Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-04
DOBBIN IN A NEW ROLE
SEQUEL TO REPORTED
ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY.
Tax Collectors Office Said to Have Been
In Danger, but It Was Only an Old
Horse at the Window.

NO little amusement was aroused among
the ofhclals and employees at the District
building today over the sequel to a reported
attempt to rob the office of the collector
OF taxes early yesterday morning" Ac
cordlng to the widely circulated report Po.
lice Officer F. J. Dennis, who Is stationed tn
guard the collectors office during the nirbt
time. at about O'Clock yesterday morning
saw man. wearing a SLOUGH hat. standing
on the sill of an east window and attemnt
ms to enter the collectors Office. where WIN q
deposited $1,000 in safe
When the employees of the collectors of-
nee heard this sensational report this morn.
ing their nerves were set a-tingling. Even
OHlcer Dennis. who was described in tho
Iaot DIS cTouchng behind boxes in the COL
ieotoI 5 once. waiting for suitable ,p-
portuhlty TO pump the cold, cruel lead info
the Would-be robber, shuddered a hit a. TIC
vivid report of the incident But when the
true version of the episode came ont annre
hension gave place to amusement
FROM the report of the affair submitted
70 Commissioner West this morning by Of
iloer Dennis. it is learned that the alleged
burglar was merely a tired old work bo,.a
that had strayed from his stable in ~ a
rear of the District building. and full in
nocent and all unmindful of even thourn+
OF purSlarizing a safe, had wandered meek
~ to drinking trough located under tho
east window of the collectors office and in
the hight of the waning moon had ouaffsd
the rusty Potomac and quenched his burn
Ing thirst
Horse Proved Playful.
1t is further gathered, in substance, from
the poilceman's report that the owner Of
the work horse appeared In the alley in the
rear OF the District building for the pur-
pose OF capturing his strayed horse and re-
turning MIN to his accustomed bed of
straw The animal, however, 1t seems ex-
NARRATED by copious libations Of unfiltered
ana unooiled Potomac water was aversa 70
retiring just at that time with the dawn
OF DAY SO near. and frisked about the aIav
win the playfulness of a colt Finally
however, the ingenuity of man prevailed
ana Ihe dumb animal was captured and
paced in his stall. The peace Of the aIIey
from that time until the busy noises of the
day arose was undisturbed save by the
tread of vigilant feline in search of COM
pany and food
othcer Dennis, however. states in his re-
port tnat when. he first heard the noise in
the alley he reported to Officer Anderson.
stationed in the hallway of the District
building, that he thought there might be a
man outside the east window Of the COL
lector's office. That was before Officer
Dennis had investigated the matter. Sinh.
sequently he said. he again heard the noise
and, on going to the window, discovered the
morse ana Its owner attempting to get the
animal back In the stable. Officer Dennis
stated In his report that he did not consider
the incident of any consequence and that
he did not inform Officer Anderson as to
the result of the Investigation He said he
did not report the matter because he did
not consider there was anything to report
1t seems that the matter was brought to
the attention of headquarters by the Of
hcer who relieved Officer Dennis at 7
O'Clock yesterday morning.