The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-29
JEWELRY THEFTS
AT GIRLS SCHOOL
LAID ON NEGROES
Zone of Prisoners Shows
TrinketS Which He
Claims Other Gave
Him.

Accused of robbing a dozen pretty
sstudents IN Mrs Somers' fashionable
fztrIs' boarding school. at Eleventh and
M streets northwest. two negroes were
arrested and locked UP by Central Of
fee detectives last night. The dCtec-
-tives recovered all the missing proper
s1y They say they took the jewelry
from Joseph Jones. who sought TO lay
tthe blame on William Preston. The
Llast-named prisoner denies completely in
1.-The bold daylight robbery.
Yesterday morning the matron Of the
sschool reported to Inspector of Detec-
stives Boardman that thieves had made
a rich haul in the institution some time
Fafter 5 o'clock Friday afternoon and
numerous complaints had been received
from weeping girls who had lost highly
fprized jewelry and pocketbooks.
Negro Shows JewelTy.
Detectives CornweH. Bauer. and Fort
sney investigated the case. Bauer learn
led that Jones had shown a quantity
ssof jewelry 10 his friends and declared
dis intention of going 10 Philadelphia
ITO dispose of IT. Jones was soon appre-
blended. and it is said by Bauer that
vat the time of the negros arrest the
astolen and several ornaments and
Etrinkets which had not been described
by the matron. but which We're subse-
spuently identified by students
CornweH and Fortney went to the
kschool and Obtained a complete list Of
sthe losers and descriptions Of the arti-
scles stolen.
Miss Nellie Wetherau lost a gold
watch, with a black fob attached, and
"a black purse containing sum OF
money.
Miss Mildred Wooley reported missing
IA gold link bracelet holding a red enamel
watch and a patent leather handbag,
scontaiuing sotne money and valuable
articles
Miss N. X NIabis lost a blue enamel
i~yatch with a gold fluer de lis Tdn at
dached.
More than d dozen other girls de-
sclared class pins. clasps, bracelets, and
iother gold and silver ornaments had
Fbeen stolen from their chiffonieTs and
tdressers.
Accused Other Man.
Arresting and sweating Jones. De-
Elective Bauer was informed that the
k5ewelry had been given 10 the prisoner
swhere the trinkets came from. but they
Swere given to him by Preston to dis
nose Of in Philadelphia Preston was
Located at his home. 1247 Ninth street
northwest He stoutly denied any con-
injection with the wholesale robbery. He
was searched, but the detectives say
they found no articles reported stolen
In his possession
When Cornweu and FOrtney arrived
at Inspector Boardmans office after
their visit TO the school. all the recover
ed articles were turned over TO them
L.Although the majority Of the articles
rtallied with descriptions obtained at the
sschool. a number Of them did not ap-
Epear. These articles were taken TO the
school AMI Identified by students who
had not reported their losses
Charge Not Entered.
Although they say they are convinced
7of the guilt of che prisoners, the de-
Electives have not yet entered a charge
tRgainst them The prisoners were lock-
ed up at different station, but today
they will confront each other and de-
receives hope to pin the thefts OF one
or both of them. It is likely that a
preliminary hearing will be given the
two men in the Police Court tomorrow
Central Office detectives say d num-
Eber of complaints Of small thefts have
Ebeen received from the Sonners
FSchcol the last several weeks. and 1t
s3s thought one or the other of the men
know in custody is responsible for the
>series of robberies.