The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-15
David johnson and Another
Colofed Man Were the
ASSaiIantS.
POLICE CAPTURE JOHNSON
Men Were Trying to Steal Valuable
Brass Castings Believed 10 Be Old
Hands at Crime-May Have Been in
Recent Burglaries.

William Rock. an employe of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, during
desperate encounter with two negro
thieves. which took place at the com
pany's roundhouse between First and
South Capitol Streets southeast. shortly
after II O'Clock last night. received a
blow on the head from an iron jimmy
causing an injury which may prove IA
taL
The negroes we're caught by Rock in
the act Of forcing the door which leads
to the casting room Of the company
where large quantities of brass are
stored. Rock. who was walking about
the round house. had heard 4 noice
coming from the direction OF the casting
Toom door, and upon investigation found
the would-be thieves with long jimmies
trying to pry it open.
What do you fellows want2'' asked
Rock
The men did not answer, but realizing
that they had been coTnered, sprang al
him together Rock grappled with tne
nearest cne, and then the second negro
came TO his partners assistance, knock
ing Rock to the ground. David John
sen, the negro with whom Rock had first
grappled, then struck the latter across
the head with an iron jimmy. cutting q
fearful cash Rock cried loudly for help
and had strength enough TO regain bis
feet ard clutch hold CT johnson.
Negro johnson Captured.
The noise Of the struggle and Rocks
cries were heard by Policeman Paine.
of the Fifth precinct. and four Of the
company's employees, who ran 70 his as
sistance. Johnson was overpowered
after a struggle, but the other negro es-
capped.
johnson was placed-in the patrol
wagon and taken to the Fifth precinct
police station. He refused to say where
he belonged or anything about himself.
His face IS covered by scars and the
police believe that he is an experienced
housebTeaker He viii not discuss tie
matter. This morning he was brought
10 the rogues' gallery in Police Head
quarters where his picture was taken
after which he was measured by the
Bertilion system Still maintaining his
silence the man was remanded TO Jail
for trial and the police are endeavor-
ing 10 locate his partner.
For some months past the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company has been los
ing the finest brass castings from their
casting room IN the roundhouse, and al
though every effort has heen made 10
ferret out the guilty parties the com
pany's efforts we're futile
Believed TO Be Old Thieves.
The police believe that both Johnson
and his partners are old experienced
thieves, and every effort is being made
&c locate the man who escaped. It Is
thought possible that the two negroes
may also have had a hand in burglariz-
ing some of the houses IN the northwest
section Of the city during the past week
or more
The jimmies which we're being used by
the men are now IN the possession oi
the police. They are almost a foot long
extremely heavy, and make a formidable
weapon when n the hands OF a man
Rock, the injured man, was taken to
Providence Hospital, where the surgeons
had to take five stitches in his head to
close the would inflicted by the jimmy
IN the hands OF Johnson