The $1,000 Christmas Theft and the Clean-Shaven Fugitive

James H. Ross, formerly a bookkeeper in the Northern Pacific car shops at Edison, just out of Tacoma, was arrested in Seattle yesterday morning at 10 o'clock by Sergeant Chamberlin of the Tacoma police and Detective Charles Phillips, on the charge of robbing Edwin V. Buckner, an ex-machinist and locomotive engineer, of $1,000 in cash last Christmas day.

Sergeant Chamberlin, who has charge of police station No. 3 at Edison, had been working on the case since December 30, and when Ross was captured in disguise the sergeant was indeed pleased.

Edwin V. Buckner is a man of good habits, and although at present out of work, always had a good bank account. The day before Christmas he drew out of the bank $1,400. The $400 was in gold and the remaining $1,000 was made up of ten $100 bills. On Christmas day he celebrated in a quiet way, and being unused to liquor it did not take many drinks to muddle him. He showed his money, and while in one saloon at Edison was quite familiar with one or two men.

A few hours later he suddenly became aware that his pocketbook, containing the $1,000, had been stolen. Instead of reporting the case to the police at once he let it go until the next morning. Sergeant Chamberlin heard his story and immediately put men to work on the case. Suspicion immediately rested upon James H. Ross and another man, whose name is withheld for the present.

Ross, however, was a prominent Populist and talked of as the candidate to represent Edison in the next city council. In order that no mistake might be made the case was worked up very carefully, resulting, however, in the conclusion, from the police standpoint, that Ross was the guilty party. The evidence will show, it is said, that Ross, after learning that Buckner had the money in his pocketbook, threw his arms around his neck and deftly withdrew the valuable packet. Buckner, being under the influence of liquor, did not notice what happened until he chanced to feel in his pocket some time later.

When the police got around to arrest Ross they discovered that he had made his escape from the city, presumably toward the British Columbia line. Sergeant Chamberlin took the late train from Tacoma last Saturday night and arrived in this city yesterday morning at 3 o'clock. All the trains and boats were watched, but Ross did not make his appearance.

Finally, about 10 o'clock yesterday morning, Sergeant Willard and Chamberlin started down from headquarters to the Yesler dock, in hopes of finding Ross at the steamer Kingston. At the corner of Yesler and Main streets Detective Phillips met the party and Willard left them to chase up Ross. A few minutes later, Chamberlin saw a clean-shaven man with black eyes coming directly toward them. As the man was passing with a rapid stride, Chamberlin recognized the man as Ross.

"Just wait a minute," he said to Ross, who stopped as if he had been struck by a street car. "I think we want you over in Tacoma."

Ross saw that the game was up, and submitted to arrest without a word. When he was searched at headquarters $100 was found upon his person. Of this sum, $95 was in gold and the rest in silver. It was found out later in the day that he had been staying at the Southern hotel, corner of Yesler avenue and Commercial streets, and had in his possession a new alarm clock. It is thought that he got some friend to change one of the $100 bills by purchasing the clock.

Ross, according to the information the police received, intended to meet a friend in this city this morning and go direct to Victoria. It is believed that he had his full black beard removed only a short time before he fell into the hands of the officers. He was taken back to Tacoma last evening. The Tacoma police think they have a sure case against him.