The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-09
WITH A RATCHET
BURGLAR WORKED FROM DE SOTO
FIRE ESCAPE.
SOLDIER SUMMERLIN THE MAN
ARRESTED BY THINLY CLAD
GUESTS OF THE HOTEL.

SummerIin Had Been Looking At
ter the Recruiting station, and
Police Believe That He Planned
the Robbery Tbere-Was in His
Stocking Feet and Worked His
Way Up from the First Floor On
the Bull street Side of the Hotel.
First Tried Room Occupied by a
Guest-Climbed to Fourth Floor
Where He Was Caught-ToId Alb
surd story First and Then Pleaded
Drunkenness.
Armed with a dangerous looking
Ratchet and a steel ink eraser Rolla
L. Summerlin, private in the United
States army, who for several days has
been in charge of the recruiting station
under the Hussars Club, attempted to
burglarize two rooms in the De Soto
early yesterday morning, and was ar
rested on the fire escape opposite a
room on the fourth floor
Clad only in their night shirts and
unarmed j. V. Bergen of New York
and Frank Curtis of Boston, guests of
the hotel, who had considerable money
in their rooms, surprised Summerlin
on the fire escape and seized him be-
fore he had a chance to use the Ratchet
with which he was armed. The soldier
had left his shoes in the recruiting
office and was cautiously moving on
the Bull street side of the hotel in his
stocking feet. He claimed when taken
in charge that he was a fire insurance
agent and was examining the building,
probably having in mind, according to
the theory of the detectives, an insan-
ity plea.
IL such was the case Summerlin
changed tactics after he had been
taken to the station house. He stated
to Mayor Myers and later to a repre-
sentative of the Morning News, with
whom ne talked freely that he had
been drinking and that he remembered
nothing of what had happened. He de-
MED all knowledge of criminal intent
and pleaded that he had never before
been arrested on any charge.
1t is the belief of the police that Sum-
merlin is a smooth individual and his
plea of drunkenness was not accepted
by Mayor Myers in. Police Court. He
was remanded for trial in the Superior
Court on charge of burglary and
was committed to Jail along with the
keys of the recruiting office, which was
closed during the day. The police be-
lieve that the prisoner knows some
thing about second story work. and
that he planned the burglary while in
the recruiting office, which is opposite
the hotel.
Summerlin had been at work for very
near half an hour before he was
found by the guests on the fourth
floor of the hotel. Some little while
before his discovery on the fire escape
an effort was made to open window
in room occupied by a lady on the
first floor. She was awakened by her
window being pushed up, and sprang
out of bed, closed the window and rang
for porter. Mr.. Butler, the night
clerk, was summoned and made an
investigation, but without finding any
trace of the prowler. An effort was
made about a week ago to enter the
room of one of the boarders through
a window, and the clerk made a thor
ough search of the first floor but with
out finding any trace of the person
who disturbed the lady.
The theory of the police and the no
tel clerks is that Summerlin climbed
to the fire escape from the outside i'm
mediately after the guest on the office
floor had been disturbed. This could
very easily have been done. and Mr..
Butler is certain that he did not pass
by the office. Summerlin made his
way up the fire escape and was slowly
pushing up the window in Mr.. Ber-
gems room when the attention of that
person was attracted by the noise.
The New York man had just taken
bath and had not yet gone to sleep.
Noiselessly he stepped into the ad
joining room, occupied by Mr.. Curtis,
and told him what had happened, that
there was somebody at work on the
fire escape. The men did not stop to
arm themselves and stepped out on
the fire escape from the hallway Sum-
merlin had not left the landing and
was taken completely by surprise. He
was pulled into Mr.. Bergen's room and
there he told the foolish story of be-
ing fire insurance agent. A porter
and the clerk were summoned and later
a telephone message was sent to po-
lice headquarters. Patrolman Ungar
was sent to the hotel and placed the
soldier under arrest.
In addition to the hatchet and ink
eraser, bunch of keys was found on
the man when searched at the station
house. There was no sign of liquor
about him, and those who handled him
are quite sure that he was not intox-
icated. and had not even been drink
ing. The police are of the opinion that
the plea of drunkenness was an after
thought, and that Summerln prob
ably realized If the insanity dodge
was worked successfully the best that
he could hope to receive would be
trip to the insane osylum. The pris-
oner is young man and claims to be
native of Tampa. He impressed
those with whom he talked as being
particularly bright.