The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-25
ROBBED BY AFOOTPAD
MRS. t. NJ. CUNNINGHAM, JR., At
Tackled on ABERCoRN STREET.
ASSAILANT HELD HER WRISTS
AND WRENCHED HER PURSE FROM
HER HANDS.

The RObber Captured After a Hard
Chase-Is James A. WOOdsOn, the
Negro, VINO Has Been Arrested
Before for POcketbOOk SnatchinG,
and Was Also Charged with Burg
Iarizfng MIR. C. II. Gibbes' Resi-
demce-Mrs. Cunningham Had Been
to Mrs. GBbbes' Bedside-She Ran
After the RObber, but Became
Tangled in Wire-WOodsOn Threw
rocks at His Pursuers, but Was
Finally Captured Under n House.
For snatching a purse from Mrs. T.
NJ. Cunningham, Jr., James A. Wood
son, a negro well known to the police,
is held a prisoner. The robbery was
committed about Z o'clock last night
on Abercorn street, near Thirty-third,
while Mrs Cunningham was on her
way to her home, No. 1918 Drayton
street.
The pocket-book snatcher ran to
Price and Thnty-third streets before
he was caught by a number of young
men who had been attracted by Mrs.
Cunningham's cries of stop thief"
Mrs. Cunningham herself ran after
the negro for nearly a block, but be-
came entangled in some wire and was
forced to give up the chase. The boys,
however, kept close behind the negro
and ran him to cover under a house
on Price street. The purse containing
81, was not recovered.
Mrs. Cunningham had been to the
Savannah Hospital. and was return
ing home. She had just crossed Thir-
ty-third street when she noticed that
a man was following her rather close
ly. She at first thought it was her hus-
band and turned to see. When she saw
that she was mistaken she continued
down Abercorn street towards her
home. A moment later her wrist was
seized from behind and she again
thought her husband might be trying
to brighten her. She turned suddenly
and was confronted by a negro.
Fought the ROBber.
She carried several bundles and an
to fight the man Off The negro did
not release his hold and used consid-
cradle force in taking the purse from
her. Mrs. Cunningham screamed and
ran after the man. Several boys at
play in the street took up the chase
and lad named John Egense on a
horse followed. Chris Mehan. and JOS
eph n. Smith of No. 1903 Thirty third
street, kept close behind the negro.
a 81
fence with his pursuers close on his
heels. Egense rode up to the fence and
Woodscn threw a brick at him Young
Smith followed the negro, and while
under the house Woodson threw an
other rock. He then ran out and into
the arms of L.. NJ. Pollard, a mail
carrier Young Smith in the mean
time had gotten out his knife and at
its point forced the negro to surren-
der With the help of the mail car
rir, and others who had gathered, the
young man took his prisoner to
Bull and Thirty third streets There
the patrol wagon was telephoned for
and the negro was turned over to Pa
trolman Becker.
Denies the Robbery.
Although those who followed the
man say that they cannot be mistak-
en-, Woodson denies that he snatched
lAAC purse. ne CldlulS lnaI ne was
not under the Price street house, and
that he did not throw rocks at those
who charge him with the robbery
He claims that he heard a
badly scream and that he joined in
the chase after the negro who had
seized her purse.
The police say that Woodson is a
clever thief and they are elated over his
arrest. In the opinion of the detectives
individual uFh
many pocketbooks last fall, but they
have never been able to convict him
On Oct. II, last, he was arrested by
Detective Murphy for assaulting Mrs.
NJ. j. Clark and stealing her eye
glasses. The glasses were found on the
prisoner by the detective and he was
certain that he would be able to con-
Wet the negro. Woodson claimed that
he had found the glasses and in some
way made the jury believe he was tell
ing the truth. Before his arrest rob-
berries of this sort had been reported
almost nightly and they suddenly
stopped.
Robbed C. ii. Gibbes' Residence.
During the early part of last Feb
ruary the residence of Mr.. Charles H.
Gibbes in The Meadows, was bur-
glarized, and Woodson was arrested
by Detective Murphy for the crime.
Inc negro was employed by Mr..
Gibbes as butler and the evidence
secured by the detective was strong
enough to warrant Recorder Myrick in
holding the prisoner for burglary. A
remarkably strong case of circumstan-
tial evidence was worked up by the
officers, but the grand jury failed ia
return bill against the negro, and
he was released
The detectives say they will be able
to get Woodson out of the way for
some time to come on the present
charge, but the prisoner in an insolent
manner reminded them that he had
twice escaped when they were conf
dent he would be convicted A coin
cidence in the case is that Mrs. Gun
ningham should have been comine
from the bedside of Mrs. Gibbes, ir
whose home Woodson had been EN-
ployed, and with whom he was charged
with robbing The prisoner will bC
given "a preliminary examination by
Recorder Myrick in Police Court thi:
morning.