The morning call., 1895-02-01
1t Prevents a House Thief's Escape
With Plumber.
HE had RIFLED A LADY'S BEDROOM.
The Fourth Robbery in One Block on Bush
Street Within a Few
Months.

some valuable plumber. Mrs. S. II. Whit
ney, the 19-year-old daughter of G. H.
Lakeman, who lives at 1912 Bush street, is
the heroine this time. The burglar is a
young man who gave the name of Edward
L. Lowen. He says that he is painter
and that he recently came from Tacoma.
The capture of Lowen by Mrs. Whitney
was cleverly done and showed that the
young women is possessed of great pres
ence of mind. The burglar was very cum
ming and tried by various tricks to escape
with some stolen jewelry, but he was foiled
by Mrs. Whitney's strategy
The family of Mr.. Lakeman seated them
selves for dinner at $50 o'clock last even
ing. Before commencing to eat Mrs.
Whitney left the table to go into an adjoin-
ing room for handkerchief. AS she passed
through the front hallway of the house she
saw moving object at the head of the
stairs.
She peered up into the semi-darkness
and saw the body of a man pressed closely
against the wall. The man was trying to
escape observation, but when he realized
that he was seen he stepped forward and,
evening""
''What are you doing there? What do
you want?" Mrs. Whitney asked.
The man came downstairs and said he
was afraid he had made mistake, that he
had got into the wrong house, and he
realized that it was not the one where he
had been employed to do some lettering on
door.
Mrs. Whitneys quick perception told
her that she was dealing with a burglar.
Keeping him in conversation she blocked
his way to the front door and placed her
back to 1t. She put both of her hands
behind her, locked the door and took out
the key. She then demanded of the
burglar how he had entered the house.
he replied: 1.-The door was open and I
walked in. I see have made mistake
in the house and I will not intrude any
longer"
"Well, you just wait minute. You
don't get out of here so easy,' said Mrs.
Whitney. The scene then became very
melodramatic. Mrs. Whitney is hardly
more than girl and weighs about ninety
pounds, while her captive is man above
the average height and probably weighs
about 175 pounds. The little woman shook
the doorkey in the mans face and de-
manded an explanation of his presence.
Lowen said: "Why. was going to do
some lettering on the outside Of the door.
I'll show you what mean" He made a
rapid movement to the door, expecting to
open it, When he realized it was locked
he turned as white as sheet and seemed
Mrs. Whitney called for her father, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Lakeman, Mr.. Whitney and
Mrs. Flora Evans, lady rooming in the
house, came rushing out into the hall.
Lowen seemed to recover part of his
nerve, and addressing the party confront
ing him, he said: ''There is no use of
making any, further connection. 1t has
been mistake on my part" The burglar
hoped to obtain from Mr.. Lakeman the
permission to leave the house, which he
had been unable to obtain from his plucky
little captor. His appeals did not benefit
him, however. After having been repeat
edly accused of entering the house, with
the intention of robbing it, he finally ad-
mitted his guilt. He said he had been
driven to desperation by hunger as he had
no money.
Mrs. Evans rushed upstairs to her room,
calling out to Mr.. Lakeman to keep the
burglar until she had looked about her
room. She came downstairs few seconds
later and reported that her gold watch and
chain and gold bracelet were missing.
Mr.. Lakeman then started to search
Lowen, who said: "Never mind, there is
no need to search me. Here are the
things" He turned over all the missing
articles, and begged to be released. Mr..
Whitney and the three ladies held Lowen a
prisoner, however, until Mr.. Lakeman
went out into the street and found Officer
Grunwald. Lowen admitted his theft to
the policeman.
A further search of the burglars pockets
showed that he had 10 cents, a package
OF cigarettes and railroad ticket
to Port Costa. Lowen admitted that had
he escaped he would have taken the early
train this morning to get out of the city.
Lowen was very neatly dressed and he
was very polite during all the time of his
This is the fourth burglary on Bush
street in the block between Jones and
Leavenworth in the past few months.
The houses at 1913, 1917 and 1919 Bush
street were the places previously visited by
burglars.