The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-25
c APT j D THIEF
TRIES To KILL
HIMSELF
JOHN HoGARTH, NA6BED WHILE
STEALING BELTS, Is LATER
FOUND HANGING IN CELL; CUT
DOWN AND REVIVED.

John Hogarth, 35 years old, who
gives his address as the McGregcr
mission. attempted suicide by hang
ing himself with strap he used as
belt In his cell In Hunt-st. station
about y o'clock. Thursday morning.
after he had been locked up ON a
charge Of breaking and entering. He
was cut down In an unconscious con-
dition and revived with great Difficult
ty by the attaches of the station.
Hogarth Is declared by the police to
be the much-wanted belt thief who
has been looting manufacturing es-
adjustments on the east side for sew
eral weeks past. Like the pitcher
that went too often TO the well.
Hogarth finally came To grief In the
plant of w. s. Piggins & Sons. stone
contractors at Leland and DeQuindre-
SITS, which has been the belt thief's
favorite mark. No less than seven
belts have been stolen from the place.
In spite of the fact that men have
been employed to guard the place
at night. And even policemen IN
plain clothes have taken hand In
the game with the same result. They
would no sooner leave in the morn
ing than another belt would be taken.
Wednesday night E. S. Piggins. Of
the firm, and his foreman, Robert o.
Stanley, concealed themselves In the
engine room and awaited develop.
ments. Shortly after o'clock Thurs
day morning their vigil was rewarded
when Hogarth made his appearance.
Entering very stealthily. he made his
way toward brand new belt with
an open Jack knife in his hand. os-
tensibly for the purpose OF cutting
the belt Before he could do so, how
ever. Mr.. Piggins and the foreman
stepped forward to grab him.
Hogarth rushed toward them with
the open knife appraised, but just then
shotgun In Piggins hands spoke and
the intruder dropped in his tracks.
The charge does not appear TO have
struck him, however, for a city physi-
clan who examined the man later fail.
ed to find any traces OF a wound. He
was dazed for a moment, but quickly
recovered and put up stif fight be-
fore he was finally beaten into sub
mission.
Mr.. Piggins then notified the police
and held Hogarth prisoner pending the
arrival Of Precinct Detective Golden.
OF Hunt-st. station, who took the pris-
oner to the station.
Just before he tried to hang him
self, Hogarth had talked with Capt.
Marquardt, OF Hunt station. and. the
captain says. freely confessed TO the
various belt robberies that have been
complained OF. AS the captain was
feaving the cell block. Hogarth asked
him 10 send a doctor TO him. COM
planning that he felt sick at the stom.
ach.
Scarcely two minutes after the cap
tain returned to his desk, Doorman
Ehrisman heard a slight noise in Ho-
garth's cell. like the shuttle of feet.
and, on investigating found the man
dangling at the end Of a strap he had
used TO support his trousers. The
other end was fastened securely TO a
crossb near the top OF the cell.
The doorman's alarm brought Lieut.
Schenk and Capt. Marquardt. the
former OF whom cut the prisoner
down. Hogarth was already uncon-
scious and the three worked over him
for 10 minutes before he opened his
eyes. His FIRST words were:
why did you wake me up?"
Hogarth was arraigned before JUS
tice Jeffries In the police court later
I'm the forenoon His examination was
set for July 3. In default OF $500 bail
he was taken 10 jail. where he Is be,
ing watched closely lest he make an
other attempt on his life.
Piggins q Sons estimate the value
OF the belts stolen from them at about
$500. Other firms from whom the 20.
lice say Hogarth admits stealing belts
are ]. r. Weber & Co, No 3s4 Ora
tiot-ave.. and the Detroit Metallic Cas-
ket Co., No. So Gratiot.ave.