
siderable risk as the man was a walk
ing magazine, having dynamite and
other explosives, as well as the gun
on his person.
AS soon as he had his men well
Gagged Sheriff Perry wired the good
news to Sheriff Howell and that
officer with Detective Aim went to
st. Augustine on the 4:l5 train, and
brought the prisoners to this city the
same evening. They were lodged in
Jail and the next day Detertive Aim
took them to Lake county where
they are wanted for safe blowing
and where there is plenty of evil
hence to convict.
Nothing was found upon the pris-
)ners to connect them specially with |
jhe Miller safe-cracking job at Ores
cent City, though it is morally GER
ain that they are the right parties.
All papers of course would be de- |
itroyed and money all looks too
much alike for purposes of identifi-
,ation.
There is hope, however, that upon
conviction, these men may give up
some of the Ito them) worthless
property taken rom captain Mlller'S
,afe.
AS soon MS the men were arrested
It st. Augustine the Tampa officers
we're notified and their cQnlederates
It that place were secured. From
hese it is expected some plumber
nay be secured. The confederates
t Tampa are A. q. Hopkins, Eta
stafford and May Ward, the two
after living in Tampa as wives of
he principles.
From Tampa it is learned that
stafford and Ward can be convicted
/ Fort Dade, Fort Meade, Leesburg.
.nthony, Tarpon Springs, and Lee