The Monticellonian., 1916-07-27

you. / answered, pointing TO the door
of my private Office. He has prom
ised me that he will tell you what he
has already told my assistant and my
self, and that he will at once return
as much as possible of the stolen
property to you. which l have advised
him to do
| then ushered them into the private
room in which Erfert was. The. young
fellow repeated to them the statement
of guilt that he had already made to
me. Then, with some assistants,
went in a hack to the house of Err
fert's MOTHER where we found about
two hack loads Of stolen goods. con-
sisting of clocks, silver plate, fine UNI
brellas and various articles of brie-a-
brae. all valuable stuff.
These goods were taken direct to
the store of Mr. Bolland. Our party
then visited the store of the grand.
father, in South ST. Louis, and reeeY-
cred about four hack loads of goods
from that place. By the time the last
nearly daylight.
While this loot was being removed
was standing outside guarding the
hack into which the goods were be-
ing placed. A police officer came
along. We knew each other and he
was somewhat surprised to see me at
that time of night in that locality,
and asked me, in friendly manner,
what | was doing there. | replied
that some stuff had been stolen from
jewelry store, and that it had been
taken to the house, | added that
had thought it advisable to remove
the goods after night SO as not to at
tract the attention of the neighbor-
hood, as | felt sure that the women of
the family were not aware that the
property which had been placed in
their house was stolen.
The policeman later reported that
he had met me and detailed this con-
versation to his captain. The report,
of course, reached the chief of police
the following morning. The chief,
becoming exasperated, suspended the
policeman for not having arrested
both the hack driver and myself. He
also suspended one or two of the of
fcers connected with the station who
were on duty that night.
The next morning a city detective
called at my office.
Il have been sent down here by
the chief to see you" he said. THE
chief understands that you arrested a
young fellow named Erfert last night
and that you recovered lot of stolen
property Is that report true?"
Part of the report seems to be
true. while the remainder is not true.
| answered You know and the
chief should know, that l have no
legal right to make arrests, and there
fore l have made no arrests, nor have
| caused any to be made within the
city of St Louis. but | did recover a
large quantity of stolen goods last
night and early this morning, and
have delivered them to their owner.
Where is Erfert now?9 asked the
detective
Il don't know where he is at pres
ent. Why do you want to know this ??
because tile CHIei INSTRUCTED HIT
TO come down here and get him. and
bring him to headquarters at once,
replied the man.
Have you any charges against
him at headquarters ?" I inquired
Il don't know. All know is that
the chief sent me down here to get
him and bring him to headquarters.
Il do not know whether there will
be any charges preferred against Err
fert or not said His employer
seems inclined to sympathize with
him, and especially with his family.
do not believe that he cares to have
him prosecuted for these thefts.
expect Erfert to call at my office some
time during the forenoon, and | am
looking for Mr. Bolland here at any
moment. When Erfert comes ! will
/ tell him that the chief wants to see
| him"
No. you need not do that" an
swered the detective. Il will wait
here, and when he comes | will take
him up with me-
IF Erfert calls at this office while
you are here l answered. and if you
have a warrant for his arrest, charg
ing him with any crime, you may
take him to hea aquarters; but unless