Evening journal., 1907-07-22
ORGANIZED GANG
OF HORSE THIEVES
LiVerymen Believe They Are
Operating in This Part
of the Country
Al SECOND TEAM IS
STRANGELY MISSING

That there is an organized gang OF
horse thieves operating IN this section
OF the country with a guiding hand
either located in this city or who
directs the movements of the band
from this city is the belief of a num-
lber of liverymen of Wilmington, AS
during the past two weeks two teams
have been stolen from livery stable
keepers under the guise of hiring.
The strange part of the thefts is that
the teams were hired on the same day
Of the week and almost at the same
hour Of the day On Friday, June 2S.
a stranger called at the stables of
Raughley and Vangesel. Nos. 419-421
French street. and said that he wanted
to hire a horse and light wagon to
carry some goods to Brandywine
Springs where he had a fruit stand
He gave his name as Charles Smith
and his residence as No. 1922 French
street. He obtained the rig and that
was the last seen of the horse, buc
the wagon was finally located at the
farm of George Bigger, on the Phila-
delphiaIpike, TO whom it had been sold
by the thief. The horse was traced as
far as Chester but was never recover
ed. The team was valued at 500.
Another Disappearance.
On Friday last. just three weeks
from the time Of the disappearance Of
this team. strange man visited the
stable of George r. Hollett. No. 6O6
Walnut street. and hired horse and
buggy, valued at $500. and since then
neither horse nor carriage has been
seen. The stranger, who said he lived
in Davis street. this city, told Mr.. Hol-
lett that he wanted to go to New Cas-
tie to take a sick woman who was to
be operated upon there by a physician
He called on the Tuesday and Thurs
'day previous but having no money
was refused the hire Of the team.
When he came back on Friday last
however. he had the amount necessary
to pay for the team hire and was per-
mitted to take the rig. When the man
did not return at the time specified
Mr.. Hollett became suspicious and
started an investigation, learning in
the first place that no such party lived
in Davis street. nor that no one knew
of a man by the name given by the
stranger.
BY further investigation Mr. Hollett
learned that the man had taken pre-
cisely the same course taken by the
thief Of three weeks before and that
he had attempted to sell the horse and
buggy to Mr.. Biggar The price ask
ed was but siOO, but Mr.. Biggar re-
fused to buy the team.
Heard of in Chester.
The next heard of the thief was in
Chester, where he made two attempts
TO get rid of the team at the same
figure that he had offered it to Mr..
Biggar for. This is the last heard
from the man, although Mr.. Hollett is
in Philadelphia to-day trying to locate
his stolen property.
On the day previous to the one the
man gothic team from Mr. Hollett he
called at the stable Of Raughley and
Vangesel and attempted to hire team
from them but, being a stranger, was
refused. The thief is described as be-
ing about five feet in height, weight
about $50 pounds, light complexion,
sandy mustache and about s5 years Of
age.
The horse stolen is n bay and has
but one white mark on him, that being
on the left hind foot The wagon is a
top buggy, rubber tires and entirely
new.