The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-11
USED RAFFLES METHODS
Smooth Thief Confesses to Eleven
Robberies in Daylight.
William Thompson, twenty-five Years
Old. Has Been Causing 3 Conmo-
lion in New Jersey Towns.

| Montciair, N. J.-William Thompson,
who appears to be something lear the
ideal Ratf1es of fiction, so far as his
methods are concerned, has been
transferred to the Essex County Jail.
Thompson has. confessed that he COM
mitted many daring thefts, the police
say.
He was arrested by Detective Reil-
ly. of the MOntclair police. for the rob-
| berry Of Solomon Wright's residence in
Mountain avenue, from which he stole
a camera, and the authorities say that
he has confessed to eleven other rob-
| berieS-three in Newark, three in
Hackensack. three in Englewood and
two in the Oranges.
Thompson tells Of 4 remarkable eX-
perience in a house in Newark. He
says that in the summer he called one
| afternoon at the home Of John Cot
ton Dana, of No. 226 Mount Prospect
avenue, and asked to see Mrs. Dana.
A woman came to the door. according
to Thompson and he introduced him
self as q personal friend of her hus-
band. saying that he had just returned
from Germany. where he had been
studying music. According to the
story, the woman invited him to re-
main for dinner.
Thompson says he stayed and that
during the meal he constantly expect
ed Mr.. Dana and wondered what he
would do if that man arrived.
Mr.. Dana is librarian Of the New
ark Public Library Miss Beatrice
Winser. who. with her mother. occu-
pied the Dana house during the abb
sence' of its owner in the summer,
says that Thompson called at the Dana
home two weeks ago while Mrs. Win
ser was home alone, with 4 maid.
Miss Winser said the visitor gave his
name as James Wallace Weston and
told that he had just returned from
studying music in Germany. He said
Mr.. Dana was an old friend.
Miss Winser said that the intruder
took stick pin, set with pearls, ard
a diamond ring. The peculiar theft
was not reported to the police be-
cause publicity was feared.
On September 13 last he called at the
home of Robert Cumming, at No. BIT
Mount Prospect avenue. the police
say, and represented himself as
friend of Mr.. Cumming. He was in
vited indoors to wait untili he came
home. He said he stole pearl scarf
pin.
The same afternoon he told the po-
lice, so they say, he visited No. 632
Mount Prospect avenue. first ascer-
tanning that the head Of the house was
away. and, representing himself again
as the householder'S friend, was ush-
cred into the parlor, where he picked
up a silver snuff tray and made OIL
with it.
Thompson called at the Groel house,
Orange, and was told that the family
were away. Representing himself as
an old friend, he coolly sat in the par
lor for half an hour before he went
upstairs and helped himself to the
corrents Of Mrs. Groel's jewel box. In
Hackensack Thompson said he called
at the home of John W. Thompson.
which is the name the prisoner goes
by. He also admits, it is said. that
he got into the home of man named
Moore, i'll the same town, by misrep-
resenting himself.
The man appears to be about twen.
ty-two years old, and when arrested
said he came from Pittsburg.