Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-12-22
SYSTEMATIC
STEALING
Ed. Henry, Drayman, and
W. G. Lamke. Freight
Clerk Pilferfr
Il. Il. Depot for
Months.

Agent Elder, as he secured the warrant
fol the arrest OF Edward Henry, a team
ster, and w. G. Lamke, freight clerk at
the N. P. depot, Monday night, on a
charge of stealing goods from the COM
pany's warehouse at the depot.
Agent Elder has been at work on this
case since last Nav, when he became
suspicious Of Henry, whom he noticed
taking some bananas from crate. hut
as the man only took some to eat, he
could not have him arrested, but he took
the precaution OF calling the attention of
the freight clerk to the fact, and request
ing him to keep his eyes, open when
Henry was around. as he suspicioned he
was thief.
Later, rs complaints of shortage on
goods delivered, came from the mer.
chants, Mr.. Elder began to have doubts
as to the honesty Of the freight clerk,
and later when Lamke's sister showed
some dress goods to her lady friends,
stating that her brother got the goods
for her, Mr.. Elder notified the company
of all the facts. He was instructed to
use his best judgment, and to move in
the Gaze az soon as he could get evidence
enough to convict the guilty parties.
Acting on these instructions. he kept
tab on the freight clerk, and succeeded
in locating several articles that had been
purloined, such as velvets, silks, hosiery.
silverware, etc. Part of these goods
Lamke sent to his mother, in Ellens'
burg, as a present. part were given to
his best girl and part to his sister at
this place, none Of them knowing tina
the goods were stolen.
Tie superintendent Of this division
was kept in touch with the shortage
reported, and 30 things moved on until
last Thursday, Officer J. M. Birmingham
Swallowed Henry and Lamke trying to
dispose OF dress goods to the population
of the sporting district. This he report
ed to Agent Elder, who Immediately
called in the assistance of Officers Carter
and Christensen. Christensen visited
a sporting house and found the woman
at work dressmaking. He obtained a
piece of the goods to put in his "silk
crazy quilt" and the goods was soon
identified. .t.i'J
In the meantime Agent Elder tele.
phoned to the N. p. detective, who was
soon on the scene, and on Monday night
the guilty parties were arrested, Lamke
being separated from Henry and put
through sweating process. Lamke
confessed the whole transaction, stating
that he had been enticed into it by
Henry. and further that most OF the
goods were taken by Henry, without
Lamke's knowledge, after they were
taken from the depot by the drayman.
The complaint was made by kaufman
Bros. for the theft of a lot of lace cur
tains, toweling, velvet, napkins and
other merchandise, and search OF
Henry's room revealed several hundred
dollars worth OF goods Of all kinds and
description.
The prisoners waived examination and
yesterday morning they were taken to
the county jail at Montesano, to await
trial in the superior court.
1t has been a long, tedious pull for Mr..
Elder, but he has made no blunder and
ought to be we'll satisfied with his work,
and it is but justice to say that the as.
sistance he received from Officer Birm-
ingham, all through the affair, was in.
valuable.
In ad lition to the goods stolen from
the n P. depot, gun belonging to Gus
Kendall, which was stolen year ago by
Henry, was found. and four overcoats,
the property of A. Karjala. tailor on F
street, also stolen by Henry from Bur-
rows & Co.'s dock were found.
On the last item they were arrested
and taken before Justice Pearson, who
held them for trisl on a charge OF grand
larceny before the superior court.
Cured Paralysis.