Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-16
ROBS HER EMPLOYERS SAFE
Ella Bra1ton, With Many Aliases, Arrested
and Locked Up.
The Woman Has Already Served
Thirteen Years in Penitentiary
for House Robberies.

Ella Rraxton. colored. whose aliases are
given Florence Mason and Mary Jack
son. arrested about 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon ard locked up on a charge of
breaking into and robbing a safe of s6J.
The safe was in the home of Mrs. Caroline
Hockenmyer No. 719 9th street northwest.
where the Braxton woman had been en-
pioyed for only few hours. Detectives
Muller ard Baur arrested her short time
before she was to have gone away on a
train from the Baltimore and Ohio depot.
The officers recovered SAC of the money.
1t is believed by the police that the ar
rest of the woman so soon after her return
from the Albany penitentiary will prevent
a number of house rohberies. Ella is well
known in police circles. especially to the
older officers. for years ago she was ar
rested a number Of times. In 1856 Detec-
tives Mat'ingly and Wheeler took her into
custody and her photograph was then put
in the rOgueS gallery. She was given a
five years sentence. and when this had oeen
served she returned and renewed her dis
honest conduct. Detective Boyd arrested
her then. and she was given q sentence CT
eight wears. Seven weeks ago she finished
the last sentence. the two aggregating thir-
teen years. and remained in New York I'M
til about 4 week ago. when she came here
and went to her mothers home in Goat
alley.
Writes Her own Certificate.
The police know nothing of her move
ments here prior to her visit to the home
of Mrs. Hockenmyer Yesterday. when she
presented letter of recommendation that
she had evidently written herself. The let
ter reads:
Il write to certify that the bearer has
given perfect satisfaction in good cooking
and reliable in discharging her duty. 1 envy
you in obtaining Flora Mason. who leaves
for know cause than that she is too hon.
est to accept the pace belonging to an
other. Yours respectfully.
MRS. D. MOORE"
The recommendation was such a good one
that Mrs. Hockenmycr was delighted. Flora
Mason. as her employer knew her, was
given full charge of the house and Mrs
Hockenmyer went out to do some shopping
She returned about three hours after she
had employed the woman and found the
house deserted so far as her new cook was
concerned An investigation of the prem
lSeS disclosed the fact that the safe had
been broken open by the use of a Ratchet
and trowel and the money was gone. Com
plant was made to the police without de-
.ay. and good description of the woman
was given.
Was Soon Found.
The detectives went out in search of her
and she was found near 4th and L streets.
They did rot place her under arrest immedi-
ateIy, out followed her to the depot and
learned that her trunk had been sent there
ahead of her. When the officers notified
her of the charge she declined to talk ex-
cept 10 give her name as Mary Jackson.
After she had been searched and the money
was taken from her the officers took charge
of her trunk. In 1t they found a quantity of
cutlery, several articles of jewelry and
some expensive underwear.
This morning the woman who gave her
age as twenty-eight years, was again pho
tngraphed for the gallery, as the officers
desired to get a new picture of her. The
officers continued their investigation today,
and Ella Will be taken to the Police Court
tomorrow.