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A Burglary At Dexter

A Burglary At Dexter image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
December
Year
1902
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A BURGLARY AT DEXTER

Jimmie Blytheman Returns to His Old Tricks

INDUCED A BOY TO STEEL

Gave Him Some Knives as His Share of the Swag - Now in County Jail

Jimmie Blytheman, Ann Arbor's noted juvenile thief, has now grown to manhood, but apparently his career as a man, is only to bear the fruit promised by his career of juvenile crime.

The Ed. Phelps Hardware company, of Dexter, was burglarized Friday night by an Ann Arbor man and a Dexter boy about midnight.

James Blytheman, of 711 N. Fourth avenue, was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Kelsey Saturday on suspicion and lodged in the county jail. Deputy Sheriff Charles Stebbins, of Dexter, was informed of the robbery early Saturday and though Blytheman had left Dexter via the Michigan Central for Ann Arbor, he was able to capture the 15-year old boy, George Reese, who had a box of pocket knives bearing the firm's name. The boy said that he had been enticed to enter the window fo the hardware store and bring out four razors, a Harrington revolver with cartridges and a box of knives. The man, who had practically hypnotized young Reese into the commission of the crime, gave him the knives as compensation for his criminal services. It is said that the boy is not overly bright and was influenced by this strange thief. When Reese was brought here Saturday by Deputy Sheriff Stebbins, he was taken to the jail, where in fear and trembling he pointed his finger at Blytheman and said: "He is the man that made me do it." The razors and revolver had been disposed of when Blytheman was arrested fore the alleged crime. Blytheman is said to have word a disguise suit Friday night and immediately he came to Ann Arbor changed his clothes for his every day attire. He has been employed at various times at Polhemus' livery.

His record is stained with the the conviction of several crimes. Last August he was released from service of a long term for larceny at St. Clair's second hand store and previous to that he served time in the Detroit house of correction for stealing tickets at the opera house here. That he should have made small boy an accomplice in the alleged burglary is only of a piece with his previous career, as Blytheman has previously led many small boys into the commission of crimes.

On the above evidence a search warrant was issued in Justice Doyt's court and the goods and sailor suit in which Blytheman had disbursed himself, were found at 711 N. Fourth avenue, where he lives with his widowed mother.