Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-06-13

4 Boil D THIEF The ticket Office of
,b4 Washington Southern Railway in
mi, CITY was robbed again between IL
spd y o'clock day. A stranger who
ssd been seen around the depot pre-
viou.lv watched his opportunity when
,Ss ticket agent, Mr.. W. w. West, had
cIosed the office and left, and taking
Sod of the door knob with main
hrca broke the lock and entered the
Office. Some people who were at the
depot at the time witnessed the bold
sci and gave the alarm, and the thief,
fearing capture, gathered up sixty four
cents in pennies which we've on the
counter and left, not taking time to
break open the money drawer, which
was his first intention. The thief left
the depot followed by a number of
people who had witnessed his exploit
and the crowd increased 10 enormous
proportious in few minutes, but there
were no police in sight and the thief
fourished pistol which deferred any
one from approaching too close to him.
He accelerated his movements through
the streets of the city and finally
succeeded in vanishing from the
multitude which were following him.
Several policemen had by this time
been informed of what was going
on, and it being believed that the refu-
gee was in the alley in the square
bounded by King, Cameron, Columbus
and Washington streets, that neighbor-
hood was explored but to no purpose.
BIZ this time the locality was blocked
with people and the greatest excite
meut prevailed, some being positive the
man Was hid here and some there.
The next report was to the effect that
q strange man had been seen in the
yard of the residence ON the northwest
corner of Washington and Prince
streets and that he had scaled a fence
near the M. E. Church South. Another
rumor was that he had been seen
into window of the church.
The crowd then surged to the church
and the square in front of the edi6ce
became clogged with sea of humani.
ty. Officers Arlington, Smith, Young,
Griffin, Beach and Special Officer Price
together with several citizens began an
exploration of the church. The build
ing was searched from top to bottom,
but no traces OF the thief could be
found. 1t was suggested that he
might probably be found in the organ,
and that instrument was searched, but
the Individual sought was, in "hidy-
hoop" language, ''lying low" The
search was about to be abandoned
when Messrs. A. W. Melchoir and
James Penn, of the party, more en-.
than the Others, light
cd matches and proceeded to
further exploration and found the
thief curled up in very small bundle
in an obscure recess of the organ. The
police bounced on him Immediately
and relieved him of his pistol, which
proved to be empty. The captive was
hurried to the station house followed by
an immense crowd. Upon being locked
up and questioned he gave his name as
James Chandler, though he acknowl-
edged that was not his true name, but
sounded something like it. He said
he was "A years old and hailed from
Baltimore, was OF German extraction,
and an electrical engineer by occupa-
ton. He said he arrived in this city
Tuesday and lost $50 at the race track
This assertion is question
ed. as when asked what horses he bet
on he gave the names of those not in the
entries. He wears light mustache
and was respectfully attired. When
asked what impelled him to commit
such bold act in broad day and under
circumstances which almost insured
his capture, he laughed and replied in
an unconcerned manner, "Well, l don't
know" The captive laughed consid-
erably over the fact that he had kept
the crowd back by fourishing an empty
pistol. He asked if the penalty in Vir-
ginia was severe for such an act, and
when he was told it was penitentiary
ofense, shadow of apprehension was
noticeable on his countenance. The
stranger undoubtedly has q crooked
look and may have record in other
fields. 1t is believed by many that ne
is the author of the other burglarles
committed at the Fayette street depot.
Chandler was brought before the May
or this evening and having plead guilty
was sent on to the July term OF the
Court.