Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1932-05-05
Arrested For
Rifling Cottages
On West Side

Rifling of cottages and boats along
the beach from sylvan Beach on south
past the Colvos dock led to the arrest
last Thursday Of Ted Mclean, 20 year
old cripple.
Suspicion was aroused when Del
Harrington, Paul Thorsen, Geo. Nc
Cormick, Guy Clark and Rodney Derr
discovered wednesday night that their
motor boat anchored at Cedarhurst
had been stripped. Working on a
slight clue they started out on an all
nights hunt that led to the discovery
of MCLEAN with fishing gear from
their boat. Along with their property
he had other things known to have
been taken from beach cottages
Deputy Sheriff shattuck Yves called
and arrested the boy, who insisted that
not he, but two other boys who had
gone back to Seattle, had stolen the
property. The subsequent arrest and
questioning of the other two boys
proved that McClean's story was a
fabrication.
The two boys, c. A. Pavey, 10 and
Jas. G. Porter 16, students Of the Edi-
son Vocational School of Seattle, had
come to the Island for hiking trip
and vacation. They had accidentally
fallen into the company of MCLEAN,
who represented himself to them as
the son of q rich father who had
turned over a cottage to him. He in
yited them to stay with him and keep
him company and entertained them
royalty with food stuffs he had taken
from different cottages. They stayed
in the Lewis cottage between Cedar
hurst and Corbins beach.
Mr.. Shattuck took the boy into the
county Jail where he was held on a
charge of petit larcy and returned to
the Island to investigate the cottages
in the vicinity. He brought with him
another deputy. They found that
practically every cottage along the
beach had been entered.
On Saturday Pavey was arrested
when he returned to keep an appoint
ment for the weekend with MCLEAN.
He told a straightforward story; gave
the name of the other boy implicated
and went to the home of his parents
who told the story the boys had told
them of their entertainment on the
Island. Mr.. Shattack went with Pavey
to Porter's place of employment and
again heard the same story. He was
convinced of the innocence of the two
boys, and was not surprised when NC
Clean made a full confession which
cleared Pavey and Porter. The two
boys were released and charges of
grand larceny were filed against Nc
Clean.
1t is believed that MCLEAN Is
mentally deficient. He suffered from
tuberculosis of the spine in infancy
and is a hunchback as a result. He
is an orphan and has been reared by
two aunts who have made every effort
to give him the best education and
training possible. He spent several
months at Cedarhurst some four years
ago, boarding in the home of one Of
the teachers of the Y. M. G. A. school
for boys, where he was pupil, becom-
ing familiar with that part of the Is
land. 1t is reported that his stealing
proclivities led to his leaving the Is
land at the request of other residents
of Cedarhurst at that time.
The boy is relative of the governor,
who, it is generally supposed, has
exerted his influence on different &C.
casions to get him out Of difficulties
The result of this scrape remains to
be seen.
MCLEAN was brought back to the
SEnd on Monday and showed Deputy
SfIattuck where his cache was located.
About 500 worth of guns. binoculars,
ETC., was taken from the Lewis cot
tage, but it cannot be determined how
much was stolen from the other cot
tages until other summer residents ar
rive and check up on what was left.
There was considerable CONSERVATION
among several who came out last
weekend and found that food stuffs
upon which they were depending had
been taken.
Their friends are delighted with the
improvement of the Islands. most