Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-26
Arrest of whisky Thieves.


the thieves who entered Mr.. Nj. K.
O'Sullivan's sIore, corner of Franklin
aul Patrick streets, Wednesday night,
and stole two barrels of whisky. The
guilty parties were taken in custody
Yesterday by Officers Lyles and Fergu-
son and last night Lieutenant Smith and
Officers Mayhugb, Lyles, Nicholson and
Arlington recovered the stolen property.
This morning Richard Burnett, who, it
is alleged, purchased the whisky, was
taken in custody and sent on to
the grand jury, together with Joseph
Horseman and John Whalen, who are
believed to have committed the robbery.
AS was stated in yesterdays Gazette,
Mr. O'Sullivan's store was entered
Wednesday night and two barrels OF
Monticello whisky carried oft. AS soon
as the matter was reported Lieutenant
Smith repaired to the scene OF the
robbery and was on the track of the
thieves. He ascertained that Horseman
and Whalen had early in the night APP
peared at Mr.. A. J. Deavers's store, 10
the northern part OF the city, and OIL
tered to furnish him with three barrels
of whisky for $l20. Mr.. beavers de-
clined to enter into negotiations with
the men, and the lieutenant ascertained
that later people living in the vicinity
of Mr.. O'Sullivan' store had seen two
men, one of whom they recognized as
Whalen, put something in Mr.. O'Sul-
livan's wagon and drive toward Gibbon
street and subsequently to Duke street.
The lieutenant, assisted by other Of
ficers, worked diligently on the case,
following every clew, until it became
evident that the liquor lad gone no
farther than the Stone Bridge, and hav-
Jog procured search warrant, some
time after midnight last night they
made a reconnaissance of the house and
premises of Richard Burnett, on upper
Duke street, near the bridge. After ex-
ploring the place and finding no trace
of the missing whisky, the lieutenant
with Off .ers Arlington, Nicholson, Lyles
and Mayhugh found the objects OF
their search partly in a ditch about
eight feet from Burnetts fence and on
the premises formerly occupiedb by Henry
Wrenn, now serving term III jail Tor
receiving stolen property. Three planks
on Burnett's fence were loose and were
held in position by the root OF tree
which had been placed against them.
There were also evidences in the soft
ground that barrels had been rolled from
the direction Of the fence. The two
barrels were partially hidden by stumPs
of trees.
The examination of tbecase was made
this morning by Justice Beach IN The
Police Court, previous to which Horse
man made a statement to Common
wealth's Attorney Brent which he re-
peated substantially when placed in the
dock.
Lieutenant Smith was put on the stand
and his testimony was virtually as given
above. He gave all the details in con-
nectiou with tracing the movements OF
the thieves Wednesday night previous to
committing the robbery, together with
the circumstances in connection with the
discovery of the plumber.
Mrs. Toy, who lives near Mr.. O'Sul-
liyans store, testified to seeing Whalen,
whom she fully recognized, and another
man enter the store and bring out articles
she could not identify, place them in
Mr.. O'Sullivan's wagon, drive to Glbton
street and then to Duke. This was at
one O'Clock yesterday morning. The
men returned an hour later and replaced
the horse and wagon on the premises.
Mrs. Miller, mother Of Mrs. Toy, also
witnessed the procedures, and testified
substantially as her daughter. Both wit
nesses averred that they looked at Whalen
while he and the other man were at the
store and recognized him beyond any
doubt.
Mr. O'Sullivan followed. He said the
thieves apparently entered an upper
room of the rear Of the building and
proceeded to the first floor from which
place they removed the whisky. He
identified the liquor recovered by the
officers and said il was valued at 1928.
Horseman then made statement.
He said he allowed himself to be locked
m in Mr.. O'Sullivan's store, and, after
the proprietor left, opened the door lie
and Whalen previous 70 stealing the
liquor went to Mr. beavers store and en-
deavored to negotiate with him for the
sale of the plumber after it should have
been procured. Later they visited Bur
nett and made bargain with him.
Witness and Whalen were to receive $50
each upon the delivery of the whisky.
Whalen, he said, made all the arrange
ments in connection with the sale.
Horseman then proceeded to give the
details concerning the entering OF the
store, the use of the prOprietor's horse
and wagon and the delivery OF the
whisky to Burnett The latter gave
each Of the men $20in gold. Horseman
had spent the money he received.
CWhalen had $500 in his pockets
when arrested by Officer Ferguson.
Burnett arrived in court after all the
witnesses had testified, and was put upon
the stand. He denied every allegation
made against him; said he went on an
excursion Wednesday night, did not re-
turn home until late and vas away from
the city nearly all of yesterday; WIZ
ness said he was acquainted with Whalen,
but did not know Horseman. de denied
knowing anything concerning the whisky
found near his premises.
Officer Lyles, one of the othcers whC