The San Francisco call., 1910-07-17
Police Believe Oakland Was
Headquarters for Criminals
Operating on Coast
STOLEN GOODS PACK
ROOM CEILING HIGH
Two Men and Supposed Wife of
One Imprisoned and Much
.PIunder Recovered
PROPERTY IDENTIFIED
BY SEVERAL MERCHANTS

~ AhLAIND, July 16.-Inree pro-
| fessional shoplifters, directed by
an attractive and shrewd woman,
who used three secluded rooms at 743
Eighth street both as a storehouse for
loot and base from which themselves
and probably a band of confederates
operated over territory extending
throughout the Pacific coast, were
brought within the strong arm of the
law this morning., when Mrs. Ella
Harkins, Peter w. Hargens and Fl.
Harkins were arrested by Detectives
W. F. Kyle and Thomas Gallagher.
Stolen goods worth more than $1,000,
consisting of cut glass, silver ware.
silk waists, gowns. Japanese cloi-
some. lingerie dresses, suitcases and
vast variety of other articles, were
found stacked ceiling high in one Of
the rooms where the three were ar
rested. The loot was hauled to the
police station in a dray. Firm marks
and corporation stamps on many ar
ticles gave evidence that the line OF
operation stretched from British Co
lumbia, through Washington and the
northwest. down to California Van
couver. Seattle, Stockton. San Jose and
Oakland are among the principal cities
where shoplifting was carried out.
Goods Identified
After the arrests were made the dry
goods stores of the city were notified
and asked to send representative to
the police station who could identify.
IL necessary. goods that had been either
lost or stolen from his firm. Already
many have identified articles and the
three shoplifters are being held in
-detinue pending an examination and
further Identification of the loot found.
One of the Oakland firms that suf-
fered under the operations of the
thieves is the H. c. CapwelI company.
Hale Brothers. Abrahamson Brothers.
Esmoirs mems furnishing house. Smith
Brothers book store, Howell Dohrmann
& Co.. Smiths Money Back store. Taft
Pennoyer and the Boston store also
suffered losses.
Mrs. Harkins burst into tears follow
ing her incarceration and it was
thought that she would make con-
fession. but despite the efforts OF act
ing Captain OF Detectives ST. Clair
Hodgkins, not only the woman but
her two accomplices have thus far
failed to make any statement.
Hodgkins ascertained that Mrs. Har- /.
kins and Fl. Harkins were living to-
gether as husband and wife. and that
Peter W. Hargens. in spite OF denials.
is brother of the woman's husband.
having assumed the slightly changed
name. Hargens is not unknown to the
police. He was arrested in January
for theft committed at Nineteenth
street and San Pablo avenue.
Base of Operations
The detective department. today gave
out the opinion that. although it is
highly probable that great deal more
loot than that found today had been
secured and disposed OF in different
cities by the pilferers. the place at 74S
Eighth street was made the headquar-
ters of the gang some time ago. Arti-
cles not disposed OF in outside cities.
where they were stolen. were then
sent to Oakland, it is thought. and Sc
cretIy disposed OF from the Eighth
street base.
The three shopIifters had been living
in Eighth street for some time. Their
actions aroused suspicion Kyle and
Gallagher were detailed to keep a close
watch upon the house. The inmates
of the apartment were shadowed until
this morning. and Kyle and Gallagher.
certain that they had uncovered the
center OF an extensive swindle. took
the three into custody.
Woman Heads Gang
Investigation has led the police TO
believe that Mrs Harkins was the
brains of the outfit. that much of the
stealing was done by one or other of
the men while she engaged the atten-
ton of the clerks Much OF the stolen
plunder was taken from counters and
showcases. 1t is not unlikely that
burglaries were also committed. as
large pieces of goods and merchandise
were found among the loot. which
would be difficult for thieves to carry
out of an open store undetected.
Hodgkins has advised other mer-
chants in town to examine the plunder.
and word will be sent, to other cities on
the coast from which some OF the re-