Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21
ROBBERS MAKE HAUL
Bold Theft of Diamonds and
Jewels Reported.
S AF 6 BROKEN OPEN
WTTEIN SHORT DISTANCE OF
POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
No Clue to the Robbers-Property
Stolen Belonged to Heirs of
Lavinia Hall.
SAFE BROKEN OPEN

Report was made to the police last night
of bold robbery OF diamonds and ieweIrv
valued at S1S72.50 committed in the office
Of Attorney L. Cabeu Williamson i'm the
Walker building. This building is at 45s
LOUISIANA avenue only few doors from
police headquarters, and the robbery. II is
thought, was committed shortly before sun
down About O'Clock the colured woman
who has charge of the building and who
lives on the top floor called at police head
quarters and said She wanted an officer 10
call at the building and make an examIna-
ton of Mr.. Wiliamson's room
His safe is open.' she said, and want
somebody to see things just as I fouad
them"
Detectives McNamee and Helan visited
the office and made an investigation. They
found the safe open and an empty chanlols
bag on the floor a rubber band that had
been used to keep the bag closed was
found on the floor near the bag. There was
no evidence that anything in the safe had
been disturbed, unless 1t was that the
chamois bag had been taken from It, There
was no evidence of an attempt having been
made to force open any Of the compart-
ments in the safe, nor did the papers an
pear 10 nave been disturbed.
Window Left Open.
The rear window which opens unor 4
porch from which steps lead to the ground
was wide open, but there was nothing to
snow that even this had been hammered
with other than the mere opening of it.
Ihere was no fastener found on the win
secure '''
Mr. Williamson had left his Office about
noon ana gone to his summer home at
Washington Grove, and it was impossihle
70 ascertain what, If anything, had been
taken until he could be reached A mes
sage sent 10 Washington Grove brought
the attorney to the city shortly after IL
CLOCK, and he went with the detectives
10 MS office glance at the empty cha
mols bag was enough to convince him that
his safe had been robbed. He said he left
his clerk in charge of the office when he
went away, and naturally supposed that
she had closed the office as usual before
starting for her home
AS he had left the city early in the day ne
could not give the detectives much infor-
nation respecting the condition of the Of
flee in the afternoon.
After satisfying himself that the robbery
mad been committed. Attorney Williamson
went to police headquarters and saw Capt.
Cross. He told the captain what he could
to assist the detectives and also gave him
a list OF the stolen property, which incluGes
watches, chains, rings and various other
articles or 1eweIfy.
Belonged to an Estate.
The jewelry. he explained, belonged 10
the Lavinia Hall estate, and the court had
made an order directing that it be sold
next week. The sale, he stated, had been
advertised and all arrangements had been
made for the disposal of it. Mr.. William
son told a Star reporter that the property
had been left by Lavinia Hall for the
Some of them live in this city, he said, and
others live in Alexandria county, Va.
Lavnia Hall, he stated, went from this
city TO New York some years ago and
married wealthy man named Cotton, and
while she was always known as Mrs. Col
ton in New York she was known as LaVinia
Hall to most of her friends in this city.
Her husband died several years ago and
her death occurred later on. She left
Will and her nieces and nephews were made
beneficiarieS.
Mr.. Williamson was unable to give the
detectives the slightest bit of information
in the nature of a clue to the perpetrator
of the robbery. While he felt reasonably
certain that he had locked his safe before
leaving his Office he was not sure that the
bolts had worked properly, SIS il was not in
perfect working order. He thought he was
the only person who understood the COM
bination, and said that there were not
many persons who knew the jewelry was
in the safe.
Uthe1 CltleS NOLlHSo.
AS soon as Capt. Cross was furnished
with a full report of the robbery he sent
dispatches to the police departments OF
other cities notifying them of the affair and
asking that they look out for the property
and robber
The list of the stolen property as fur-
nished by Mr.. Williamson is as follows:
One gold watch enameled in DIAMONDS.
valued at 800; one large gold locket, set
with brilliants, valued at SO; one smai
locket valued a 81; one small locket tprok-
en) valued at 81; one gold medallion (Wi'n
hair) valued at $3.50: one large bracelet
Iine links) valued at $40; one gold bracelet
lea meo and pearls), valued at SO; one old
bracelet (hair), valued at 81; one old neck
lace (hair), valued at 50; one watch chain.
blue enameled locket valued at S2o; piece
of gold for false teeth, valued at 81; one
eight-stone diamond ring, valued at 800;
one twenty-five stone diamond ring, valued
at $3.50; one limestone diamond ring, wall
ued at $500: one limestone diamond ring,
valued at $500; one ring, ruby and fifteen
diamonds, valued at s175; one pair diamond
earrings, valued at S1J0
The two detectives who were detailed
upon the are making an earnest effort
to capture the individual who committed
the theft. They found that the gate lead
ing to the yard in rear of the Walker
was open and also learned that