The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-12-01
identified BY
F.. STOCKINGED FOOT.
WOODRUFFS CONVICTED OF BURG
LARIESS SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS
In PENlTENTIARY.

To the prompt action of States At
torney Reifsnider is due the credit
Of the arrest and conviction of Will
liam Woodruff, Sr. and William Wood
run, IT., and the breaking up of the
burglaries in the upper part OF this
county and Southern Pennsylvania
in September last.
\ The house Of George w. Sandruck,
Alesia was entered on the night of
September 23rd. Oak pegs were used
to fasten the window open. The bur-
glars left on the premises a sheet or
white writing paper, of unusual shape
and ruling. Seventy dollars were
taken from the trousers pocket of Mr..
Sandruck. On the night OF September
10Th, the houses OF Messrs Charles
and David Brilliant were entered and
n at the former oak pegs similar to
those used at Mr. Sandrucks, were en-
ployed. On the night of September
26th, they entered the residences OF
h Messrs. James M Stoner and Jesse r.
Chrest, at the west end OF PennsyI-
vania avenue, this city. On the night
of the 9th, they were in the house Of
Henry Herman, at Union Mills, where
SIS and a half dozen silver spoons
were stolen. On the same night the
house of Samuel j. Messenger, at Sill
yer Run, had the same experience, and
the trousers Of Mr. Messenger were
taken from his bed post, and rifled.
On the night of the 2Sth, two houses
were entered at Littlestown. Then
there was a lull in operations until
the night OF October 3rd, when the
house Of Isaac Iker, at Bridgeport,
Frederick county, was entered.
Ia L. lzsR
the wires hot all over the county, and
among those on the look out was con-
stable Burgess N. Miller, OF Taney-
town. On the morning Of October 4th,
he arrested two men, strangers, on
suspicion, in restaurant in Taney-
town. The younger man, lad of IS
had revolver. Mr.. Reifsnider ana
Sheriff Kemper went at once to Tan
eytown, and after visiting Iker's, ex-
amined the premises, took I'D the i'm
print OF stockinged foot In the red
clay; then with the prisoners in an
automobile, retraced the roads, visit
Ing every house burgfarized, and Sc
curing Identification OF the accused
men as having been i'm each vicinity
within few hours OF the various en-
tries.
Seven indictments were found by
the grand jury. The first case tried
before the Court was that for break
ing into the home OF Henry Herman.
The evidence was strong, but there
was slight break I'm the chain OF
circumstances, and the Court gave
the accused the benefit OF the doubt.
That which was wanting In the Her
man case was made good In the trial
Of that for breaking into Samuel J.
Messengers. Paper similar to that
left at Mr.. Sandruck's found on the
boy when arrested In Taneytown,
played an important part The clinch-
er was put to the chain, when bill"
Cox testified to conversations with the
elder Woodruff, detailing circum-
stances, which he could have learned
from no one else than the old man.
Both father and son were convicted,
and each sentenced to the penitenti-
airy for three years.
The boy is a deserter from the
Navy and the United States authorities
are also after him for that offense.
They gave assumed names upon their
arrest but were identified by Chief
OF Police Bush, OF York, Pa, az Wayne
Woodruff, Sr. and Wayne Woodruff,
Jr, OF that city.