The Washington times., 1907-08-12
OWNER HURLED OUT
BY AUTO THIEVES
Machine Stolen in March,
Proprietor Sees 1t on
Street.
Jumps Into Car and Crap
pies With Man at .
Wheel.


fort 10 gain possession of his automo-
bile. which was stolen four months ago,
and TO cause the arrest of the two men
who were running it, Francis MOTIF. of
1913 Frankford avenue, a well-known
business man, took a desperate chance
with mis- life when he leaped into the
car while it was passing Thirteenth ami
Chestnut streets at a lively rate.
a struggle between Mr.. Meitz and
the two occupants followed, and ended
at Sixteenth and Chestnut streets, when
the owner was thrown from the automO-
bile into the street by the two men
while the car vas going at rate of
forty miles an hour. Fortunately. he
escaped with a few cuts and bruises.
but was stunned by the fall He was
found by a pedestrian. and when he re-
covered, he FASTENED to city hall, where
he reported his exciting experience
Start in Pursuit.
Twenty minutes after his encounter
with the men in the automobile, Ser
geant Fritz and Policeman Coan, Of tie
motor squad, started in pursuit of the
machine and its occupants. The chase
lasted for more than two hours ard
more than sixty miles of the city streets
were covered.
The automobile was finally rounded
NJ in a garage at 1920 South Bancroft
street. with but one occupant, who was
placed under arrest. He was taken 10
the Fifteenth ana Snyder avenues sta
tiOn. where he gave his name IS Harry
Ford, of 1901 Fine street
Gasolene Exhausted.
In his efforts to escape from the pur-
suing motor policemen, Ford Travelled
the length and breadth OF the city sew
eral times, and had it not been for tho
fact that the sasolene in the car was al
most exhausted. the chase would have
kept UP many hours more. That Mr..
MOTIF escaped serious injuries is re-
markable, in view Of the speed at whicn
the automobile was travelling when he
vas thrown out. falling heavily on the
asphalt
Leaps Into Auto.
Coming out Of a Chestnut street thea
ter. accompanied by his wife. Mr.. Motif,
who is the proprietor Of the MonU-
mental Stone Yard, of Frankford, saw
mis- $500 machine containing Ford and
another man travelling slowly out Chest
nut street. Hastily explaining to his
wife that il was his stolen car, he
started IN pursuit At Thirteenth street
he caught Up 20 the machine, which
had fust started after being held up 10
await a trolley car 10 pass. With a fly
ing leap he landed in the back seat and
at once commanded Ford, who was run
nipg il. 10 STOP. -..
Start Like Express Train.
Instead, Ford applied the power to the
fullest extent and started out Chestnut
street like an express train. At Broad
street a policeman called 10 them 70
halt. but they did not heed the COM
mand. All this while the second man
in the machine and Mr.. MOTIF were hav-
ing a severe struggle. the latter endeav-
oring TO save himself from being thrown
from the swiftly moving machine. Al
Sixteenth street they succeeded in throw
ing him from the machine, and the fal
rendered him semi-conscious. A mar
who was waiting for car saw Mr.
MOTIF thrown from the machine and
quickly went TO his assistance In q
few minutes he recovered and at once
reported the matter to the police
When Sergeant Fritz and Coan started
in pursuit Of the car they were totally
ignorant OF the direction il took after
passing Sixteenth street. However q
flyer was sent 10 every district in th(
city. and the flying automobile was seer
many times by policemen, but they were
unable 10 halt II. The chase led out
Chestnut street to Thirty second, and
then TO Lancaster avenue.
Police Gained Rapidly.
Although the stolen car had a TWEEN
ty minute lead on the pursuing motor
cycle policemen. they gained on it rap
idly despite the fact that it was trav-
cling at all times at a rate Of forty
miles an hour or more. The chase con-
tinued out Lancaster avenue to the city
hut HNnF
was lost a policeman on duty told
Sergeant Fritz and Coan that he sd y
the machine, and that it went south
ward over Sixtieth street. The chase
was resumed, and Ford was finally
overtaken as he steamed his car into
the garage TO get a fresh supply OF
EaSolene- During the chase the other
occupant OF the automobile evidently be
came alarmed at the speed at which
the machine was travelling and deserted
Ford.
Stolen From Garage.
According 10 Mr. MOTIF. his autouno-
bile was stolen from a Frankford re-
Iair shop by Ford. who was working ir
the place. Although the police had beer
looking for Ford and the car for g
month they were unable to get any
trace of it, While he had it in his pos.
session Ford had been having q good
time taking his friends about to al
parts of the city. TO Atlantic City, and
other resorts.
When asked why he had taken the
machine, Ford said that he had repaired
IL and chat ne received no money
for the work he did on II. Mr.. Motif
denied this, and said that he sent the
auto 10 the repair shop last March FOL
repairs, and when he went after II was
told that IL had been stolen. Ford was
turned over TO the Frankford police
and will have hearing today.
WAR ON TRAMPS DECLARED
BY PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD