The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-11-08
RaffIes, the Amateur Burglar, With
His Partner Bunny, Plumber
Residences Several Years
Before Caught.
CAPTURE WAS CLEVER
M. s. Ackles, Local Real Estate Man,
outwlts Thirteen-Year-old Youth
And Arrest Was Made
Sunday Morning.

The Raffles of Messengerville has
been apprehended.
He is Albert Boehm, the thirteen
year old son of Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew
Boehm, who for several years past
have resided at Messengerville and
are well known.
For two long years the petty tnefts
of Raffles and Bunny, the latter being
his seven-year-old brother, have puz-
zled the neighbors and it was not I'M
til shortly before o'clock Sunday
morning that the clever capture was
effected. Even then it was necessary
for Daley's blood hounds to be sworn
into service to take up the human
trail, because the nervy Raffles had
escaped through an open window
shortly after being captured the first
time /. Attempting to seclude himself
behind trees in Huben that's grove, he
was found by the baying dogs, and
later was taken to the police station
by Marshal Kesselring. Even then he
displayed his iron nerve and un
fiinching denied his guilt.
Early Morning Capture.
The boy burglar was rounded up
through the clever work of M. S. Ack-
les, who resides on the Plank road
near oath street or about one block
from the boys home. Mr.. Ackles has
been tae victim of the youths mid
night plundering expeditions for over
two. years and it was only after care
full plans had been laid to capture the
unknown thief that his apprehension
was made possible.
The Ackles family have missed
small articles from their home for a
long time and the fact that every time
the house was closed up when the
members were away resulted in things
being missed, proved source Of
hmuch annoyance. For long time it
Twas only u small article or two now
and then. but during the past month
the burglar grew bold and carried
away loot in large quantities.
Advantage of Absence.
Especial advantage was taken
when the Ackles family left the city
on Sunday visits. A month ago Mr.
Ackles and his family went to Bur-
lington and upon their return found
a number of articles missing. Two
weeks later the. went to Warsaw and
again upon their return found num-
Der of articles missing. A revolver,
some hides, eatables and many small
trinkets were among the articles which
I had been missed.
Mr.. Ackles resolved upon plan to
bag the burglar red handed. He plan
ned for his family to take a rip Sun
day, going to Warsaw. The fact that
they were to be out of the city was
made known and the departure made
Saturday evening. Mr.. Ackles how
ever returned to the home and Sc
Guided himself in the rear of the
house to await developments. He re-
manned in hiding until IL o'clock and
gave up the watch, going into the
house and retiring for the night.
Heard Them in Kitchen.
When Mr.. Ackles awoke, which
was about the hour of $3.50 Sunday
morning he was rot greatly surprised
upon hearing voices in the downstairs.
Slipping on some clothes and slippers
he cautiously made his way to a
room over the kitchen and listened
for time He knew tle boys voices
and discovered that it was Albert
Boehm and his seven-year-old brother.
In conversation with the older
boy some time previous Mr.. Ackles
had mentioned as sort of net that
the robber who entered the other Sun
day might nave secured money. as
he had placed over sixty dollars in
his bed. The boy remembered this
statement and it was but a few min
utes before he was making his way
to the room and was soon searching
under the mattress for possible haul
Put on Bold Front.
1t was while in this act that Mr..
Ackels stepped out and made the