Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-26
! M P ORTANT ARRES T
Policeman Mulvey Caught Burglar Last
Night.
Just Entering a Grocery Store-Sev-
rested - Other Charges Made.

Policeman James Mulvey Of the sixth pre-
cinct captured colored burglar this morn
ing about 2:3O o'clock at Belaski's grocery
store, corner of I'D and H streets north
west. The burglar, although young in
years. has committed a series Of robberies
in the northwest section of the city, and his
arrest proves the source OF much comfort
to the sto-ekeepers In the section. John
Archer is the name of the prisoner, and his
age Is given as seventeen years. In addi-
ton to the burglary which he was COM
mitting this morning when arrested, he has
confessed to four other similar crimes, and
before he is taken into court the officers
expect they will fasten as many more Of
fenses on him.
TIE Arrest.
Policeman Mulvey has been detailed for
duty in the third precinct during the past
few weeks, because CT the good detective
work he had done In other precincts, and
this morning his efforts In this work were
rewarded.
He was patrolling the streets about the
time mentioned, and, wearing rubber shoes,
his footsteps could not be heard even a few
feet from him. AS soon as he turned toe
corner of 21st street he heard a Suspicious
noise. and stopped long enough to locate it.
Then he approached the fence in rear and
The side gate was open. and he concluded
that he was not far from a burglar. Going
quietly into the yard. he saw the form of the
boy moving about the window in rear of the
store. The top window was lowered, and
just as the boy had put one foot through tie
opening, Intending, Of course, to enter the
store, the officer. with pistol pointed
toward him, said:'"Come down from there,
partner. l want you"
I'm coming" gasped the badly frightened
boy. who raised his hands to show the Off
Ger that he intended to submit to arrest
without resistance.
Then the frightened burglar made excuses
and apologies as if he thought he might lie
released, but. seeing he was going to be
locked up. he implicated others.
Others Implicated.
Although the officer had seen nothing to
Indicate that Archer had accomplices, he
thought he would sumomn officers from
different directions, and chance one of
them capturing a fugitive. Sergt. Nc
Neely, Precinct Detective McGlue and Po-
liceman F1athers responded to the call,
but no other burglars were captured.
Archer told stories which implicated sew
eral others, and the offlcers weit with him
to South Washington, where Louise alley
was visited. Samuel Cornish, nineteen
years Old, and William blackburn. three
years older, We're arrested. Archer impI-
Gated Cornish at first, calling hun Black
burn, and later. when the latter was found,
he was arrested. The Officers learned from
Archer that ht had been stopping at the
house OF Mrs. Majors, near 10Th and Ii
streets, and had been sleeping with her
SONS. This house was visited and James
and Isaac Majors were arrested.
His Record.
From members of the Majors family the
officers learned that John Archer had been
stopping there since Christmas. He had
como there perfect stranger. and because
of his pitiful story Mrs. Majors gave him
a home. Last night he was in the house
early, and was in bed when boarder
named jackson returned there about il
O'Clock.
After the other roomers were asleep he
went cut and was caught repeating what
he had done d number of tunes before.
When the five victims Of the police were
behind the bars the officers returned 10
the scene of the first arrest, and recovered
a knife and hatchet that Archer had useu
IN cutting the Stats.
Today Sergt. McNeely and Precinct De-
tecrve McGIue TOOK Archer into a private
room and had a long talk with him. 1t was
in this conversation that he admitted hav
ing entered and robbed four other stores.
They were Leech's, corner of I'D and =
streets; Walter Poures, oath and streets,
BuclsIey's. 21st, between Z and F streets,
and Michael Flynn's, 2lst and H streets.
At these places ne had taken quantities OF
cigars, cigarettes. tobacco: whisky and
small amounts of money. He had also
taken several hats. a pair Of gloves ana
similar articles. These goods he had used
or given to his companions, and the hat
taken from Flynns store has been recov
cred.
The police believe that the other persons
arrested had nothing to do with the rob
berries committed by Archer. They viii
hold Archer at the station until the inves-
tigation is completed, and then he will be
taken into court