Evening star., 1901-03-27
PLUcKY WoMAN's DEED
GRABS A BURGLAR AND RAISES AN
ALARM.
Police officer Effects His Arrest-Later
Identified as William
B. GrOat.

William B. Groat, thirty years old, whose
picture is in the gallery at police head
quarters and who is well known In ponce
circles, is held at the eighth precinct sta
tion on the charge of housebreakfng at
the home of Mrs. Mary Rush, No. l4o6 >
street northwest, early last evening. He
entered the house during the absence or
Mrs Rush and was there when she re-
turned about $50 o'clock. Instead OF
screaming and getting out of the way the
pIucky woman grabbed the intruder and
held to him, and in his efforts to escape
he dragged her from the house. The man
finally got away from her, but was caught
by Policeman Reith who placed him un-
der arrest. On the way to the station he
was inclined to be violent.
After reaching the station ne gave MS
name as Harry G. Jerome, and declared
he had formerly been member OF the
police department. 1t was some time after
he had been locked up before he was
recognized. and he then said he was anx-
ious to conceal his identity on account Oh
his family connections.
Groat says he was acquainted with the
husband of Mrs. Rush several years ago,
and he knew the wife only by sight. How
he happened to go to her house last night
he says, he does not know, unless 1t was
because he was very much under the IN
fuence of liquor. >,
he said land [ also remember having seen
the servant there, but l don't remember
what happened.
Mrs. Rush and her servant left the house
together yesterday after dinner, and the
former returned home alone about $50
o'clock AS she approached the house she
noticed the outer door closed, ana she
thought somebody had been there during
her absence, for she had left it open when
she went away an hour before. Finding
the inner door unlocked. she became GER
tain that somebody had been there, and
upon entering the house she heard noise
on the upper floor.
who's there?" she called.
Saw a Man Descending steps.
She received no response, but in an in
stant she saw the form of a man descend
ing He was almost tumbling down the
steps. Mrs. Rush inquired what he want
ed, and his response was that he had just
left Mr. Rush upstairs. He evidently did
not know or failed to remember, that Mrs
Rush had been widow for severai years.
Groat made effort to pass the woman
and reach the sidewalk, but, as stated,
Mrs. Rush caught hold of his arm and held
to him. She fell after reaching the pave
nent in front of the house and was drag
ged a short distance before she released
her hold Groat had made two attempts
to strike Mrs. Rush, but he missed her
each time.
When he had succeeded in releasing him
self from the occupant of the house Groat
entered a neighborfng store claimed some
men wanted to kill him, and asked for pro-
lection. An effort was made to escape by
way of the rear of the premises, but Police
man Reith Intercepted him.
An examination of Mrs. Rush's house
showed that bureau drawers and other
places on the second floor had been ram
sacked, but no Vaiuables had been taken.
Mrs. Rush kept her jewelry and other valu-
ables on the first floor and Groat did not
have time to make a search there before
Mrs. Rush returned. A china match safe
taken from the house was found in Groat's
coat pocket.
In Nervous Condition.
The prisoner was in an exceedingly nerv-
Gus condition this morning when visited by
a Star reporter
He said he had been drinking heavily
since his release from jail last Thursday
after having spent eleven months in prison
for passing mutilated coin. In addition to
the jail sentence, a fine Of $40 had been
imposed. but this was remitted by the
President. GrOat has been special police
man several times. He once did duty about
the vicinity Of the market. but was relieved
of his commission, it is alleged, for cause
At other times he was employed in simi-
lar capacity about nerry-go-rounds In
september, 1899, Groat was arrested at
Winchester, Va. and brought here by De-
tectives Helan and Parham. He was tried
in the Police Court on six charges of theft
and sentenced to one year in Jail. At that
time he stole saws and knives from butch
erS in the Center Market, and also robbed
the E. Morrison Paper Company. Police
man Langley arrested him the 27tn of
passing of worthless coin. He will be taken
to the Police Court tomorrow for trial