The times., 1897-06-15
sATCHEL THIEF CAPTURED
Metropolitan Railway Robber Is
John Price, a Noted Crook.
ARRESTED In NEW YORK CITY
Stole 81 ,6s2 From Supt. Babendrier
and Eluded the Officers for
-Unsuccessfully Tried To
Comprise With the Company-To
Be Brought Here for Trial.

After successfully eluding the police of
three months, Johnny Price, one of the
clevereSt professional bank sneaks In this
country, was captured by Detective sergts.
McCauley and Flay, in New York, yes
telday, aud is held for the Washington
authorities HeIs wanted here for robbing
supt Arthur o. Babendrier, of the Metro
poltan Railroad Company, on the after
noon OF March 81, last, and getting away
with 81 ,6S2.76 of the company's funds
Mr Rabendrier drew the money from the
Washington Loan and Trust Companys s
bank, for the purpose of paying off some
'enplovcs and 1t has been learned since
that Price was In the bank at the time
watching his movements. After placing
the funds In Satchel, the superintendent
repaired to the Vatoldl cafe, a few doors
from the bank, TO get his dinner. The
satcheI, with its valuable contents, was
handed 60 the lady cashier, who placed
il behind the desk, near the door, while
Mr.. Babendrier went to d table in the
rear part of the dining-room, and gave his
order for a meal
"
five years of age, quickly entered the apart
ment. He was neatly attired as bus
ness man, and gave the cashier his order
for six saud witches TO be wrapped in paper
so he could take them with him. AS she
turned TO repeat the order TO d waiter Price
reached behind the desk seized the satchel
and disappeared The police were noti
fled and detectives watched the depots,
,l
A description of the thief was furnished
Inspector Hollinberger by the lady cashier
and several others, who had seen a sus
picIous man lurking about the bank. This
and the nature of the job, convinced him
that the theft was committed by pro-
fesSional, and suspicion fell upon Johnny
Price The Inspector procured from the
Pinkertons b photograph of the man, and
it wasinstantly by all the parties
who had seen the stranger. Copies Of the
pictures were sent broadcast. coupled with
an urgent request for the sneaks arrest.
In the meantime Price, feeling that the
halter OF the law was dra wing about
him and fearing another long term in
prison. attempted to compromise the mat
ter with the Metropolitan Railway Of
flcials through private tedetective agency
he Offered to refund to the company 81 200
of the stolen money should he be assured
that there would be no prosecution. Presi
dent Harnes declined TO entertain the
proposition and efforts for his capture
were redoubled, as his proposition was a
plain acknowledgment OF the fellow guilt.
The stealing OF the satcheiful of money
was cne of the boldest daylight robberies
ever perpetrated here, and the detectives
were mere than anxious to bring about
Prices arrest The telegram from New
York yesterday announcing that he had
been taken into custody there was accord
ingly hailed with delight By Inspector
Enllinberger and his men:
Detective Joseph Carter left last night
for The Metropolis, to make arrangements
for bringing Price here for trial AS he
VIII be given hearing there before be-
ing turned over to a United States mar
sbsl, to be brought to Washington, sew
eral days may elapse before he is given
berth in the District jail
Johnny Price has been a criminal since
boyhood He is known in criminology as
ga born thief and the expression of
his face and cut OF bis features indicate
as much His companionsin-crime have
been Horace Koran. alias Little Horace"
and other crooks OF like iIk, whose repu-
tations are world wide. In Supt. Byrne's