Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22
is CAPTURED
AFTER CHASE
CROWD PURSUES AN ALLEGED
BURGLAR
PRISONER is RECOGNIZED BY
WOMAN VICTIM
Hundreds Of Excited Men and Women
Follow Policemen Who Sue
ceed In OVertakInq
Escaping Man

After an exciting chase yesterday af-
ternoon by several officers and a crowd
of more than two hundred persons r.
j. Coffey, who broke away from PATROL
man Ditzen on Broadway between Sec
ond and Third streets, was captured
at First and Spring.
Coffey was seen aboard a street car
at Sixth and Broadway by Mrs. Alice
Mcfarland, who recognized him as a
roomer who formerly had apartments
at her hotel 616 South Hope street. and
who left there the night her apart
ments were burglarized.
She rushed to Patrolman Ditzen, who
was near by, and exclaimed excitedly:
There is the man you want; go get
him.
Dltzen caught the man and placed
him under arrest, and was taking him
TO the station.
Suddenly the officer felt sharp
twinge in his hand and released his
grip on Coffey, who Immediately took
flight, with Ditzen in pursuit. Coffey
ran down Broadway to First street.
then turned east on First and ran into
the First street entrance to Godfrey &s
Moore's drug store. The crowd ran
around to the front door expecting the
fugitive to make his exit there. 1t was
mistaken, however, for as soon as Cof-
fey entered the side door he wheeled
and rushed out of the same entrance
he had entered. His ruse proved a fail
ure, for no sooner had he reached the
street than he ran full into the arms
of Patrolman "Babe' Whalen, who
held him until Ditzen placed the hand
cuffs on his prisoner.
When searched at the central sta
ton a revolver of 80 caliber, short
barrel pattern, was found in his pocket.
He also had several skeleton keys and
about $50 in bills. The prisoner was
made to remove his shoes and stock
ings. The peculiar way in which he
placed his bare feet to the floor caused
the officers to investigate, and they
found that Coffey had hidden a skele-
ton key in his shoes and was standing
en- it.
Woman Identifies Prisoner
Mrs. Mcfarland, who caused his ar
rest, appeared at the station and iden-
titled the man. She states on the night
OF March 4, while she was attending
2 performance at one of the theaters,
hers apartments were entered and q
solitaire diamond ring, a flve-stone
opal ring, pearl ring, a gold stick pin
and a valuable gold watch taken.
Her suspicious fell on Coffey, who,
although his room rent was paid up for
week ahead, disappeared. She noti-
fed the police at the time and gave
them description of the man. Coffey
could not be located, and it is believed
he left Los Angeles Immediately after
the robbery.
Coffey stated he had been in Red
lands seeking employment and had
only returned to Los Angeles Saturday
morning. He is a we'll dressed fellow,
nice appearing and about 27 years OF
age. The police say the man has not
been in Redlands and believe he has
teen in Pasadena since his departure
from Los Angeles.
An amusing incident of the chase
was the capture of Deputy Sheriff Eu-
gene Biscailuz by one of the fleet
footed crowd. Biscailuz was rapidly
gaining on the fugitive when suddenly
he was grasped around the waist and
flung to the paw ement and an exulting
voice cried: TITS all over, boys, I've
cot him." The wouldbe captor's face
fell when he was told of his mistake.
He apologized to the officer and both
renewed the chase.