The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-12-23
THE ORANGES.
BLOOMFIELD.
MONTCLAIR
GET STABLE THIEF
NEGRO "UNDERTAKER" IS
CAUGHT IN EAST ORANGE.
smithel James Mccrea Admits One Rob-
berry and Police Claim He's
Guilty of More.

A negro who reioices in the name Of
SmitheI James McCrea, and who says he
fs an undertaken when at home, down In
Virginia, is under arrest in East Orange.
charged with robbing several stables of
wealthy men in that city. He is also be-
heved by the police to be the same man
who robbed the stable of George Egner, of
40s Centre street, East Orange, when arti-
cles belonging to John A. Woolnough, his
coschman, were stolen. The negro admit
ted to Police Marshal MCGUIRE. of South
Orange. that he had been in that place last
Monday afternoon. when the robbery was
committed. The man admits one East Or
ange stable theft. the police say.
Smithel James McCrea. undertaken, is q
years old. The police don't especially doubt
his name. or age, or native State. Neither
do they doubt that he is an 'undertaker
of ceratin things. Smlthel James McCrea
stands six feet one inch high. Is copper
coiored, weighs 1853 pounds and has well
developed muscles. He was arrested Satur-
day night at 1880 o'clock by Policemen
william Matte and Nelson Gamble, after
taking a look around a house occupied by
the family of Lester d. Berry, at "a Haw-
thorne avenue, East Orange. The family Is
out of town.
The stable Of John A. Hill, of so Mum
avenue, south, East Orange, was robbed
last Wednesday afternoon and several
ooid watch and chain and a revolver were
stolen A description of the alleged TIMER
was secured and measurements taken OF the
impression left by footmarks. The man
wore patent leather shoes with tan coiored
tons and this was the same man the au-
thories had been tsng 10 tbe ey His
description was furnished to all the police
men.
Saturday night Policeman Mattle saw
negro coming up in the rear looking az
ali the houses along the street. Matte
stepped behind a big tree ana waited 1ot
the negro. As the latter passed ne saw ",
Chief Of Police Bell Of East Orange, ano
walked behind the suspect. who appeared
to be getting ready TO make "a strike.
The negro lodged In toward the Berry
home ana Matte followed After en-
circling the house the negro happened 70
hear Mattle approaching and hid on the
side Of the house. The policeman easily
found his man and ordered him to come
along. Instead the negro slipped hand
into a pocket, but Matte quickly drew MS
gun, and placing 1t against the man
stomach told him he would put pan
into him unless he threw up his hands,
and the negro cowed down. 1t was found
later that he carried a razor. A woman
living nearby had seen the negro go to-
ward the vacant house and telephoned TO
headduarters, and Reserveman Nelson
Gamble hurried UP on bicycle, arriving
in time to assist Mattle in taking the
man in.
Yesterday Chief Bell did some third
degree work, and the negro admitted rob-
hing The HIli stable. When arrested he
wore q coat stolen from the place. He
told the loIice that he had sold the other
coats to a dealer in West street, Man
haitian, and the pawn tickets, he admitted;
were for the watch and chain that he had
pawned in Brooklyn.
:. The many stable robberies in the. Or
anges have kept the police on the jump
for 4 long period, and in the arrest or
the negro 1t is expected that all Will be
cleared UP.
The prisoner says he has been living In
Railway, but spent sevral months In these
parts. Yesterday in his cell he sang re-
iiEious hymns and prayed.
The negro was arrAigned this morning
before Recorder Franklin w. Fort, or
East Orange, and held in $500 bail for the
Grand Jury. It was learned that the razor
he carried, a shirt he wore and pair
of gloves were stolen from the South Or
ange stable, and the negro partly con-
fessed to the theft.
,fhe robbery of a stable belonging to
Mrs. Curtain, of III Grove street south.
East Orange, several weeks ago, was also
charged against him. A coat he stole
from William Cooper the coachman. was
on his person when arrested and Identified
by Cooper.