The Washington herald., 1907-02-03
PURSE THIEVES BUSY
POcketbOOk Losses Reported
Nearly Every Day.
KEEP POLICE ON THE ALERT
Joseph Allen, Young COlOred Boy
Held at Fourth Precinct Station,
Relieved by Authorities Ia Have
Been Guilty of Several OTenses,
Mira. Maria MacMnnus Robbed.

Pocketbook snatchlng. although kept
well in check. stiu presents a trying prob
lem to the police Notwithstanding the
fact that it is classed under that portion
9t The District code pertaining 20 robbery
and is punishable with a sentence vary
ing from six months TO fifteen years. &C
c0rding TO the nature OF the offense
cases are reported nearly every day.
Last night, while on her way to her
home Mrs. Maria MacManus. of g4 h
street northwest, had her pocketboOk'
containing several dollars. gnatched from
her hand by eolored man. Mrs. Mac
Manus was carrying basket containing
marketing on her arm at the time, ana
was unable TO retain a good hold on her
purse. when the man stepped from be
! hind her and snatched it from her hand.
/ In her Efforts 10 prevent the man from
getting the pocketbook a number Of eggs,
/ which, she had IN the basket, were broken.
and, scattering on her dress, practically
ruined it,,
/ George Kcnn0n. a fireman OF No II
engine company who witnessed the ahalr'
gave chase after the woman's assaliant
and succeeded in catching him after Il
short run. He turned him over 70 oillcer
+ DoWnes. OF the First precinct, VINO I'M
Imediately called the patrol and had him
taken to the station, where he gave his
name a. Charles r. Thompson.
Eight Cases in Twenty Days.
/ This is the eighth case Of this nature
that has been reported to the police with
/ in the last twenty days and In every
( instance the thief has been negro. On
January T.. Mrs. James Hanna, at 1913
Thirtieth street. had her purse snstched
I from her haad rs she was about TO cross
/ Twenty-second street. on her way home.
! Several DAYS after a young negro was
arrested on suspicion Of having com
mitted the theft, but Mrs Hanna was
unable 20 identify him, and the case was
not tried. Later that day Mrs Cassie
/ Diggs. Of g325 4 street northwest. lost
/ her pocketbOok In the same way near tf:@
/ corner of Twentieth and streets.
Mrs. I. p. Warner. of s35 Rhode Island
avenue northwest. reported that on the
night cf January a, while at the corner
I Of Thirteenth and . streets, q young coli
ored boy snatched her purse from her
hand and escaped. Several days later
I Mrs Helen Thompson. Of SIS Eleventh
street southwest, lost her pocketbook in
! the same way while on Eleventh street,
near + southwest The negro ran down
/ the street and succeeded in hiding about
the Vharves. avoiding capture
Operate. In Daytime,
ON january q Miss Mary Whiting. Of 1919
+ r street, had her purse snatched from
. her hand while on Sixteenth street near
+ K. shortly after o'clock in the morning.
+ Two days following, Mrs Rachel Taylor,
I Of 189 TWenty-frst street northwest.
/ vas the victim Of another sneak thief who
succeeded ia snatching her pocketbook
while she was walking on Twenty-fiTst
street near ~
F on Friday night Mrs. Emma C. Atchin-
son, OF - Thirteenth street southwest,
+ had her pocketb0ok torn from her grasp
+ by Joseph Allen, "a young colored boy,
while on Thirteenth street The boy was
caught by two men who witnessed the
affair as.d gave chase. The police of the
Fourth precinct station believe that
Allen is the same person who has been
repeatedly committing similar thefts. and
are holding him until further investiga-
+ ton can be made.