Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-08
GIRLS FOE
ARRESTED BY
WATCHMAN
PRINCIPAL IN DUEL TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY
YOUNG WOMAN IDENTIFIES THE
BURGLAR
Prisoner Confesses Crime and Admits
Robbine Several other Houses
in Los AngeIes-Came
Here Recently


bel Otto of 1915 Hoover street engaged
in a running pistol duel Thursday even
ing was captured late yesterday after
noon on Bonnie Drae street between
Ninth and Tenth streets by c. L. Foster
and Jack Hosick of the Foster patrol
and is now a prisoner in the city jail.
The capture was made on the ue-
scription furnished by Miss Otto to the
police.
1t has been learned the prisoner, VINO
gave his name as Floyd Mitchell, came
here ten days ago from Stockton, ana
since that time has been engaged III
burglary as a means Of livelihood.
Mitchell is a laborer, and during the
winter months had been working IN
fruit and vegetable ranches in ana
around Stockton and near Bakersneld'
He came here ten days ago from the
Slough city and, 1t appears, entered az
once upon a career of crime TO loe
him over the lean days when there was
no work in sight.
Whatever other crimes he has COM
mitted 1t is known tina. Wednesday ne
entered the house of Milo w. Barber
513 West Sixth street, and rooped the
place of a gold watch, several pieces
of iewelry and a small amount OF
money.
Loots House
thursday afternoon about 5 o'clock
he obser- ed the family of G. E. kar-
stems a. 1902 South Arapahoe street
leave the house and a few minutes
afterward he went to the rear or the
building, cut a screen and pried open
the window with a big chisel
He thoroughly ransacked this place
and escaped with a gold watch, pair
of diamond-studded sleeve links, an
opal stickpin, a 5old-handled knlte ana
q gold ring. 10
From the Karstens residence he
.vallxed TO Hoover street and was pass
sne the residence of Edmund Otto When
tI,e family drove away from there IN
an automobile. He thought 1t would De
too good a chance for loot to let go
nv. so he went to the real and cut the
screen from the kitchen door. He then
unlocked the door with pass key.
He stopped in the kitchen to make
a supper off of a cold chicken and
ether tempting articles of food he op-
served, anG 1t was tnl5 ueiaS 'H"
caught him.
Inst as he was ready to begin a
search of the house for valuables the
family returned and Mrs. otto and MISS
Claribel walked on the back porch:
When Mitchell saw Mr. Otto and MISS
Ida Nav come onto the porch ne
thought he was discovered and ne de-
termined to make bluff to get away.
Threatens DISCOVERIES
He stepped to the porch and pointing
nis4ol at the people there ordered
them to throw up their hands. he dio
NJ notice the absence of Miss Claribel
Otto.
Then followed the running pistol duel
with Miss Otto and the first puilet
which the girl sent from her reVolVel
cut through the collar OF ms coa.,
which he wore t; rned up ana grazeu
the Ell .;e of his hat brim:
she oloseness of this shot thoroughly
frightened lin and he fired in des-
,,eration to try and scare the girl anu
thus make his escape easy.
Miss Otto refused to be scared OH,
and only the accidental wounding OF
the little Mcdonald girl gave him
chance to get away.
Knowing every police OFFICER IN toWn
was looking for him Altchell ngure ~
out the safest place TOT MN Was ~
the vicinity of the place OF his crime
He did not imagine officers would look
for him In the neighborhood, so he
was parading Bonnie Brae late yester-
day when Private Waterman JACK Ho-
sick of the Foster patrol was on a
search for him.
Hosick and the burglar came to-
gether in the middle of the block be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets, and
the officer recognized the man at once
from the description given by MISS
Otto.
officer Tackles Burglar
Hosick grabbed Mitchell and speedily
disarmed him and then in few min
utes being Joined by Charles Foster the
man was taken to the Foster office and
searched.
on him was found big revolver, a
chisel and the articles of 1eWelry he
had stolen from the Karstens house,
with the exception of the watch, when
had been pawned in Main street es-
tablshment.
Seeing the officers had clear case
against him Mitchell broke down and
admitted his crimes and told the Of
ficers of his movements from the time
he had left Stockton several weeks age
until his arrest. He claimed he mad
never committed a crime before coming
to Los Angeles and that he was driven
to burglary to .,eep from starving.
Later the prisoner was sent to the
central police station, where he was
booked on a charge of burglary. Be-
fore he was taken fir ln the office OF
the Foster patrol Mr.. and Mrs Otto
and the Misses Otto were sent for and
each one positively identified the mar
as the burglar who had been caught In
their home and who had the running
fight with Miss Ciarihel Otto.
The track of the bullet fired from
Miss Otto's pistol was plainly discern
ible on his clothing. Mitchell will be
IL,