Omaha daily bee., 1911-02-03
Council Bluffs
WHOLESALE THEFTS OF SHOES
Arrest Of NJ. B. Smith Of Pierce Store
Discloses System.
CLERK CAUGHT SELLING PLUMBER
Close Friend of smith, Also clerk In
same store, FIees from Council
BIuffs-Had Room in
Omaha.

The arrest in Omaha Of NJ b. smith, one
Of the clerks in s. A. Pierce 4 Co.'S shoe
store in Council Bluffs has disclosed whole
sale thefts OF shoes that may reach into
hundreds OF dollars. Smith. who Is young
man. was discharged on Saturday evening
by Mr. Pierce for good and sufficient rea-
sons. On Monday morning he vas taken
into custody by Omaha officials while try
ing to sell for any price a 81 pair of walk
ing boots.
Smith, who gave the name OF William
johnson, admitted that ne was living in
Council Bluffs and the Omaha officers
communicated with Chief of Police FroOm.
Bluffs officer was sent over and re-
turned with the prisoner. The first impress
sion was that Smith was disposing of
shoes stolen in the many raids upon mer-
chandise cars, but when II was learned
that he had been In the employ Of the shoe
firm, Harry +. Pierce was called upon
and Immediately identified the expensive
pair OF shoes as having been taken from
the stock in the store.
A search was then made Of the room oc-
oupied by Smith in the Bancroft flats on
Fourth street Here a suitcase was found
containing several other pairs Of new and
high priced shoes, which were also identi-
fled as having been taken from the Pierce
stock. Further Investigations by the local
police disclose the fact that Smith had
another room at Twenty-third street and
Avenue c. When this was searched a
trunk was found which evidently had been
used for the storage of stolen shoes. Sew
eral pairs OF highest priced shoes kept in
the Pierce stock were found in the trunk
The total value Of the shoes recovered, all
| ~ lob -4tsfF H.,
amounted to S2l.75. making the theft grand
larceny Smith was arraigned in police
court yesterday morning and held under
$500 bonds.
Only Part of Firms Loss.
Smiths populations are only very small
part Of the recent thefts from the store
His most intimate friend, another clerk
has been missing since Saturday. This
clerk was a trusted employee and had
charge Of the mems shoe department. He
roomed in Omaha and was in Smiths com
pany when the Omaha police interrupted
the latter's shoe peddling. The Omaha po
lice were a little slow in searching hi,
room and when they went there they founC
II bare and the man gone. This man,
home is in Moline Ill, where his father /.
prominent manufacturer. Neither Mr.
AiSTcc nOT hne OhlAna ana COuncll bluft
police have been able to locate him.
The Pierces have just completed tn,
work of moving their store from it's formei
location at Broadway and Main street I,
5SS Broadway, and the wholesale stealing
was done while the moving process wa
going on. Harry Pierce said yesterday tina
he thought several hundred pairs of fin,
shoes were missing. Smith had been work
ing at the store for several months II,
has an honorable discharge from the army
where he served as bugler.
Harry Pierce said yesterday that tn
firm had lost more than $4,000 worth o
shoes that had been stolen by clerks in tn
last thirty years His father had Away
I religiousiy refused to prosecute clerl
] caught stealing. His immediate discharg
was the only punishment. The elder MI
! Pierce, who has been in business in Coun
9 ell Bluffs for more than thirty years re
fused to prosecute in this case but hi
: son was not so tender hearted It
5 doubtful II Mr.. Pierce will consent to tn
prosecution Of the other clerk when he
: found. Smith and this clerk were mos
intimate friends and were always togethe
after business hours both working in tn
; same department