The Delta independent., 1913-05-16

local officers and merchants that
age from 10 TO Is years. have pros
pered to a more or less extant as shop
lifting or. in palmer terms, at burg
larry And for just how long this light
fingered work has been going on one
can't even conjecture. 1t is thought
however, that merchandise OF various
kinds has been slipping from the coun-
ters and shelves of local dealers for
at least a year or more past, and Of
ficers are now on the trail of opera
tors" with view to putting an end
TO this class OF work
First evidences OF the thieving con-
fronted E NJ. Gets, a local hardware
dealer. last Friday when North Delta
man incidentally exhibited a handsome
pocket knife-one that was just
enough out OF the ordinary to attract
his attention-and also to remind him
OF the fact that II had belonged to
his stock and had not been sold. The
merchant wanted 10 know where such
knife was purchased and the answer
came that IL was bought from a well
known young man OF this city for a
sum not over one-fourth its value.
Mr. Gets then proceeded to look
over his stock OF pocket knives, guns
table cutlery. etc. usually displayed
in the front OF his store and discover
ed that there was a deficiency in these
lines amounting to at least half a hun
dred dollars. perhaps more. Local
officers were notified and on Monday
evening the lad who sold that hand
some pocket knife TO the North Delta
man for song was placed behind
the bars in the county jail. He de-
clined to talk much OF the affair at
first but after night in prison-his
first experience OF the kind-the whole
story came quite freely. and thus have
been acquired the names OF NJ least
dozen youngsters who attend the
public schools of Delta and In some
instances are from well known and
highly respected families.
Hugh Davis. II years OF age. and
Ira Burns Is. were listed with the gang
as leaders. and when the officers went
out to bring the pair in. 10, and be-
hold. they had got wind of the I'M
pending peril. and were gone. The
two were seen about the streets Tues
day with a horse and buggy which
they had fastened to hitching post,
borrowed $1,000 from friend and
were already out on trip for parts
unknown. They started westward
afoot. II was learned. expecting to
catch the evening train that day at
Roubideau.
Officers went to Roubideau that
night. learned of the boys calling at
the store there and getting a lunch
after missing the evening train and
then proceeding on their westward
tourney down the track afoot. The
officers engaged the section crew at
Roubideau with their hand car and
went tearing down the track in pur-
suit at all possible speed with the re-
suit that the fleeing pair were over
taken. Hello" shouted Sheriff Samp-
son and Constable Vessel. don't
Won want n ride" The boys were al
ready tired and. thinking the hand
car crowd Just section forces they
quickly assented and were not little
chagrined when hey found themselves
I'm charge OF officers of the law. The
car then began its trip to Delta and
the two prisoners took hand at pro-
pelling the conveyance toward our
county prison where they were given
places until hearing could be had.
Two or three other lads connected
with the affair are out on the great
highway. fleeing from justice. and one
of the number was said to be In Grand
Junction on "Wednesday, according to
reports OF jeff Watson, under sheriff
Mt that point. All will be apprehended
n possible.
The boys have operated, 1t Is said.
nv going into stores in lunches. ana
while one or two would engage atten-
tion OF the proprietor and clerks osteh'
sibly with view to purchases 'he
others would get busy at "lifting ana
pocketIng the goods wanted. Many
of the pocket knives have been re-
covered and examination OF the sup
ply reveals the fact that Stockham
Brothers also came In for share OF
the loss and II Is altogether likely
that goods have been taken from other
stores. The stuff taken from the Gets
store comprises best makes OF revol-
yers. table cutlery, pocket knives and