Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-04
MODERN JEKYLL-HYDE
Philadelphia Business Man a
Burglar at Night.
FOUGHT A POLICEMAN
WHEN CAUGHT RED HANDED
RoBBING A HOUSE.
Believed That He Has Robbed Any
where From Fifty to One
Hundred Residences.

A dispatch to the New York World from
Philadelphia yesterday says: A reception
was held in the city hall this afternoon
by George Dickinson. the burglar at night
and trusted business man by day. The
| reception, which was held in the central
| police court was attended by nearly two
score of women belonging to various ranks
| of society. Most Of them had identified
| silverware and other articles found in Dick
| inson's possession having been stolen
| from their homes.
| The prisoner who had been regarded
| as an ideal employer. always kind and
! gentle to those who worked for his firm.
| We'll & Dickinson, shirt waist manufac-
| turers, presented a sorry appearance in
| the dock. His face was all battered up
as result of his desperate fight against
capture with Policeman Charles Carroll,
| who discovered him coming from one OF
| the houses he had robbed.
The testimony of the women showed that
| Dickinson sought out houses to rob only
! in neighborhoods where dwelt the wealthy,
| and he operated especially in arlstocratic
| sections Of this city. West Philadelphia and
| Germantown.
Led "Jekyn-Hyde" Life.
Twenty-Five charges were lodged against
him today, and the police declare that they
| represent only fraction of the robberies
| he committed The hearing developed the
| fact that Dickinson led "Jekyll and
| Hyde life.
While always faultlessly attired In his
| office. with full dress for theater and din
| ner wear, he was the hardened tough crimi-
| nal on his tours of crime. He wore today
| the clothes he had on when arrested, and,
| with several days growth of beard and
| plastered face, he certainly looked the muir
| derous burglar.
His suit was of coarse light brown mixed
| goods, and he wore no outer shirt or collar.
! When arrested he also wore the typical
| red handkerchief around his neck and the
| cap pulled down over his eyes. Policeman
| Carroll, who had been almost killed by the
| burglar before help arrived, appeared in
! court on crutches. He told of discovering
| Dickinson coming out of West Philadel-
| phia house.
Il asked him what he was doing there"
| said the officer.
II just brought home a friend who was
intoxicated" was the ready reply. Dickin-
son even offered to go back and have his
| friend identify him when the officer ex-
| pressed doubt.
| The suspicious of the policeman were
| half dissipated. The stranger was so frank,
| SO apparently sincere, that he was about to
| let him go. But the caution of good po-
liceman came to his aid and he started for
| the house, which is occupied by family
| of the name of Collins.
Dickinson walked beside him, remarking
| on the uIpledSdHlIlSSS Ol tlt hight IL " do
but few steps to the door of the house,
and as they reached the house Dickinson
| dropped behind the policeman, who reached
| for the door bell.
Attacks the Policeman.
| Here was the burglars opportunity.
Quick as a flash he had drawn his bur-
glars lamp, a heavy tube about two feet
long, and with all the force of his powerful
arm he brought 1t down on the policeman's
| head Carroll's heavy helmet protected
him, but he was momentarily stunned
When he turned Dickinson was running
| across the lawn. Carroll sprang from the
| porch and fired three shots after the fugi-
| tive. Then he started in purusit.
Dickinson could have escaped. He had a
| good lead, was running like deer, and
| the bullets from the poiceman's revolver
| had not come near him. A few seconds
| more and he would have been lost to sight
| in the darkness.
| he turned and ran back toward the police
| man. Needless of. the revolver which was
| pointed at him, he leaped on Carroll, and
there ensued one of the fiercest struggles
| between an officer of the law and a crimi-
| nal that Philadelphia ever heard of.
| Dickinson took CAROLS revolver away
from him and shot him in the foot with it.
| Then he beat the policeman on the head
| with his lamp. Carroll drew murderous
| blackjack and pounded the head and face
| of his antagonist. For an even hour they
| fought, and when help arrived Dickinson
! was on the ground struggling, with the
policeman on top of him, beating him
| weakly with the blackjack.
Detectives told of the finding in Dickin-
sons room at his boarding house Of about
| 1900 worth of silver ware and another
| 81 900 worth III a valise at his office. Much
| of the silver had been broken up. 1t has
not been learned how Dickinson disposed of
| the silver after melting 1t in crucibles that
were found In his possession.
Made His Own False Keys
There were also found In his room about