Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31
THEFTSON RIVER FRONT
FREEBOOTERS OF CAPT. KIDD
TYPE AT WORK.
Three Men Under Arrest Charged
With Depredations-Muc Of
Missing Property Recovered.

For several days past steamboat men
and wharf owners along the river front
| have been greatly exercised by the bold
operations Of an alleged gang of thieves.
and the almost daily reports of raids made
by the members of the gang upon yachts,
sleops and wharves for articles of value by
the freebooters of the Capt. Kidd type have
caused the people whose boats are anchor
ed In the harbor waters to be unusually
vigilant.
The robberies from the boats. 1t Is stated.
began early in the week. Edward M.
Cleary, whose office is in the Warder build
ing, reported to the police that the cabin
of his yacht Dart, lying at the foot Of 18th
street southwest, was broken into and
robbed OF shotgun, a pair of marine
glasses and pair of opera glasses, valued
IN all at about $125. Following close on
a ene us a,scovery OF that loss came the discov-
cry by Ambrose H. Stephenson, at the foot
OF l. street southwest, that about 800
pounds of lead pipe had been stolen from
MS wharf From the wharf of A. ]. Tay-
lor Bros, at the foot of 10th street
southwest, a marine air pump valued at
$l2o and set of iron boiler stands valued
at go, were also taken
soon after these losses were recorded by
the police, Edward ]. Gardner reported that
the cabin of his yacht, Catherine was en-
tered and a ships bell, a telescope marine
glass, field glasses and other articles val
ued at about $50 We're stolen From the
yacht OF Charles M. Hahn, the Two
Friends, quantity of canned goods and
fishing tackle disappeared The police were
oendlng their best efforts in an endeavor to
solve the mystery surrounding these rob-
Deries when the climax came
Char1es r. karr reported to the police
snat ms sloop yacht, Dragon, valued at
sooo had been stolen from her moorings
at the foot of 9th street southwest In their
daily trips about the District waters the
crew OF the police boat located the Dragon
lying OH FOur-mile run. le had apparently
been abandoned at that point, but there
We're evidences that the party which spir-
lted the vessel away had made themselves
at nome aboard the cabin having been
broken into and opened up.
Arrests and Discoveries.
Sergt. Dean, Capt. Mulhall and Policemen
cooper, Cole, Davis and Clay were assigned
TO investigate these robberies Several men
were suspected and arrested, and the re-
sponsibility for the losses finally narrowed
down to Eddie Matthews, Eddie Richards
and George Butler. The men were frequent
seen ABOUT the wharves and evidence
was was secured by the police showing it is
alleged, that some of the missing pronerty
had been in their possession.
Inc capt. Kidd reminders then deyeloped
rapidly. The men under arrest were in
NeU ~ teil where the missing property
was ana under their guidance, it is stated
by the police, they made a search of the
POTOMAC flats. officially designated as Po-
tomac Park, and by the use of shovels un-
earthed many of the missing articles
FROM one excavation was taken a ouan.
tity OF the canned goods said to have been
stolen from the yacht of Charles H. Hahn.
IN push, covered with a ole of leaves
and underbrush, was found a pair of val
uaoie marine glasses. A variety of other
iost articles We're recovered from the dirt
pies: The men under arrest are also said
py the police to have admitted taking the
rae IN the yacht Dragon. When asked
why they did not go farther away they re-
pied that they We're becalmed at Four-mile
run and gave up the prospective Capt. Kidd
cruise. ~
among the articles recovered, it is stated
IS quantity Of copper coil, taken from
the naval reserve wharf and belonging to
the monitor Puritan. AS this would Involve
charge of larceny from the United States,
the police are looking for evidence con,
Meeting these men with the theft,
The police of the fourth and harbor nre-
clncts are still investiga ting and the date
1or taxing the men to the Police Court has
not been determined. The men deny some
of the thefts.