The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1905-01-05
Believed to Have Discovered a
Fence"
SIX IN ALL WE'RE ARRESTED

The police believe they have un-
earthed one of the biggest fences"
yer exposed in Paducah. and today
nade arrests of great Importance.
Officer Aaron Hurley, of the I'm
on depot beat. assisted by his part
ier. officer Scott Ferguson. and on
ers John McCune and VIM. Orr. Of
he Washington and Kentucky ave-
lue beat. today took into custody
.everal negroes suspected of having
arried on general thieving bust
1ess In Paducah for several months.
rhe entire household at 18th and
Washington street. where Nib Banks
ives, consisting of six negroes, four
omen and two men, were arrested,
| are being held pending thor
)ugh investigation.
This morning about 1870 O'Clock
IS officers Hurley and Ferguson ar
ived at the depot. the former went
nto the colored waiting room and
saw negro run out the opposite
loor as he came in. Officer Hurley
gave chase and soon overlook the
runner. He proved to be John Ben
on, of Hopkinsville. with many
aliases. He said he ran because he
was wanted at Hopkinsville for
shooting at a negro and stated that
Nib Banks. who lived at 18th and
Washington streets, was his partner
aud also wanted at Hopkinsville for
tscaping from the chain gang.
Benton was taken to the hall and
officers hurley, Ferguson and OH
,ers Orr and McCune, went to the
Banks house and knocked for admis-
sion. The inmates opened the doc
and declared Banks was not there,
They refused to strike light, but
upon the officers becoming determin
ed. finally consented and the room
was soon lighted.
officer. Hurley went into a rear
room and found Banks in bed. He
him to get up and as he
was dressing slipped something pt9l
the hand of Mary Moody. woman
residing in the house. Oiiicer Hurley
took possession and found that what
BANS had passed the woman was
small keys. She said the keys fitted
Ter grip and when the grip was pull
ed out II proved to be that stolen on
a hack several weeks ago, and the
property of Mr.. John Slocum. presi7
dent of the Brotherhood of Black
smiths. of Chicago. who was here
visiting the local Blaeksmiths' union.
The salt case was opened and part
of the goods originally in the grip
were found. A silk dress, silk waist,
shoes, passes and other
of wearing apparel were
found in the case and it has been
positively identified as that of Mr..
Slocum.
The officers then made a search
Of the house and found canned goods
and many other articles which the
negroes were not likely to have
bought. They suspected the place
was store room for gang Of
thieves and arrested every one in the
house. The Banks and Benton men,
and the Moody woman. were taken,
Three other negro women were ar
rested with them and locked up
pt nding an investigation.
This will likely turn out to be an
excellent piece of work on the part
of the police, as they have no doubt
found a big fence" for some gang
of thieves. Today the police are busy
investigating the matter and hope
to gain enough evidence to hold the
entire party.
Benton was fined $50 and costs
this morning in police court for dis
turbing the peace and the case
agains the Moody woman and Banks,
continued until Friday, or until Mr..
slocum can come here to identity
the property.
The woman claimed the suit case
was hers, but said first a man had
given Il to her, and later that she