Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-01-12
Richmond Police Entertaining The
Opinion That They Have Made
an Important Arrest
THERE'S SOME DAMAGING EVIDENCE
Believed to be One of the Gang Which
Has Been Robblns the Railroads Of
Thousands of Dollars Worth of
Trunks and Travelling Bass-says
His Name Is Rodgers.

RICHMOND. VA, Jan. Lift the
charges brought against Lewis Rodg
ers, alias II. Mcclure be true, then
the local police have made one OF
the most important captures made
IN this country for months
1t is alleged that Rodgers is onl,
one of a lot of baggage sharps. VIII,
make practice of operating arounc
wealthy resorts. and by def inter
change of baggage checks at the sta
tons. secure to themselves fortunes
of huge proportions.
During the past year, II is estimat
ed that fully 100000 has been lost
by railroads throughout the countr,
by thefts, of baggage The Pennsyl
vania alone lost last year 100000 il
this way. So that the importance OF
the capture and arrest Of Rodger.
PROVIDED the case is proved against
him, cannot be overestimated.
In the Police Court this morning
Rodgers. charged with being n sus.
picions character, had his case post.
Toned for hearing to January II. He
mas retained Lawyer Harry Glenn as
counsel
The detectives report that Rodgers
mas received a telegram since his in
generation telling him that he may
rest assured of the assistance Of his
friends to their last dollar. This. say
the police. means that Rodgers can
nave any amount of money he wishes
at ms command for defense purposes.
Says He's From New York.
Rodgers says he halls from New
York. When he was arrested Mt the
Southern Depot he was Just In the act
of sending off grip to Mrs. II. Nc.
CURE, at 243 Seventh Avenue, New
York city. The grip was taken in
charge by Detectives Wiltshire, Bailey
and Scherer, and will be held until af.
ter Rodgers has been heard in the
Police Court
The four trunks for the theft OF
which Rodgers was arrested bear the
mark of being shipped from Tampa,
Fla, and their destination was
northern city. The detectives have
in their possession checks for the
trunks taken from the person of the
prisoner.
How 1t is Worked.
The methods pursued by the gener.
al run of baggage sharps throughout
the country, of whom Rodgers may
or may not be member, is this: The
checks are interchanged by expert
handling. At their destination one
of the fraternity is on hand to re.
ceive the baggage. usually at the
lower city station. Then he carts it
away on a dray to another station
in the same town. and ships The self
same baggage either to one of his
pals. The contents are then disposed
OF. and the malefactor shares his i'll
gotten gains with his pals.
Destination of Trunks.
In addition to the four trunks,
which were taken by the detectives
after the arrest of Rodgers. is a va
lise consigned to Charlottesville, Va.
This is supposed TO belong to Uni
versity student, as the contents of
the case would indicate as much.
Mr.. Scherer was Informed this az
ternoon by ope OF his agents that the
trunks had been consigned as fol-
lows:
One from Miami. Fla, to Chicago;
one from Pinehurst, N. c.. to Mum
sey. Ind; one from Philadelphia to
Hot Springs, Ark. and the last from
Rock Mount. N c., to Harrisonburg
Wired for $4,000.
If Dossible some of Rodgers hand
writing will be secured by the police
| and in this he may be identified. II
is learned that this morning Rodgers
telegraphed for $4,000 from one of his
friends in another city.