Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-10

Caught with Goods at Railroad Sta.
tion-Loct Valued at Several Hun
dred .DolIars--Both Make Full Con-
fession to Police - Claim to Be
Brothers and Say Names Are
: Frank and Charlie Bryant, % and
10 Years Of Age, Of Boston =
A tip which indirectly reached the
police from youngster who had
been offered but had refused the role
of accomplice. followed by some
lively action on the part of the Off
GERS. prevented the getaway of two
young men who at 1920 this morning
were found by Night Officer Hume
well seated in the smoking room of
the Maine Central station with two
capacious travelling bags and suit
case filled with goods to "the value of
several hundred dollars stolen short
ly before from the clothing store of
Beane & Cross and the J. Frank
Pierce book store. The culprits made
a complete confession to Acting Dep
Ity Marshal Halpen. according to
TO this Official. They stated tk>t
they were brothers and that their
names were Frank and Charles
Bryant. ages, 90 and 10. They first
told Officer Halpen that they came
from Texas but later gave Boston.
Mass. as their hailing port.
A young man who has been work
ing on a section crew between Bath
and Lewiston and who had been in
company with the Bryant brothers
part of Tuesday told Roy Day early
this evening of the job which his
companions were planning and said
that they wanted him to join them
in the undertaking but that he did
not care to do so. Day did not take
the story seriously at the time. but
later began to realize that there
might be something in it. 1t was
about IL o'clock when he told OFF,
Ger Hunnewell of his information.
Oficer Hunnewell went immedi-
ately to the Maine Central station,
where in the smoking room he saw
two very we'll dressed young men
seated with two travelling bags and
q suitcase in front Of them. He then
made hasty inspection Of the stores
from the Commercial street side and
discovered that the rear window of
the Beane & Cross store had been
smashed. He entered and found
much of the stock in a state of con-
fusion. the 600 cash register de-
molished. and two outfits of old
clothing lying in a heap He teIe-
phoned Officer Halpen at City hall,
who sent Officer Chapman to the
store and told Officer Hunnewell to
go back to the station for the men,
Omcer Hunnewell was ready for
trouble but the men were not so in
clined and at the station promptly
made a clean breast of the affair.
A further search by City Marshal
Mckinney revealed the break into the
Pierce store, which also was entered
by the smashing Of a rear window.
The Bryants placed the time of the
Pierce store break at 10 o'clock and
that at the clothing store at IL. Of
ficer Chapman, however, had passed
down Commercial street on his beat
at about II and found everything Sc
cure at that time.
Both the thieves changed their old
wardrobe for the stolen goods in the
clothing store. One put on a suit
which apparently had been worn be-
fore and one of the overcoats of the
newly acquired wardrobe was a val
liable one which had been left at the
store for tailor work. Frank was
wearing a brand new $40 hat. In one
OF the receptacles taken from the men
were four new suits an overcoat or
two. numerous costly silk shirts.
gloves Of fine quality. soft collars and
tewelry. The booty also included
bills and change roughly estimated
at $35, 10 fountain pens. some of
them gold -embellished, which were
probably taken from the Pierce
store. and big collection of fine
cigars and choice cigarettes, which
were doubtless taken in some other
city. In fact, the young man who
gave the tip about the intended break
said something to the effect that the
two men had broken into tobacco
store
The Bryant brothers will be ar
raigned this morning before Judge
Cony of the Municipal court.