Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-30
While Nan Arrested Here Is Held h
Portsmouth jail, Sh0e|sss Thief
Is Busy al Hampton.
ORsANleD GANG MAY sE At WORK
Chief Reynolds Is Satisfied That Man
Now in Custody Pulled on Two
RobberIes In Norfolk County Last
Week and County Authorities Have
Strong Case Against Him.

y
Harris. alias George Monk, the negro
arrested here Monday by Detective
Sergeant Henry Bridgers for the su-
thoritles of Norfolk county, Is. at
least, not the only barefoot burglar
operating In this city and Hampton
is evidenced by the fact that while
the man was safely locked up In the
Portsmouth jail another barefoot burg
lar was busy in Hampton during the
early hours Of yesterday morning.
While he did not affect an entrance
10 any Of the houses visited. the thief
left his tracks in the yards and left
several cigarette stumps on the porch
Of the home of Judge 4. 4. Montague,
Commonwealth Attorney OF Eliza
beth City county.
After a conference with the authori-
ties OF Norfolk county yesterday after
neon, Chief OF Police Reynolds stated
last night that the man arrested here
by Detective Sergeant Bridgers has
already been strongly connected with
at least two robberies In Hunters
vile. Norfolk county. and he was held
for the grand jury by the county mag
istfata yesterday afternoon on enc
charge CT burglary The authorities
across the Roads have made out a
strcnS case against the negro and II
ia more than likely that other rob-
berries will be laid at his door before
the trial comes up at the November
term of the Circuit Court of Norfolk
county.
Gang Probably at Work.
In view os the fact that Lewis has
been connected with the Norfolk
count robberies and that another
man is operating on this side of the
water and. since Ia every case the
methods used are the same il seems
probable that an organized gang OF
Re working in this section. Chief
Reynolds and the local police have
entertained this theory from the start
and the developments OF the past
two days tend strongly TO confirm
this theory.
Some local people have contended
throughout that the robbers are white
men. basing their contention upon the
apparent daring of the burglars and
the shrewd and cunning methods they
adopt together with their consumate
skill IN entering houses. All of the
people who have seen the mysterious
burglar-and several have seen him
have been unable to say whether the
early morning visitor was white
man or a negro. The local polics
never have accepted the theory thai
the burglar is white man and they
contend that there are negroes who
have plenty OF nerve for this kind oil
thing and that the jobs pulled OF here
are done by negroes.
Lewis, who was arrested by Ser
geant Bridgers. has been connected
with the rCbberies of the home of r
L. Barnes and merchant named lie
vine In Huntersville. stolen property
from beth places having been fount
in MS possession.
Caught With Stolen Watch.
Levine's house was robbed earl,
one morning OF week before last en-,
q watch and some money was takef
from beneath the pillow on which
Levine's head was resting as he slept
He reported the robbery to the All
thorities and Officer Cowan. Of thu
county police. saw Lewis ioiterin,
around In Huntersville about o'clocl
the next morning and saw the watcl
chain hanging from one Of the pocket
In the negro's clothes. He halted tn
man and took the watch. walking will
It 60 an arc larmp nearby in orde
10 examine the time piece. He lef
Lewis standing on the ether side o
the street In the dark and when tn
of7cer returned to look fer him tn
negro had escaped.
Just few mornings later. MI
Barnes house was robbed and q wstc
and fi2s In cash we're stolen. A whit
mar was suspected hut be was dis
missed In the magistrates court.
In the meantime. the Norfolk az
thcrities had been informed OF tn
robbery snd they sent a description
Of the watch 10 this city Detectiv
Sergeant Bridgers furnished the locs
pawn shops with description Of IN
watch and when Lewis went TO y