Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-10
DR.. RANKINS RESIDENCE RANSACKED
George Randall Attempts to Pawn
Some of the vaIuabIes.
AN IMPORTANT ARREST

On him the officers found a number of ar
ticles Of Jewelry and a revolver. but the
weapon was not loaded.
The prisoners claim was that he pur-
chased the jewelry, which is valued at
about $3.50. for so. He bought the goods
from a strange white man, he told the de-
tectives but this story they did not believe.
Later In the day some OF the articles-the
most valuable ones-were identified as the
property Of the Rev. DR.. Rankin president
o: Howard University, whose house was
burglarized last night.
Between 10 and IL o'clock the young man
entered the pawnshop of Henry r. Groce,
corner of 18th and E streets northwest,
and wanted to borrow 81 on a gold watch
case. MI. Groce examined the case and
saw the name ''Mollie" engraved on it. He
had been in business a long time and he
had reason to believe that there was some
thlng suspicious about the movements of
the borrower. In order to satisfy himself
he sent for an officer, and meantime hesi-
tated about the transaction SO long that
the young man grew tired Of waiting and
started s. to leave. He was in SO big a hurry
that he did not wait to take the watch case
with him. and the pawnbroker followed
him to the door.
Catch that man." he called to a passer-
Dy, and several citizens who realized what
the trouble was started in pursuit of tn.
neefng boy. Detectives Heian and Muller.
VINO were out investigating a case ham,
pened to be in the neighborhood, and when
they heard a distress whistle they hasten
ed In the direction of the sound, and final
~ captured the young man in Temperance
Hall alley, between 9th and 10TH d and E
streets.
Articles in Prisoners Possession.
By this time a large crowd had collected.
and many of the curious ones followed
along in the wake of the officers and the
prisoner. When headquarters were reached
the prisoner was searched. and the follow
ing is list OF the articles found on him:
Breastpfn, with picture on It; diamond
cluster breastpin, lady's open silver watch,
gold chain and locket, open-face gold
watch case, pair of gold link sleeve but
tons. ring. with set lost; pair of silver link
sleeve buttons, scarf pin, with pear set
ing; pair OF gold bracelets, rhinestone
ring. coral breastpin. garnet ring, silver
breastpin, pearl-handle knife. large pocket
KNIFE silver match safe, containing ini-
tfals &c. E. W. small gold neck chain,
with blue stones; gold locket with dia-
monds; gold breastpin, two gold charms,
heart shaped; gold knot pin. with diamond
setting; gold breastpin, set in form Of flow
ers: gold ring. with three pearls: gold
shirt stud, with diamond setting; child's
gold ring, gold button, with name Roach"
on 1t; one gold stud, gold eyeglass CHAIN
small gold chain. two watch charm rings,
works Of watch, gold-mounted tusk gold
link buttons. lowered breastpin. Canadian
silver piece, bearing initials wv. L. r. -
stamp case. containing stamps; two silver
charms. six foreign coins, five Brightwood
street car tickets. one American bulldog
revolver.
He Tells His Story.
When the prisoner had been relieved of
the valuables he was taken before In
spector Mattingly and closely questioned,
He said to the inspector that his home was
In New Orleans lint no hod Loft
time ago. Since leaving there he had tray
eled considerably, but his memory con-
veniently failed him as to the last places
he had visited and the length of time he
had remained at the different places If
his statement is true, he has been in this
city only short time, but the police be-
lieve he has been here much longer than
he will admit, and that he has figured I'm
several robberies. He confesses that he
has been in several western cities, and the
police believe he has also been in New York
and Philadelphia. Railroad tickets found
en- him indicate that he has been in Jer-
other seaside resorts. He also had an
Alexandria ticket on him and meal tickets
found on him indicate to the police that he
has been taking his meals at a dining room
near 13k street and Pennsylvania avenue
Possibly a Fairy Tale.
The prisoners statement that he had
bought the jewelry for SO was as a mat
CCk VI COuISc ulSputcO. seemed TO be
the prisoners only ready explanation when
cornered. A young white man, he said.
had sold him the jewelry, but he was un-
able to give the officers anything like
good description of him.
When inspector Mattingiy had finished
his interview he expressed the opinion that
the man in custody was a professional
good one. HIS whole conversation and
actions indicated to the inspectors mind
that the prisoner was by no means a nov
Ice; He was not at all communicative. and
only talked about subjects mentioned by
the inspectors. Not once during the in
terv.ew did he volunteer a statement.
After being measured and photographed
for the gallery the prisoner was taken to
the first precinct and locked up. In the
meantime the detectives had learned of
the robbery Of the house Of - Rev.
j. 9.u, F.: Rankin in the Howard Unit
possible that some Of the Jewelry had been
taken from this house. Waterman August
M Clark. who is in charge of the uni
president. called at headquarters about
noon and told Of the robbery, and at the
same time identified a valuable pin with
the setting or seventeen diamonds mem
TONED, and the handsome breastpin with
the picture of woman and child painted
on 1t.
These had been taken from DR.. Rankin.s
room. as had gold charm with the in
itials "E. G. R." engraved on II. This ne
longs to Miss Edith G. Rankin. Other ar
ticles In the lot may also have BELONGED tn
the Rankin family. but the watchman
could not identify them
Report Of the burglary.
He explained that some time during the
night the house had been entered and rob-
bed. Early this morning he discovered
what had been done. An entrance TO the
house had been effected, he said. bv
smashing window, and the burglar had
gone out the rear door. which he had left
open. On the lower floor he had transacted
a sidcboard. but the watchman thinks
nothing was taken from 1t, as most of the
valuable silver ware had been removed to
the third floor. On the second floor the hu-
reau and dresser drawers were ransacked.
and It was in them that the burglar found
the articles Of tewelry.
DR.. Rankin Is at present at Saratop,
Springs. and Waterman Clark. who Ia.
notified him Of the robbery, expects him To
return home about the middle of newt
week. The police feel certain that many
other articles will be identified as havin1
been taken from DR.. Rankin's house.
The Telltale Watch Case.
The watch case which the man wss try-