The evening times., 1898-08-06
THEFT MYSTERIES SOLVED.
Results Of a Visit From ''Big
Bill" Mason.
Ills GAY LIFE IN WASHINGTON
Robbed Citizens mt HIS Pleasure and
Made Presents of His PilferinEs to
Ladies' of His Acq1aintnnce-Som
of His victimx-NOw Awaiting
Trial for Murder.

The mystery OF the numerous robberies
committed in this city since early last
March has been solved.
The criminal is big Bill Mason one
of the most noted and desperate thieves
of this country. He Is now In the coun-
ty jail of Philadelphia and will be tried
there for the murder last winter Of an
aged man whom he robbed.
He fed from Philadelphia and was
hunted for all over the United States
Meanwhile Mason was living gayly in
Washington and dined regularly at one
of the finest restaurants in the city. He
came here early In March and secured a
room near the navy yard. After remain
ing there for ten days he moved up on
Pennsylvania Avenue between Second
went to Gatto's at Eighth and E Streets
northwest From there he went to 329
Missouri Avenue where he secured lodg-
ing with John Butts an old friend. 1t was
ted at least a dozen robberies in this
city. and secured nearly 5000 worth of
pIunder.
The following is list of places enter
ed by the burglar: Gilbert B. Towles, 1907
Clifton Street northwest: Louis p. Stutz.
1851 Sixteenth Street northwest; e. f.
Finch, 1904 W Street northwest; John
Rankin. 3I2 Seventh Street northeast; !;
Mrs. Anne Hagerty. 1925 Fourteenth Street
northwest; William II. McCauley. 219
Ninth Street southeast, Gen. John NJ.
Wilson. 1li1 Connecticut Avenue north
west; Allen o. Clark. 2020 o Street north
west: W. H Butler. Eighth and B Streets
southeast, and Capt. E. S. Randall. HOO
Virginia Avenue
The biggest hauls were made at the two
last-named places. From Buffers he Sc
cured 1850 worth of diamonds, while
from Capt. RandaIrs he secured jewelry
amounting in value to $1,000
His connection with these robberies
was first discovered through the sale Of
valuable ring. belonging to Capt Ran
DALI and 10 the shrewdness of Detective
Hamm, of Philadelphia When Mason
was brought there for murder Detective
Hamm wrote to Detective Weldon that
he believed many of the Washington rob-
berries had been committed by the noto-
rious criminal at Is like his work.
said Hamm. About the same time John
Griffith, a dealer on Tenth Street, near
D Street northwest. purchased ring
ahout which he grew suspicious. He
with Inspector Mattingly.
and gave n description of the man OF
whom he made the purchase Detective
Weldon secured a picture Of lot of
burglars. among which was that OF
Big Bill Mason. THAT is the man. said
Griffith. Indicating Mason's picture
This proved that Hamm's theory was
correct and II was not long before Ma
sons associates here were learned
He had been making number CT
friends in several excellent families ana
especially endeavored to secure the good
will of ladies.
While living near the navy yard he ate
his meals frequently at the house OF Mrs.
Schroeder, No. G5i 1 Street southeast, and
to a Miss Day living in the house he pre-
sented a beautiful gold ring. He made
the acquaintance OF Miss Minnie weaver
Of Monroe Street, Anacostia, and to her
he gave a pair of opera glasses ana
watch. Mrs Nellie Cooksey. OF az Sew
enth Street southeast. was the recipient
of a gold pin and to Mrs Cieley Mason
gold ring To several barenders IN the
city he presented gold stick pins Nearly
all of this property has been recovered.
howavar and will be delivered to the
owners, s-.-
7, was learned that Mason had the
friendship of a. watchman at down.
town restaurant and It was from that
place that much Of his stolen plunder
was shipped Inspector Mattingly and
Detective Weldon went TO Philadelphia
"Wednesday and with the assistance OF
Detective Hamm secured information
that took them to Brooklyn There in
little jewelry store kept by an old wom-
an they found a large quantity of jew
slry and silverware which had been Stol-
en- here and sent to Brooklyn by Mason
The latter when confronted with the evil
dence against him refused to divulge the
whereabouts of the other property but
remarked: "I am not old yet While there
Is life there is hope. They have me
charged with murder. but I want to say
that there is not a jail that can hold a
man who knows how to get out
Among the property recovered is jew
elry and silverware belonging to Mr.
Towles: silverware and opera glasses,
belonging TO Mr.. Butler; the diamond
ring and other jewelry. owned by Capt.
Randall: some knives from Gen. VIII
sons residence. and some jewelry be-
lieved to belong to Mr.. Finch.
Mason admitted trying to get in one
or two houses. and said he met with a
warm reception at one place. This was
at Mr.. Arthur L. Thompson's, at Mount
Pleasant. He discovered the burglar
coming In the back window. and opened
fire on him. but Mason escaped. He
also got in the residence Of Samuel II.
Bowman. 1913 Massachusetts, Avenue
northeast. and when discovered prompt
ly covered Mr.. Bowman with a revolver
and got away.
After their return to rhe city last night
from Phi,a ,adeiphia Detective Weedon and
Inspector Mattingiy determined to arrest
Butts. the man with whom Mason Eved
on Missouri Avenue. He was taken in
custody together with LItaAe Dennis. his
mistress. and locked UP at No. s station.
While here Mason went by the name of
Cook and Butts explained TO the police
that he knew him only by that name.
having met him in Baltimore number
Of years ago.