Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-05-21
SOB ARTIST TOUCHES
HEART OF THE COURT
Nifty LITTER Attempts to Get Away
With Stick Pins But Is Caught
in the Act by Pomeroy.
REFLECTION IN MIRROR
REVEALS PALMING OF JEWEL
When Hailed Before sudge Webster,
Reagan Wept and wrung Hands
and Told Pitiful Story.

1t is not often that the expert crook,
the men and women who get away
with the game before the eyes of the
keonest detectives, "make - the cities
of the size of Salem, but such was the
case yesterday afternoon when one of
those clever persons tried, but failed,
to lift two diamond stick pins from the
iowelry store of Gardner & Keene on
state street. He would have gone
along swimmingly had not Charley
Pomeroy spotted him wnen Mr.. Crook
attempted to carelessIy handle some
jewelry in his store. Result, the smooth
customer was arrested, taken before
the justice of the peace, and, after
handing out that old, old story about
high-strung relatives and "my first Of
fense," ote., the unfortunate (?) man
was fined $25 and turned loose.
Crookedness His Business.
In the opinion OF the chief of police
and Officer Gaines, the latter making
the arrest, Jack Reagan" as he gave
his name, is about the -;noothest little
light-fingered gentleman that has come
this way in many months. Reagan first
called at the C. T. Pomeroy store and
asked to be shown svme pins. After
fussing around considerably like this
class generally do, ne attempted to
palm pin. Mr.. Pomeruy had his eyes
open for the game, and saw Reagan
gather up the jewel in the reflection .
in back show ease. Pomeroy said .
nothing and Reagan, with that second /
sense which tells the expert that he is !
going too far, quietly -..i the pin back |
in tho tray. Pomeroy did not make /
any accusations at the time despite the /
fact that he saw Reagan attempt the /
theft of the pin, and the fellow soon
left after making a few more remarks /
about his purposed purchase.
Finally Lands One.
Reagan stepped into tho Smith Jew
elry store on State street, but would .
not attempt the trick there because
Mr.. Smith gave him no opportunity. He
then dropped in on Gardner & Keene
few doors below and soon had nice
tray of stick pins out before him with
in easy reach. He asked for something
which he knew was in the rear Of the
store, and as Mr.. Gardner went back to
get the article, Reagan slipped two pins
worth $25 into his trousers pocket.
Making the excuse that he wanted to
get back to the 'hotel for sample
chain, of which pattern he said he
would have some ordered through the
/ iewelryman, Reagan walked out and up
to the Oregon Electric depot.
In the meantime, Mr.. Pomcroy was
watching Reagan all the time, and no.
titled Gardner that he (Gardner) had
been robbed. The jewelryman called
in OFFICER Gaines, and Reagan was ar
rested at the depot on John Doe war
rant. He was taken to the police sta
tion and "frisked y The pins were
found, and Reagan admitted at once
that he took the artit-es.
Good Sob Artist.
| When taken before Justice Webster
Reagan began his fine work in earnest
He wept, wrung his hands and acted
for all the world like he was sorry for
what he did, while all the time he was
stalling to keep out of the penitentiary.
lie told a wOeful tale about having a
sister in Portland and how they were
touring" the west, and that his par
ents were rich and lived in New York.
Many other tales were related to the
jurist and his intended victims, and fl.
nally the court, evidently touched by
the lonesome and pitiful yarn, let Rea-
gan down easy with $25 fine.
Reagan had $l5, which he turned
over, and Messrs. Pomeroy and Keene
gave their friend $40 on the latter s
gold watch and a brass stick pin.
Pomeroy Investigates.
G. I. Pomeroy then made an investi-
CATION and discovered that Reagan was
registered at the Benson Hotel in Port
land, and that there was woman there
registered at the Benson hotel in Port
with him. Reagan was then taken be-
! fore Father A. Moore and questioned
He told Father Moore where he at
! tended college. He said he is the son
of rich parents and could not explain
how he came to take the stick pins. Fa-
ther Moore advanced Reagan enough
money to get to Portland, and the fell
low went as fast as he could go.
Would Hold Reagan.
Reagan was dressed up fit to kill
and carried fancy walking stick. Had
the police had their way, Reagan would
now be located behind the bars and
: the wires would have been hot sending
out his description. The Officers be-
Hove the man is professional crook
? I and should have been detained