Caught Him Red Handed

New York, 1895

A Burglar Who Was Operating at Richmond Hill.

Between 2 and 3 o'clock on Saturday morning, Randolph Smith, private watchman at Richmond Hill, saw a light in one of the new buildings in course of erection by Haugaard Brothers, on Maple street.

Going closer he saw a man cross the road with an arm full of carpenter's tools. Upon seeing Smith the man dropped the tools and ran. Smith blew his whistle for help and Clarence Badger joined him. A lantern being procured, search was made for the man, who was found under the extension of one of the new buildings. He was locked up in the Town Hall.

It was found that a house, in which was kept the tools of twenty carpenters, had been broken open and tools to the value of over $200 placed on the stoop ready for removal. About the same hour carpenter's tools to the value of $100 were stolen from a house in course of erection on Myrtle avenue. The officers believe that the man they arrested had accomplices, and that they had a horse and wagon.

The prisoner was arraigned before Justice Hendrickson on Saturday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of burglary and grand larceny. He gave his name as Frank Wilson, age 21 years, residence, New York. The prisoner was well dressed. He claimed that he was on a spree and went under the stoop to sleep. When he was searched a three foot rule, with Mr. Haugaard's name stamped upon it, was found upon him. He was held without bail to await the action of the grand jury.

Officer Smith says the prisoner is the man he shot at one night in December last, on Lefferts' avenue, as he was running away with a bag of silver ware that he had stolen from the residence of Mr. Willetts.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 22, 1895, p. 1.