The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-06
BURGLARY CHARGED


After shadowing WIN Turner. q me-
gro. for more than two months. @. A.
Ritch. ex-Sheriff Of Bullock County.
yesterday landed bis man in jail at
Union Springs. charged with safe-blow-
ing and burglary on several counts.
From Union Springs Turner will be
brought TO Montgomery for Indictment
By the grand Jury on burglary charges.
and will later be sent to other coun-
ties along the route Of the Central Of
Georgia Railroad for similar indict-
ments.
The capture was made in Montgom-
cry several days ago, but information
as to his Incarceration was held secret
In hope Of ferreting out several more
mysterious robberies which have &C.
CURED In the county and city during
the past few months. The negro was
arrested 1T his house. Is billiard Street,
by Constable Paul Rapport and turned
over to Detective Ritch.
1t will be remembered that numer-
Gus stations on the Central OF Georgia
Railroad, the Western of Alabama Rail-
road and the Seaboaro Air Line Rail-
road during the past two months have
been robbed. each robbery having the
earmarks Of having been committed by
the same person or gang.
The method Of gaining Information
employed by the burglar was unique.
Preliminary to the robbery Of coun-
try store, negro would purchase a s.
cent package of lemon snaps just be-
fore closing time, thereby gaining In
formation as to the location of the safe
and the till. At railroad stations the
negro would hang about the platform
of the station below that one to be
robbed, all during the afternoon, and
would catch q freight train to the up
per station.
Detective Ritch followed his negro
up and down the line of the Central of
Georgia for two months. but during that
time was unable to secure sufficient
evidence to convict his man for burg
larry and safe-blowing.
With the robbery Of the station at
Matthews Station last month, however.
the necessary evidence was secured
through the theft Of Q handsome pearl
handled pocket-kn belonging to the
station agent. This knife was found
In Turner'S possessdvn when he was ar
rested by Constable Rapport. The
burglary ct Matthews Station was COM
mitted on May 5, and was similar in all
points to those committed at other
points on the line, in that the iron safe
was rolled outside OF the station. turn
ed bottom side up and crushed in by
an axe. Nothing but money was ever
taken from these safes, and had the
pearl-handled knife been left alone the
detective would have had to follow his
negro for some time longer.
Detective Ritch hopes to connect
Turner with the robbery of 'Thompson's
store on the corner of Jefferson and
Ripley Streets. The safe in this store
was robbed In precisely the same man
ner a. was the railroad stations. and
the detective knew that the negro was
living ne tho qtnTQ of the TINA of the
robbery. Immediately after the rob-
berry, the negro moved to Hilliard
Street, where he was arrested.
Turner'S preliminary hearing on the
charge of burglary committed at In
verness In Bullock County, win take
place at Union Springs today. Later
he viii be sent to Montgomery for trial
on the charge OF having robbed Mat
thews Station. in Montgomery County.
After Montgomery County. other coun-
ties Of the State are waiting to bring
charges against the negro.