The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-07
SNEAK THIEF CAUGHT
THE POLICE HAVE RUN DOWN A
NEGRO WOMAN RoBBER.

| She Hid the AFL1cleS Sne Stoe'
Under the Steps Of City Residences
/ to Hide Them.
1t seems that in arresting Beatrice
Moore for entering and robbing the
home of Mr.. J.. ". Sandle on
Broughton street, the police have
run down a notorious sneak thief.
one who did her work SO cleverly
that for some time she escaped de-
lection. Beatrice claims to hail from
Charleston. When first arrested she
told a cock and bull story about
being connected with a band of ne
gro men, who stole the goods that
were found in her possession.
Some credence was at first placed
in this statement, but when it be-
|! came apparent. that she hoped by
making this charge and assisting,
as she offered to do, the officers In
apprehending the robber band. to
obtain immunity, the batteries were
turned upon her with the result that
there were found by her confession
under the steps Of different resi-
dences in the city,, where. she had
hid them, numerous pieces Of jew
lery and different articles of cloth
ing, which she had stolen from peo-
pie in this city.
Among other things there was
found a very pretty watch with
distinguishing marks upon it, and
also the pictures Of a boy and girl
pasted in the back case. This she
laid she had obtained in Tampa
or Jacksonville, Fla, from her male
partners in crime. But to her un-
doing, Chief Fischer happened to be
exhigiting the watch to few small
boys, wher one Of them, young
Mooreman, exclaimed, why, that is
my picture, and the other is my lit
tie cousin" And upon investiga-
ton the watch was found to be the
property Of Mrs. Mooreman, residing
on Sellers avenue There was also
stick pin belonging to Mrs. Moore
man, recovered.
While the woman is a stranger
here, there is little doubt that all
the articles found in her possession
were stolen in this city, and efforts
are being made to. have them identi-
fed. Already three or four. cases
for burglarysand larceny have been
made out against her by her. own
confession. The prisoner is appar-
emily twenty-five years old, dark
ginger cake color, medium size, and
wears "bushy" hair, the natural hair
being augmented by numerous
"rats," which give her an unnatural
appearance.
She is very sullen, and gives the
impression that she has been there
before" She offered to put up 500
for here release, though no money
was foun on her person. She may
be operating as she. first said, with
a band of male thieves, whose head.
quarters are in Charleston. She fur
ther stated that she had pledged in
Charleston several watches ent-ust-
ed to her, and that one Of the men
- tall, black man-Keitt by name
accompanied her to this city. She
will be held for further examina-
tion, and until thorough investiga-
ton can be made here and else
where, after which she will be turned
over to a magistrate under warrants
which will be sworn out.
Beatrice is an accomplished liar.
as we'll as an accomplished thief, and
there is little if any dependence to
be put in what she says. 1t would
be well, however, to. investigate her
tale about that band Of robbers.
Such bands have existed not a thou
sand miles from Orangeburg. Be-
atrice would enter homes and rob
them while the inmates of the home
were present. In one instance at
least this was the Case, and the peo-
pie of the house did not know they
had been robbed until they ware
told abodt it. The chances arc that
Beatrice will be sent up for term
of years ior her many thefts. The
police will get returns from other
cities about this clever thief There
are yet in possession Of Chief
Fischer q number Of pieces Of ladies
lingerie, some Of them very pretty
and costly.