The evening times., 1900-05-17

BALTIMORE, May 1I--When MISS heieH
Bennett, daughter Of Thomas S. Bennett,
2Ol4 St. Paul Street, returned home be-
tween / and o'clock yesterday afternoon
and found two robbers in the house her
screams started a series of exciting and
dramatic happenings such as are seldom
witnessed in Baltimore
Revolver shots, a swiftly speeding troll
ley car, an intimidated motorman, fur
niture van making express speed, pursu-
ing policemen, and final escape Of the
fugitives make up the startling incidents
of the chase that followed And all this
took place in broad daylight. in one Of the
most peaceful sections of the city.
The members Of Mr.. Benefits family
were out when the thieves entered the
house The men were busy ransacking the
second floor when Miss Helen Be1nett re-
turned alone Hearing her enter. the two
men dashed down the front stairway,
passed Miss Bennett in the hail. and dart
ed out the door.
Miss Bennett ran TO the front door,
screaming loudly.
One Of the Sumwalt Ice COmpany's wag-
one was in the alley adjoining the house,
ing the screams and seeing the men fee
ing down ST. Paul Street, dropped his ice
tongs and started in pursuit, yelling Stop
thief" with all the power of lusty lungs
Heads popped out of windows and persons
ran to front doors upon hearing the
shouts.
When near North Avenue, and under the
shadow of Emmanuel Baptist Church, one
Of the fleeing robbers drew a revolver,
nd af
ter. The bullet flew wide and the iceman
kept on yelling as he went. Men came
running from all directions and Joined in
the chase, also yelling Stop thief" The
robbers dashed west on North Avenue,
with their pursuers steadily gaining upon
them.
Car 1075 of the Roland Park Line was
going south on Maryland Avenue and was
slowly crossing North Avenue when the
fugitives reached that point. One Of the
men jumped on the rear platform while
the other, the taller Of the two, sprang on
the step of the front platform.
Hurry, hurry" he cried to the motor
man, James !. Barrett. Turning, the as
tonished motorman was almost paraIyzed
TO see a big revolver pointed at his head.
Run for your life" cried the robber.
Don't stop for anything or | viii blow
your brains out"
Barrett threy the current full on and
better speed. Few of the passengers had
seen the man jump on the frvlt step, but
all were astonished at the extraordinary
speed, and that the car did not make the
usual stop at the Lafayette Avenue cross
ing.
Patrolman Stephen Bollinger, of the
Central district was on the car in citi-
Een's clothes He had no revolver but went
forward and attempted TO arrest the man
The latter resisted and al the Union sta
tion bridge jumped from the car. III com
panion followed and then anothe. exciting
chase ensued.
Patrolman Bollinger and severa. citizens
also left the car and started IN pursuit.
The robbers ran south to Oliver Street,
turned west and entered the Bolton freight
yards Of the Northern Central Railway.
1hey lodged In and out among the freight
cars with the pursue-s close behind. Sew
eral times the robbers drew revoIvers and
aimed at the crowd, but did not fire.
Patro!man BolIinger was leading the pur-
suers He is a stout man, although a good
runner. When the fugitives darted be-
tween tw9 cars the officer was unable TO
follow and temporarily blocked the pur-
suit.
The thieves left the yard ran across
Mount Royal Avenue and west on Dolphin
Street with several yelling men after them.
Two or three officers of the Northwestern
district then took up the chase, following
to Eutaw Street and down Eutaw Street 10
Preston.
The robbers had sprin5ed by this time
nearly twenty suares and were growing
weary furniture van. driven by
sleepy-looking colored man. was passing
along the street. Into this wagon the two
men jumped. A revolver was placed at the
drivers head with the order to hurry.
With yell the frightened negro woke up.
He started his team with a burst Of speed
that was astonishing After riding cou-
pie of squares the men jumped out and
ran up an alley.
The police made a thorough search OF
the neighborkood, but the thieves had dis
appeared
The two men are supposed to have been
those who for several days had been seen
in the neighborhood of Mr.. Benefits home.
seeking odd Jobs They secured in the Ben
nett home a lady's gold hunting
watch several diaomnd rings, a diamond
scarf pin a diamond stick pin and $1.15 in
money. They also forced open with Jim
my a small bookcase and a cabinet. but Sc
cured nothing from these. The total value
OF the stolen goods amounted to about 5000.
One Of the thieves is described as being
twenty-three or twenty-four years Of age.
Ave feet eight inches tall, weighing about
go pounds, smooth face and wore a very
light checkered suit, straw hat and stand
ing collar. His companion who, it is said,
called him Jake, is about the same age,
five feet six or seven inches tall, weighs
about 40 pounds. had a smooth face and
wore a dark brown suit and black derby