Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-05

Chief of Police Thomas {. Brown
and his force of competent men did
considerable effective work Saturday,
the most important of which was the
capture of a crook by Chief Brown.
THIS man, who gives his name as John
Collins but who refuses to give his
history, has served time in the Provi-
dence county Jail and is evidently
SLICK and experienced criminal. He
came TO Westerly Wednesday night,
with a dress suit case stenciIied on the
ends and side "A A. S." This case
contained a lot of machinist tools mark
ed T. A." and IS. A." These he emp
tied Into a macaroni box and hid in
a oellarway. lie sold the suit case to
an italian woman for evenly five cents
and peddled out the maehinists' tools
from the box a few pieces at a time.
Saturday he entered the boarding
house of Mrs, Salvatore Sammatora In
Canal street, went to the third floor
and entered the room of Mastrande
Liherte by forcing the paddock from
the door. He took from the room
small clock, a silver watch, revolver,
a razor, monkey wrench and several
other articles, which he sold. Most of
these goods have been recovered by
Chief Brown The chief also secured
the macaroni box and the tools that
remained therein and has located sew
eral Of the tools that have been sold
by the thief.
The case was reported to Chief
Brown about o'clock Saturday after
noon, and two hours later the man
who gives his name as Collins was
in a cell in the police station. De-
tcctiVe idanafey Of the New York, New
e q OF &c
in Westerly, tracing a theft that had
been committed in Westerly, and he
accompanied Chief Brown at the start,
thinking that perhaps the man Chief
Brown wanted was the one the rail-
road detective desired also, but Col
Inns had no connection with the rail-
road case.
Chief Brown, after persistent and
dilisent search finally located Collins
in the Peoples Mission in Pawcatuck,
just across the bridge in Connecticut.
The chief called on Patrolman Keegan
OF Pawcatuck 10 arrest Collins, which
was done just as he was leaving the
mission. Collins was turned over to
Chief Brown at the state boundary
line and taken to police station. He
absolutely refused to give any infor-
nation concerning himself nor to talk
zion of the stolen goods from the Ital-
ian house, but he did say that the ma
chinists' tCcls were his own property,
although there is evidence of their
being stolen
Collins is about IS years Of age and
Of strong build lie mas red hair, is
slightly bald. smooth faced, is about
i've feet eight inches in height, and
weighs about l65 pounds. Il IS known
I that Collins since his release trotn jail
has been III AttleborO and Providence,
and the police department Of the lat
| ter city has been notified of his aires,
and the finding CT the dress suit case
and the tools. in the hope that these
! may be idetinhed Since his coming to
! Westerly, Collins was found one after
/ noon lying on trunk in a room in an
/ Italian tenement in Pierce street. He
| feigned intcXication and was elected
from the premises.
| Upon searching Collins, Chief Brown
| found upon his person three knives,
| six keys Of the skeleton pattern, a
( small brass paddock, comb Pipe, cake
of soap and 65 cents.
I 1t was planned to arraigu Collins
/ in the Third district court Sunday
evening, hut Judge Williams decided
! to defer nearing until Monday morn
| Ing.
I Another case that will be heard at
I the same session is that Of PasQuale
/ Gingerell5, Cbarged with an assault on
( 4 fellow codntryman. There were IS
/ Italians at the police station Sunday
[ evening, awaiting the trial Of Ginger
| ella. Before permitting them to leave
the station they were lined up BY
/ Chief Brown and searched for con-
! cealed weapons, but none was found
! The men were warned not to return ia
( the old custom, for, if found guilty
! they would lie liable TO $109 fine and
! imprisonLfSnL