Putnam patriot., 1913-03-07
Captured Sneak Thief


 Saturday morning as the result of some quick work on the part of num-
 Der of people sneak thief, wanted by
 the Norwich police, was taken into
 custody. He was held at the police
 station and returned to Norwich in the
 evening with Officer Smith of that
 city.
 The man, about thirty years old,
 we'll dressed and pleasant spoken hired
 a room Friday night of Miss Myra Bennor, South Main street. He said
 he was music teacher and carried a music roll with him. The next morn- ing the lodger stated that he was short l of funds and asked for the loan Of s
 offering as security check made out
 to Benjamin A. Morgan, drawn on the
 First National Bank of Norwich and
 signed by Elmer Berry. Miss Bennor advanced the money and received the
 check unendorsed as security. When
 going to make up the room to lodger
 had occupied 1t was found that two
 table centerpieces were missing. Miss
 Bennor became suspicious that some-
 thing was wrong and came up town and presented the check at the bank
 for an opinion as to whether 1t was
 genuine. A phone to the Norwich
 bank did not give absolute proof that
 the check was bad but there was
 enough of an irregular nature to decide 1 that it would be well, all things con i sidered, to have an interview with Mr.
 Morgan. Captain Murray was called
 into the case. It was learned that the
 man wanted was headed northward
 for the outskirts of the city and would
 in all probability take the first trolley | she could identify the man. The taxi
 cab was ordered but as the trolley car came along before the taxi arrived the
 Captain and Miss Bennor took the car I leaving instructions for the taxi to fol- I low. AS the car neared the Thompson line Miss Bennor said to the Captain, "There he is
 The man was standing in the road waiting for the car. Captain Murray stepped onto the rear vestibule and as Morgan went to step on the Captain stepped off and requested the man to come to the police station. The man 1 looked astonished and wanted to know why he was wanted but got no satis- l faction at that stage of the proceedings. The taxi coming up the return was | made in it.
 When questioned the man was very uncommunicative. He said he had never received or had anything to do with checks before and disclaimed all knowledge of the doilies. Upon an in- spection of his belongings it was found that he was not in such financial straits as he made out, as there were two ten dollar bills and three ones in his pocketbook besides another blank check of the Norwich bank. There were also numerous other small things such as toilet articles, soap, thread, scissors, stockings, perfume, and bot tie marked "carmine, poison." A re- ceipt for an express package sent from this office was found, and two gold watches. Morgan said he picked up the receipt near the railroad station. It later developed that it was receipt given him for package sent to Mid dletown. At Norwich he said the package contained the things taken in that city. All through his examina- ton he maintained a silence and told the officials to find out what they wanted to know When he was con- fronted by the Norwich officer in the afternoon he admitted parts of his but regarding his actions and where abouts before he went to Norwich he would say nothing. He sad he wrote the check in the post office.
 While he was in Norwich he hired room of Elmer Berry and while the family was away ransacked the place prying open desk with pair of scis- sors and taking S32 in money besides many small articles.
 The police in Middletown say they know iof the man but do not know much about hIm.
 It was when Putnam officials called up the Norwich chief of police to find out if anything was known of Morgan that it was found he was wanted there. The chief asked if the man had a mu- sic roll with him and when informed that he had said, "For goodness sakes hold him. 1 want him. I'll send an officer right away. Don't let him es- capep' and hung up the receiver.