The evening times., 1900-01-16
A FEMALE SAFEBREhKER
The Capture of Mary BraxtOn and
a Valuable Trunk.
A CoIored Woman With n Criminal
Record RObs Mrs. Caroline HOcke-
cles Found i'm the Prisoners Pos
session When Taken Into Custody.

Mary Ellen BraAton, alias Mary Jackson
and Flora Mason. colored. twenty-eIght
years Of age, who has criminal record
dating back to her girlhood, is a prisoner
at No. / station, where she is held await
ing a hearing in court tomorrow morning
on charge of grand larceny. She WIS
arrested about 5 o'clock yesterday after
noon by Detectives Muller and Baur, en-
the complaint of Mrs. Caroline Hocke-
meyer, of 719 Sixth Street northwest.
II is thought probable that additional
charges will be preferred against the pris-
oner. The detectives are now endeaForing
to find owners for a trunk full OF miscella-
neous property valued at several hundred
dollars, which was taken from the Braxton
woman.
While the present charge against her is
simply grand larceny, and the amount in
volved only $65, but the offence which caus-
ed her arrest is safe burglary The woman
is said TO have forced regulation iron safe
in broad daylight. deliberately packed her
trunk, sent it TO the Baltimore Ohio
Railroad station, and was about to leave
the city, when her game was balked by
the police.
The BraXton woman was released from
the Albany penitentiary about seven weeks
ago after serving a term OF eight years for
housebreaking. Previously she had served
five years at the same penitentiary for a
similar offence.
When she arrived at her home. Goat
Alley about one week ago she immediate
ly laid plans for more crime. Arming her.
self with a letter of recommendation
posed tc be forged the woman called yes
terday morning at the home OF Mrs Hocke-
meyer and applied for work. She pre-
Sented the letter of recommendation and
on the strength of that was employed.
Msr. Hockemeyer naturally felt that a
woman so highly recommended was hon
est and she felt no hesitancy in leaving
the new servant in charge OF the housp
when she went out. Mrs. Hockemeyer
discovered her mistake when she returned
home about i o'clock. The new cook had
disappeared as had the cash contents Of
Mrs. Hockemeyer's safe
The matter was at once reported to the
police, with a description OF the woman.
and her arrest by Detectives Muller and
Baur followed about two hours later Her
trunk was seized az the railroad station
Though the woman denied all knowledge
Of the theft charged against her. the stolen
money was found in her possession. Mrs.
Hockemeyer positively identified her
An investigation al the home of Mrs
Hockemeyer showed that the opening of
the safe would have done credit to a pre-
fessional Of the male sex The heavy non
door had been forced in some unaccountable
manner and the only tools used we're a
hatchet and a trowel Both were found ly-
ing near the open safe. SiIyerware and
1ewelry which might have been stolen from
other rooms in the house were left ur-
touched.
An examination Of the trunk OF the Brax-
ton woman at Headquarters this morning
brought to light gold watch several gold
rings and pins, gold bracelets, and other
jewelry, together with handsome silk and
lace clothing, fine hosiery, silyerware. and
other articles OF value. The slverware in
cluded knives. forks spoons etc. The COL
lection. which is apparently the result of
several thefts, is valued at about $500.
The BraXtOn woman was again photo
graphed for the rogues' gallery soon after
her arrest.