Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-07-05
CAUGHT RED HANDED
oHlsF GRAY AND NIGHT CAP.
TAIN GALLAGHER TAKE NO.
ToRIous SILK THIEF.
George Morgan Alias Tom Danahey
Thought to be George Helss Of Co.
dar Rapids, Caught Behind elk
Counter at Phillips Big store.

oar HaP'os, caught Behind SIX
Counter at Phillips Big store.
From Saturdays Daily.
George Morgan. alias Tom Danahey,
thought to be the notorious silk thief
George Heiss, who formerly made his
headquarters in Cedar Rapids, wasl
captured behind the silk counter In
j. A. Phillips dry goods store last night
about IL O'Clock by Chief of Police
John w. Gray and Night Captain Peter
Gallagher. Morgan when taken had Sc
cured seven pieces of silk valued at
5000 and had packed them in tele-
scope which he had taken from another
department of the store. He is under
$500 bond and his hearing Is to be had
in police court Tuesday morning at 8
o'clock.
A Quick Capture.
The capture, which was one of the
quickest and cleanest over accomplish.
ed by the local police force, took place
within four minutes after Morgan be-
gan his raid on the silk shelves. The
Phillips dry goods store Is equipped
with the A. D. T. burglar alarm system.
The silk department Of the store is one
Of the departments that have special
protection. A wood work grating Is
placed in front of the shelves contain.
ing the valuable bundles of silk and so
arranged that any movement of 1t will
break an electric connection and sound
an alarm in the Western Union office.
At 10:48 last evening this alarm was
sounded and the police station was
quickly notified by Night Operator
Timothy Sheehan. Captain Gallagher
fastened down Market street and was
joined at the Western Union Office by
Chief Gray. Together they arrived at
the store within two minutes after the
alarm was given.
Behind Counter.
The officers entered by the front
door and switched on the light. The
silk counter Is about thirty feet down
the aisle directly in front of the en-
trance On the counter before the
silk shelves sat the top Of telescope.
| The bottom of the grating which pro-
tects the shelves was pulled out, but
the top was still in place. Morgan
who had dropped down behind the
counter at the instant the light was
switched on at the entrance, realized
that escape was impossible. Well,
boys, I guess you have got me this
time" he said, as he rose from be-
hind the counter
Chief Gray ordered him out into the
aisle, clapped the handouts upon him
and after short investigation to see
that Morgan was alone started back
to the police station.
| Huouy Ala vN,, N Sn ackpd the
J chief. 81 don't want to go back there
/ and hunt all over that building to find
out how you got in there"
| "Well, you seem to be on the square
I'll just tell you. I clumb the tele-
graph pole in the rear of the building
and went in second story window.
left the window open. You will find
it just as tell YOU"
prisoner.
Gray"
ooh, yes. I've heard about you"
I'm a notorious character about
here" was the chiefs reply.
Had Cork Leg.
| Gray took his prisoner to the police
station and in searching him discov
cred that he had cork leg. This cou
pied with the fact that the handcuffs
had been used to bring the prisoner
to the Jail has made it necessary to
day for the chief to "buy" severa
times.
While the prisoner was being JAILED
thorough search of the store wa:
made by Captain Gallagher, the win
dow was found open as described bu
nothing else was disturbed.
Morgan was arraigned in polio,
court this morning. He pleaded no
guilty and he was placed under $50
J bonds to await hearing on Tuesda.
morning at 9 o'clock. He will be de
Tended by Attorney B. W. Scott.
1t is the belief of the officials tina
. they have made capture of consider
able Importance for the manner an,
bearing of the prisoner together will
, the way in which he went abou
his work last evening to prevent tn
alarm being sounded show him to b
an old hand at the business.
Did Not Remove Grating.
He did not attempt to remove tn
grating from before the shelves bu
pulled the bottom out leaving the to-
where the electric connection was lC
Gated as it had been placed in the eve
ming by the clerk. In wrenching tn
. grating loose the motion caused
slight disconnection and resulted l.
;. the alarm causing his arrest with
!. three of four minutes after he bega
:. operations at the shelves.
!. Heiss Of Cedar Rapids.
n A telegram received by the Courie
n this afternoon gives brief description
Of George Heiss, notorious silk THE
n who formerly made his Headquarters
s in that city and expressing the bells
l. that Morgan is the same man. Th
t description states that Heiss had
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