The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-04
MEN WORKED IN MOBILE New Charges Against Negro Prisoners. POLICE CASE IS STRENGTHENED Locate Diamond Ring Stolen in
 Gulf City. omcers Declare They Have Proof to show Gang worked in Both Cit-
 ies--Many Articles Identi-
 fled and Recovered.
 

When Police Chief W. H. Taylor and his men arrested Lawrence Gray, Alex Bracy. John Dawson and Howard E1- lis, four promising criminal careers were cut short. The careers of these negroes in burglary say the police, were short but active.
 They had, worked Montgomery the officials say, and were industriously en gagged in working Mobile when Captain Taylor, sitting in the office of Police Chief Rondeau in Mobile. recognized two of the negroes as they passed the window. The arrest of these two ne- groes was the preliminary step to the roundup of tho whole gang. And in Mobile, they were robbing houses that has been shut up in the summer. while the families that occupied them were away, just as they had been doing in Montgomery.
 A diamond ring which has seen con- siderable service, but which had a handsome setting, was taken from one of the negroes. He said it was taken by the gang from a house on Govern ment Street in Mobile.
 Most of the goods stolen by the me- groes in Montgomery have been re- covered. The lockers of police head quarters are well filled with dresses, clothing and jewelry If they were so inclined, the police department could advertise bargain sale of indiscrim- mate merchandise and put for sale some handsome attractive items. The list could include anything from opera glasses and diamond rings to hand me-down trousers with a considerable assortment of firearms thrown in
 There is now enough evidence against the accused negroes to give them a cumulative sentence for burglary Of fifty years, if they can be convicted on all charges. Montgomery house. holders were going in and out of head quarters yesterday, identifying prop erty said to have been taken from their homes by these young negroes, all of whom are less tlhn 20 years of age.
 Methods Simple.
 Their plan of operation appears to have been very simple. A house from which the family had moved for part of the summer would be located, and an entrance forced at leisure. The goods carried away were taken to the house of Essie Clark. a negress, living on Hall Street Here they were left, with the exception of that which the police assert was turned over to Der nard Berger. a white man, who has been arrested by the police as re- ceiver of stolen property.
 Two or three trunks full of the stol- en goods were recovered and house hold CTS are daily visiting headquarters looking for property taken by the burglars.
 The largest assortment of stolen was identified by F. M. Me- Queen, a well known citizen of Mont gomery The property had been talk en from his home on South Perry Street, while the family was away. The identified list included one pair of pearl opera glasses, one handsome silver mounted manicure set, an ebo- ny comb and brush. one leather belt. three bottles of perfumes and toilet water, one pair of eye glasses, fine lace shawl, four napkins, four towels, one microscope, three fruit knives, two pairs of scissors, two pieces of tor chon lace, one pocket knife. one bead necklace, two hatpins, one old fash toned gold locket and some silk dress goods.
 Many Recover Goods.
 MT. F. S. Lassiter.~, living on South Hull Street, Bellinger Heights. identi- iouse while the family was away. It included one set of silver knives, one let of forks, one set of small spoons md one set of big spoons.
 J. c. Johnson, living at 1042 South Hull Street. identified a shot gun, a pair of trousers, suit of boys cloth | ng. a box of shells, a pair of shoes. a a hat and a baseball init, ta- ,en from his house by the burglars.
 B. P Goodwin identified a fine shot | run valued at $2S taken from his home. |
 I. N. Lichtenstein identified a pearl | andled pistol stolen from his dwell ng.
 John Metcalf identified dozen shiFts l nd some razors stolen from him.
 One of the negroes when arrested, l vas wearing pair of trousers stolen | rom Fred Whiting.
 Each person, as the property was | Identified swore out a warrant, charg- ng the negroes with burglary and | rand larceny.
 Since the negroes were arrested and | rought from Mobile, a number of urglaries were reported from that ity by families who had been away nd returned to find their houses had cen burglarized during their absence n one of these houses where the burg ITS had been found, small and light, ut strong screw driver was found All | ne negroes except Lawrence Gray, had ne of these screw drivers. 1t is sup osed he lost his equipment during one the raids. These screw drivers served a double