The San Francisco call., 1909-03-04
TAKE CRACKSM[N
AFTER LONG CHASE
Federal and State Officers Run
Down Men Implicated in
P0stOffice R0bberies

MARTINEZ. March S.-Five weeks
of trailing after two desperate cracks
men, who within that time have COM
state, is believed to have ended with
the arrest last night at Black Diamond
of Thomas Monroe and Patrick Joyce.
They were captured a few hours after
breaking a safe at Oakly. Contra Costa
county, in Silver & O'Mearas store
Utilizing finger print identification the
officers believe they have connected the
prisoners with not only the most re-
cent robbery. but with the most expert
gang of safe blowers that ever oper
ated in the interior of the state.
THIRD SUSPECT TAKEN
Still another member OF the gang
has been arrested on suspicion of com
plicity in the recent postoffice robbery
at Roseville. Slim" Hayes was cap
tured in San Francisco last night at
Burns saloon in Fifth street by posse
led by Detective Addison and includ-
ing Sheriff McAuley of Placer county
and Postoffice Inspector Maderos. He
has been taken to RosevilIe for iden-
tification by Deputy Sheriff keenan, of
Placer county. and Sheriff McAuley
while at Martinez today intimated that
the authorities have evidence connect
than one sensational job.
Inspector Maderos had pursued Joyce
and Monroe for five weeks before the
capture was effected last night. He
and his assistants, running down clews
OF more than a dozen postofflce rob-
berries, ascertained that a gang was
doing the work They suspected Joyce
and Monroe. but until the Oakly crime
was committed were unable to gather
tangible evidence.
IDENTIFIED BY THUMB MARK
This came today, when, on investi-
eating the Silver & O'Meara robbery,
Sheriff Veale. the arresting officer,
learned that Jewels and a pair of shoes
in Monroe's possession We're part of
the loot Further investigation re-
vealed thumb mark on a candle box
used by the cracksmen. and Expert
Depew was sent for. Taking an inn
preston Of Monroe's hand, Depew
perceived that the prints on the can
die box were made by the suspect. The
prints also proved identical with thumb
marks left in blood on the window
of the Niles postoffice, which was looted
| by cracksmen, who entered through a
| broken window. 1t is supposed Monroe,
| in shattering the glass. cut his hand.
and there is a fresh scar on his wrist.
Evidence is scanty in the other safe
roDDerleS, nearly all OF which were
committed in postoffces. The cracks
men operated successfully with dyna-
mite at Men1o Park, Santa Cruz, Ripon,
Castroville, San Jose, Burlingame Point
Richmond, Elmira, College City, Ruth
erford, Jamesburg, Niles, Antioch and
Oakly. They are also suspected of safe
cracking jobs at the Irvington rail-
road station and in Oakland.
AGENTS SELL THE BOOTY
| 1t is believed, according to Sheriff
Veale, that the booty was disposed of
through agents met by the robbers at
the Burns saloon in Fifth street San
Veale said the posse searched the sa-
loon from cellar to top, and also made
search at the saloon keepers home
/ in San Francisco.
So active had the gang of cracksmen
been that the United States postal au-
thorities detailed a force of inspectors
under Maderos to run down the cul-
prits. Veale asserted his confidence
that the evidence obtained concerning
the Oakly robbery was strong enough
to send both Monroe and Joyce to the
states prison. In the gang these two
men, suspected of. being the leaders.
are said to have been known as Slim
Monroe and Jerry" Joyce
Some of the booty is believed to be
| concealed between Antioch and Black
Diamond, and Sheriff veale is leading a
| search for it. Some time ago he ex-
| pressed an opinion that Richmond and
Martinez was rendezvous for crimi-
nais OF the most desperate character.