The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-16
YOUNG "RAFFLES"
COMES TO GRIEF
Twelve-Year-0ld Ray Thatcher
Steals Hundreds.
GIVES STAG PARTY AT LAKE
OFFICERS DESCEND ON HOST AND
YOUTHFUL GUESTS.

= HE merrfment Of a SaItair stag party
was rudely interrupted last night
when the host Ray Thatcher l.
years OF age, was arrested for picking
pockets and stealing from bath houses.
He had gotten more than 500.
Thatcher's guests We're all youngsters
about his own age. During the afternoon
the party Dartook OF all the pleasures
afforded by the resort They rode the
merry-go-round until they were seasick.
They enjoyed the vaudeville perfOr-
mances; visited the ''caYe of the winds.
and tried their skill on the bowling al
ley. After this they went for swim
Money seemed TO object to their gallant
host. and when they left the water he
invited them to supper. This was the
climax of the whole affair Their s-r-oy--
they were not aware Of il until they left
the water. They sat down in the res
the menu card ''SOda-pop'' was brought
on by armfuls. and they drank until they
II and leaving the table required some
effort on the part OF the guests
The host was the most uncomfortable
OF az however Wnen he pulled his roll
OF 500 from his pocket to pay the bill
He was seized by John GALLAGHER, pro
prlelOr OF the restaurant and turned over
10 foreman John r Harris They had
looked upon him with suspicion during the
DAY. Officers had followed him about.
watching him spend his money and had
wondered how he came BIZ it.
When Thatcher was turned over to
subjected to the sweating process. It
proved of no avail. He was locked
search was made for his companions
Dozens of boys were taken in charge and
questioned by the Officers for Ray That
cher guests numbered more than twenty
Several youthful suspects had been with
We're FOR mObbins- the officials who &C
cused their sons Of stealing Two Of
i'm the -.buiI PEN with Thatcher. me
others had evidently made their way out
on the pier and had come into the city
During the past week losses to the
amount Of 800 in money have been re
ported to the management or Saltair. be
sides considerable IeWelry. Close watch
has been kent on the bath houses. but
the oIftcerS have been unable to appre-
bend the thieves. Traps had been set for
them, but the schemes failed to work
The officers believed IL was the work
of a smooth gang of professional crooks
with skeleton KEYS. because in each case
the door was always found locked Yes
terday SO was reported stolen, and in sew
eral instances persons reported that they
had been robbed by pickpOckets- Monday
more than $50 was stolen and SUNDAY
about so was taken from the bath houses
Young Thatcher was brought to the
county @ail last night and placed behind
the bars He remained there two hours.
and then Sheriff Emery and County At
t !... p 2 Cnrlstensen renewed the
sweating process he tlnaAy confessed
to entering the bath houses, and gave
up over 800 of the stolen money he
was unable TO account Tor the rest FUR
Their than that he had spent il. The lad
eXonerated his two companions, and they
were released They maintained they had
nothing to do with entering the bath
houses but had been invited to go 10
the lake with Young Thatcher
The young host admitted to the officers
that he climbed over the partitions to
the bath houses and searched the cloth
ing. He said he took only money and left
watches and other valuables because ne
could not sell them According 10 the
Fr.x-r nrn ~~rl-s-
eral days aSO and has been at Saltair
every day since.
Sheriff Emery was unable TO say what
charge would be filed against him.
County Attorney P p. Christensen wiz
take the matter uD today. Meanwhile.
young Thatcher will be held at the county
Jail.