DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - NEWSPAPERS - The Washington Post, January 22, 1896, pg. 4 ----¤¤¤---- This file is part of the DCGenWeb Archives Project: http://www.usgwarchives.net/dc/dcfiles.htm ********************************************* http://www.usgwarchives.net/dc/dcfiles.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************* Contributed to The USGenWeb Archives Project by: Jamie M. Perez (jamiemac@flash.net) --------------------------------------------------- The Washington Post, January 22, 1896, pg. 4 MRS. STONE’S BURGLAR He Gave Her the Slip Before the Police Arrived. SAVED A NEIGHBOR’S SILVERWARE How a Little Woman Balked a Methodical Robber as He Was About to Carry Off Mrs. Hawke’s Valuables-The Officers Thought They Had Their Man Cornered, but It Was Only a Bed-spring that Held the Door-A Joke on the Police. Mrs. Ida M. Stone, of 935 K street northwest, discovered a burglar in the house of Mrs. Theresa J. Hawke, 944 K street, about 8 o’clock last night, and made an effort to capture the intruder, but failed. After the affair was over, Mrs. Stone, who had shown commendable bravery, became so weak that she was on the point of fainting, and had to be assisted to her home. The burglar had collected a quantity of silverware and jewelry in Mrs. Hawke’s house, and was about ready to leave with it when he was discovered. Mrs. Hawke and her two daughters have charge of a dancing class made up of Carroll Institute students. Last night a dance was given by the class, and on this account Mrs. Hawke and her daughters left home quite early. This fact must have been noted by the thief, who waited until all was quiet, then pried open a window and entered the house. Once inside, he made careful arrangements for his escape in case he should be discovered. Windows in the front and rear of the house were opened, and chairs were placed in front of the windows so that he could step out easily. Guarding Against Surprise. In the dining-room, where the thief expected to be busy for some time in his search for silverware, he placed a large woven mattress and a table against the only door that was unlocked, except one that led into the sitting-room, so that he could not be suddenly surprised. Then he collected silverware and other articles of value worth altogether $150 or $200, on the center table, and wrapped them in a cloth. Just as he stepped to the front window, presumably to see if the coast was clear, Mrs. Stone walked through the gate, intending to make her neighbors a little visit. She saw the man drop out of sight as if he had been shot, and concluded at once that he was a burglar. She did not know just what course to pursue. Thinking that Mrs. Hawke must be at home, she rang the bell. Then she turned and called for the police. This alarmed the burglar, and caused him to leap from the window and dart down the street at a startling gait. A Joke on the Police. A patrol wagon from the First Precinct responded to a telephone call for assistance, and Officer Tayman started to search the house on the theory that a confederate of the escaped man might be in one of the rooms. When the officer undertook to open the door, which had the bed springs behind it, he thought that he had his man cornered. The springs allowed the door to give just a little, making it appear that a man was on the other side, trying to hold the door. The police drew their revolvers and commanded the man to surrender. No response. Then the officers made a rush and broke down the door. No burglar. Mrs. Hawke was sent for, and, upon an examination of the house, found that nothing had been carried away. The Washington Post, January 22, 1896, pg. 4 PARALYZED ON THE STREET. Strange Man Named Williams Dying at Emergency Hospital. A neatly dressed man, whose name is supposed to be R. L. Williams, fell at Fourteenth street and New York avenue, about 6 o’clock last evening, and was carried into Simms’ drug store for treatment. Quite a crowd gathered, and the opinion prevailed that the man was intoxicated. A patrol wagon was called from the First Police Precinct station, and the man was started in it for the station to be locked up on a charge of intoxication. On the way Policeman Tayman, who had charge of the man, concluded that he was not intoxicated, but that possibly he had been drugged, and that he was in need of hospital treatment. The patrol wagon was then driven to the Emergency Hospital, where the surgeons quickly diagnosed the case as hemiplegia, or paralysis of one-half of the body, resulting from a hemorrhage of the brain. When he reached the hospital, the man was just lapsing into unconsciousness, and by arousing him, the doctors learned from him that his name was Williams. He could give no further information about himself. At 1 o’clock this morning the patient’s condition was extremely critical, and he was at the point of death. He is about thirty-four years old, and of good appearance. His hair is quite dark, his mustache reddish brown, and untrimmed. His eyes are blue, and he is about 5 feet 9 inches tall. His clothing is well worn, but of good material. His overcoat was made by a Washington tailor, Smidt, who had a shop at Thirteenth and E streets. The appearance of the man is that of a bookkeeper or clerk, who has been in unfortunate circumstances. In his pockets were no letters, and but 7 cents in money. A book of the National Safe and Deposit Company was in one pocket, but it had been used as a note book, and contained the names, Irving Brown, 932 Third street southwest, and William Price, with the address rather illegible, but apparently 917 Fourth street northwest. Three meal tickets of the Cottage Lunch Room, 539 Fifteenth street, were found, and at this place it was learned that Williams had been a patient at the Hammond Sanitarian, where he had been treated for the liquor habit. The man wore a wine-colored Fedora hat, and dark clothing. At 2 o’clock this morning the man was identified a Robert T. Williams, a telegraph operator, who had been employed by the Western Union Company. He lived at 1107 Massachusetts avenue, and is married. It is said that he has a son who is employed as a messenger by one of the telegraph companies. The boy was taken suddenly ill yesterday afternoon, and was sent home.