Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-25
THE ARREST OF SINS.
SUPPOSED TO BE MAN WHO At
Tackled. LADIES on TTJE STREET.
WILL Be GIQEH 4 HEARING TO-DAY.
Partially Identified by Girl AS
snuIfcd on Saturday Nigbt-A""ther
Ccyyo Relieved 10 he working The
Same Game In Richmond.

A young negro man, giving William
Sims as his name, was arrested ABOUT j.
o'clock Sunday night by Officers Nrehh'
wiltshire. ard Sutton. While toe
charge lodged against him was simply
that OF being 4 suspicious character, re
is believed by the police to be one OF the
two culprits WHO have been stopp'"s
ladies' upon tho streets with the we"
OF robbing them. So far, only TWO
cases Of assaults OF this character nave
been reported to the police anthoiilles-
hut doubtless others have occurred. Inc
latest case was that which took place On
Saturday night in which desperate az
tennt was made TO rob q young lady on
Fourth street between Cary and canal
The efort was an unsuccessful one, as
the rlrrs sister was with her, and the
screams Of the two frightened the rurlah
away.
The Mace Of tho assault was just az
the mouth Of an alley opening lnto
Fourth street. between Cary and canal
Two sisters, aged IS and 10, respectively
had gone out after supper to 90 bt'le
shopping for their mother They were
unattended by any male person anu
upon returning. the younger sister, WIZ
carried the purse and a basket contain
ING her purchases, was seiectou as t'o
n.ev of the assaiant who lay i'm wait
for tho girls within the dark shadows OF
the alley. Just as the young ldoies
reached the opening the negro sprahs
mon the Younger. TIE young girl drop
rod her basket and shriekcd. The
ruffian espied the pocket-book and ne
made an efforG to drag his victim mo
the alley. The elder sister cried NUT
der. murderw and PEOPLE who were sil-
ing upon their porches began to sur.
This frightened the highwayman, anu
he released his hold upon the youiS
lady and dashed through the auey,
making good, for the time beng MS
escape. o.,,r
Tho first shrek Of the ladies was
n.ard for some distance, and the con-
,inne1 cries for help brought a mar
score NJ men TO the scene, the hfst Oh
whom was a woll-known Chesapeake ana
ohio clerk. who lives nearly OPPOSITE
the scene of the outrage and VINO was
near an omen window IN MS room at ''io
time. ,,,,,, tbe
Being freed from the negros arms .le
voung lady dashed toward DER Hol''O
with all the speed she couia colii,ii. an,
She reached there IN safety anu
exhausted upon the steps. -
the matter was at once iepo''td ~
the notice. and Detectives Hall ana CID
con we're nut TO work upon the case
and ether police officers were detailed 10
Iool, ont for the person or persons Who
rSere endeavoring to perpetrate such out
races upon ladies in the streets oil RICH
mond.
TOLD HE WAS WANTED.
On Sunday night. while patrolinS ms
heat near the corner Of Third and FRANK
lin streets. officer Wiltshire noticed ne
gro man who was suspiciously Wa'ch-
inc ladies. He kept within sisht OF me
negro and finally came across oilieei
Wrenn and Sutton, and, win tneir a.
sistance. kept on the IRAN Oh Tue sup.
posed culprit. The negro moved ou.
Irightb street beyond Leigh, and went
49, an alley. Policeman Wrenn was
not far behind him. In short ufDe
sims was seen to come from without ms
DARK hidlng-place just as two kYlles
,aesed the mouth. of the aHey.N ne
Looked nj them very hard and appeared
20 he about I'm the act of approaching
them. when officer Wrenn who was III
citizens clothes, placed a revolver under
his nose and calmly remarked, i want
you" .,.,.. t,,.
tboughtlessly. replied the negro, ana he
was hustled off to the Second Police
station. Policemen Sutton and WiItahlre'
as well as officer Wrenn, accompanying
him.
Yesterday morning one of the young
ladies' attacked on Saturday night was
taken TO the station-house TO IDENTIFY
Sims. az think he is the man." said she
"but my sister, 1 guess, could tel you
better than II was 50 frightened
Sims was taken before Justice Crutch-
Geld in the Police Court yesterday morn
ing and his examination was postponed
until to-day. when all the ladies who
have been approached in this manner
will. It is hoped by the authorities, be
present 10 see if.thcy can identify him.
1t IS believed by the police that two
negroes have been a. work in this way
here. and that both are from other parts.
Sims claimed when arrested that he had
not tried 20 rob anybody here, and said
that he came to Richmond only a short
time ago from Rock Castle, point on
the James-Riycr Division Of the Chesa-
pcake and Ohio railway. He is mulat-
to. well built and about p years Of age.