Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-02
BURGLARY AND ASSAULT
ROBERT HENDERSON. COLORED,
CONFEssEs TO THE CRIME.
Broke Into Chinese Laundry and
ed - Police Investigating.

locked up at the second precinct police sta
ton on charges of burglary and assault
with intent to kill. His arrest was the re-
suit of his burglarious visit to the Chinese
laundry of Lee Hing at No. 14141s P street
northwest about O'Clock yesterday morn
ing He was discovered by the Chinaman
and his cousin, Lee Wing, and two revolv-
ers were emptied before the intruder sue
ceeded in getting out of the laundry One
revolver was used by the proprietor of the
pace and Henderson used the other. A
number of shots were fired at close range,
but none of them took effect
Henderson admits his guilt He Denies
however. that he was party to the rob-
berries and assaults committed at other laun-
dries, although some of the officers believe
he is the man who has caused so much
trouble. His general description is that of
the man who committed depredations at
other laundries and his weapon carried a
bullet of the same size as that taken from
Moy Sings body in the hospital several
days ago. James cambridge is charged with
that shooting. but it is the belief of many
officers that he is innocent of that offense.
Yesterday morning. while Lee Hing and
his cousin were asleep the colored burglar
Laundry and started to find their cash.
When the Cinnamon heard the noise they
jumped from their bunk.
Exchange of Shots.
The colored man seeing the Cinnamon
were in a position to prevent his leaving
through the rear room, made a break for
the front door, only to find it was locked
and bolted. He concluded that the use of
his shooting iron," as he called his re-
volver, was necessary in order to effect his
escape, and he pulled the trigger in rapid
succession until all the bullets were dis
charged. Lee Hing, who had picked up his
five hi ilp,,t a
he, too. soon empted his weapon. While
d!scharsing his weapon Henderson was
making his way to the rear of the place,
and in order to get there he found it neces-
sary to deal Lee Wing a blow with suf1i-
Gent force to knock him down.
FINALLY Henderson reached the yard in
the rear of the one-story laundry and sue
ceeded in getting over the back fence. The
shrill voices of the celestials crying 'mur-
der and police" around the whole neigh
borhood. and Sergeant Jordan and Police
men Willis, McGrath and Van Horn of the
second precint responded and started the
investigation that resulted in the capture of
Henderson light fedora hat that had
been worn by the burglar, well as his
revolver. had been left in the Chinamans
yard, and the police in the second and adj
joining precincts were soon notified to look
out for bareheaded coiored man. During
the investigation a man was seen by one
of the officers getting over the fence in the
rear OF house on Sampson street. Bicycle
Policemen McGrath and Van Horn deserted
their wheels, temporarily, and watched the
houses on Sampson street. expecting the
burglar would emerge from one of them
and attempt to get out of the neighbour
hood.
The officers We're soon rewarded, for Hen
dersGn. who had broken into the rear of
the house. came out through the basement
having picked up a hat meanwhile He
was grabbed by Policeman McGrath and
held a prisoner. The latter showed fight
and it was only after severe struggle that
he was "verpowered, the officer using his
blackjack, and taken to the station.
1t developed that the house on Sampson
street through which the burglar went is
occupied by Reuben Hansbrough whore
Henderson says he boarded with Mrs Jett
some time ago. His present residence he
told the officers, is at No. Frye's court
Makes Confession.
After reaching the police station the pris-
oner was taken TO the sergeant's room and
to Sergeant Jordan he made a full confess
sion, which was reduced to writing and
which he signed. 1t was as follows:
Il went to the laundry about > O'Clock
p. M and got my laundry-two shirts, two
collars and two pairs of cuffs. I saw quite
a sum of money in the drawer at the time,
ana | then made up my mind that | would
return during the night and get it, I
brought my laundry to my home at Mount
Pleasant, and came back to Mrs. Jets l4no
Samson street. and saw her daughter eI.;r,,
about o'clock in the evening. / left there
between IL and Il O'Clock previous 10
which l went TO the kitchen and got a
Ratchet, which | wanted for the purpose
of breaking into the Chinese laundry on p
street.
Il got over the fence in the rear of the
laundry, and, with the Ratchet broke the
window. l went to the money drawer.
which is in the front room. and while pry-
ing the drawer with the h&tchet the China
men woke up and shot at me. | tried 10
make my escape, and lost my pistol in tn,
rear yard. | succeeded in getting away and
jumped three fences. the Hast being in the
rear of Mrs. Jets. l broke the window of
the cellar, and tried 10 make my escape
through the front window, when l was
caught by the officer
His First GTense.
The prisoner said he came here last wear
from Culpeper, where he bought the re-
vclver from friend for 81. He says he has
worked on the street railroads in this city
for Contractor SaXton. and that this is his
first experience in police circles. Despite
his statements, the police believe he is the
man who has caused the Chinese laundry
men so much trouble. Today the police
men are continuing their investiga ton of
the case. His picture VIII be put in the
gallery. and he will be arraigned in Judge
klmballs court tomorrow.