The Washington times., 1907-11-18
M'CRACKEN CASE IN
U. S. COURT TODAY
IContinued from First Page.)

the family obtained large quantities of
goods on credit.
The police also learned today that a
family answering the description of the
McCrackens have been operating exten-
siveiy in nearly all large cities In the
East for the last five or six years.
Mrs McCFaeken and her three chill
dren were given a hearing before
United States Commissioner Reilly, in
Baltimore. at IL o'clock this morning.
Accompanied by representatives of half
a dozen business houses that extended
credit to the McCrackens, Detectives
Hartigan and Evans went 10 Baltimore
early this morning to be present at the
hearing. The detectives say IL will prob
ably be necessary to obtain requisition
papers before the family can be brought
back TO Washington.
Following the disappearance Of the
family the middle OF last week from
the handsome home they had rented at
Ia25 Connecticut avenue, Detectives
Evans and Hart.gan obtained warrant
for Mrs. AIcCracken's arrest, charging
grand larceny. The Baltimore police
learned yesterday morning that a fam
LIZ Of McCrackens had rented the house
at Zl25 st. Paul street There were fouS
IL the missing Washington family ana
Ghe description tailed, and Captain
Humphrey notified the Washington au-
tsortties. Detective Hartlgan left ini-
mediately for Baltimore. aud after OBJ
tanning warrants for grand larceny for
the rest OF the family, Detective Evans
followed.
with two Baltimore officers the de-
tectives went TO the ST. Paul street
house Miss Ruth McCrecken opened
the door, and eaid the other members
of the family were out of the city.
When the house was searched, the de-
tcctives say the mother and other
daughter were locked in tie bathroom
End the son was hiding in a closet.
All were locked up at the Central
police station, charged with grand lar
ccny.
When the Baiumore police started to
work on the case they thought they
were dealing with strangers. Later it
developed the McCrackcn family may
have lived in Baltimore prior 70 their
coming 10 Washington in tho early fall
Mrs. Ellen Carroll or IL East Center
street, Baltimore, declared that she had
known them as the Fitzgerald family"
She talked with the prisoners and said
afterward that William John AIcCrack-
e. had boarded at her house under the
name Of Fitzgerald last July, saying he
was a linen salesman for Belfast
Greland3 nrm
Mrs. Carroll also said the "Fitzger-
aids" rented a house in crest Park,
.
the son going 10 New York 10 meet the
other members Of the family. as he had
procured suitable quarters for them.
To the detectives yesterday William
John McCracken denied that he had
scld linen and said he had followed sew
CTal lines OF business, but That he did
rot care at this time to make them
public
Facts brought 10 light today dlsprove
the police report that Mrs. AIcCracken
had obtained 1eWelry from the firm Of
Berry q "hitmore. Eleventh and
streets.
when seen today the jeweIry firm
positively denied that Mrs. McCraCken
or anyone connected with her In her
operations In Washington, Aad obtained
a cents worth Of jewelry from them
While IL the cell with her two daugh-
ters Mrs. MCCracken moaned continu-
ousiy and declared she was Ill she
said there was no possible way for her
daughters and her son 10 be Connected
with the case. All the goods obtained
from stores, she said, were procured on
credit, and she stili intended 10 pay the
debts. That she had any intention Or
stealing. Mrs. McCracken denied en-
phatically, saying that she and her
children left Washington because Of the
modification caused by the presence OF
the. FED eral gentleman" who seized
Mrs. MoCaacken gave her age as
sixty; william John McCraclen, twenty
seven; Ruth, twenty-one and Jane.
Nineteen Il ne " ar ants Eilstl slLA AdA AtA41
were sworn out by Samuel Saks, a fur
dealer, at Thirteenth and q streets, and
by Detective Evans. on information OBJ
tanned from 81. PhilipsbOrn & Co
The lease for the house at 10 st
Paul street was signed BY William John
McCracken November - The house
was leased from Ernest c. BetsWOrth-
The rent waS 20 be SO a month, beginning
December l. The lease provided that
the FIRST payment be made January !,
1903. The lease contained a covenant
that the lessee could purchase the prop
erty within three months for S.5gl
Complaint was made 10 the police to-
day BIZ two other merchants who had
extended credit to the McCrackens.
Footwear TO the extent Of $30S5 had been
purchased from B. Richs Sons 1901 y
street and Nine. Guischards OF 1873 q
street has an unpaid bill Of 81 50.
Just what the total OF the unpaid bills
left by the MCCrackens VIII art9unI 10
is not known. The police say there are
q number Of dealers who have extended
credit 10 the family but who have made
no formal complaint as yet
Inspector BOardman said today that
as soon as the family was brought back
70 Washington they would be photo
graphed and measured 70 enable tne
police to learn Il they had been arrested
in any other cities.
The following is the complete list OF
toe merchants who have cOmplained TO
the police that they were Vicumized by
Mrs MCCTacken-
Osborn & Co. S260: W. 3. Noses & Sons,
Sys5; Robert Pluyu, $500; Saks Fur Com
pany $50. Ernestine A. Saum SOS, J.
NJ Stein & Co. $50. Barber & Ross. $751;
3. Rich's Sons, S30.S5; Nine. Guischards
$11.50; John H Magruder, and the Ora
matte School Of Art.