Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-01
FINE POLICE WORK.

Attempt 10 Rob "a Laundry Frustrated by
tho Proprietor, Who Was Assaulted -
Three suspecrs Captured and Identified in
Less Than An Hour.
Elmer Coyle, Joseph Dugan and
Howard Hinton were arraigned IN the
City Court Tuesday on the charge
of committing robbery at Ho Lees
laundry, at No. 81 East Sixth street.
at about g. 80 o'clock Tuesday morning,
having been arrested by Officers Will
liam j. Massey, England and Eakin.
The officers were assisted to great
extent by Sergeant Lucas, and as the
capture was made within an hour after
the laundry was entered the officers are
entitled to great credit.
When tho men were arrested re-
volver and false whiskers were found
on Hinton, a revolver on Dugan and a
blackjack on Coyle.
The men were arraigned in the City
Court, when Ho Lee said three young
men entered the rear room, where he
was sleeping, through window which
was partially raised, at about $50
O'Clock. He identified Hinton, who,
no said, went to the money drawer.
Lee called to tho intruders, whereupon
no was struck on the head. presumably
by blackjack. Shortly after that he
saw the same man he identified as
Hinton leave the building. IIe said he
know it was Hinton who struck him,
as there was a light burning at the
time. After the intruder had fed Lee
followed him to the window and saw
two outside, but could not recognize
them. Hinton did not improve matters
much during his cross examination of
Lee. When Lee said there was light
in the room Hinton remarked: "There
was no light in the room. " He re-
peated this, thereby intimating that
he was In the room or would not have
known anything about the light.
Samuel Stanley, colored, who was in
the vicinity at the time, about $3.50
o'clock, said he saw one Of the young
men run out of the laundry and heard
Lee crying murder. " Stanley identi-
he'd Coyle as the man who ran from the
laundry. Stanley started to follow
Coyle, but feared he would be shot and
gave up the chase. He returned to the
laundry and at the request of Lee re
ported the matter to the police. Stanley
said be saw Dugan standing at Sixth
and Poplar streets.
Officer Massey said he and the other
vicinity of the United States Hotel at
about $40 O'Clock. At that time the
officers did not know anything about
the robbery, but their suspicious we're
aroused and they kept watch on the
youths. Shortly afterward they learned
of the robbery and followed the young
men to the vicinity of the w. g. N.
railroad bridge, where the arrest was
made and the prisoners disarmed.
None of the prisoners had any wit
nesses and each was held in 81, 600 bail
for appearance at the upper court
Coyle was arrested some time ago on
the charge of robbing a laundry and he
and young man named Beck, an
alleged accomplice, were convicted and
sent to Jail and both served time for
the job. They broke Jail and went
away. subsequently they returned and
finished their sentences.
The capture of the three men in so
short time after the attempt was
made to rob the laundry is a remark
able piece of work, and not only reflects
credit upon Sergeant Lucas and Officers
Massey, Eakin and England, but also
on the department and Chief Dolan is
to be congratulated upon the efficiency
of the men. The chief complimented
the men and will suggest to the COM
that they be given merit
marks.
From what can be learned, nothing
was stolen at the laundry.
Chief Of Police Dolan stated this
morning that the department is work
ing with hope of connecting the three
prisoners with several robberies which
were recently committed in the city.