The Washington herald., 1908-08-24
MINISTER ASSISTS
IN TAKING NEGRO
HOusebreaker Captured After
an Exciting Race.
HAD BEEN FOUND IN A STORE
George l.. Palmer. Connected with
Typewriter Concern. Comes Upon
Black Man CrouchinE Behind Desk
I'm street EEta bIishment, and
Starts a Merry SPrintinE Contest.

Scores Of church-goers. led by George
l. Palmer. and a dignihed, frock-coated
minister. his silk hat grasped tightly in
his hand. figured in an exciting chase of
several blocks through the business sec
ton Of the city shortly before 1 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon Their quarry was a
negro housebreaker. who was captured
The chase had its inception when Mr..
Palmer entered the salesrOom OF the
typewriter company with which he is
connected. at 1205 F street northwest. and
found the negro crouching behind a desk.
Palmer ran toward the negro. aad the
latter Ieaped over desk and ran out Of
the front door. Palmer started in pur-
suit. yelling stop thief,' at every jump.
The negro ran east in T street
Returning from Church.
The street was lined with persons re-
turning from church. and many joined
in the chase. At Eleventh street a
clergyman left a group of parishioners.
and. grabbing his hat from HIS head,
joined in the chase He was "A compare
lively young man. and soon distanced
members OF his congregation who fol
lowed. As the badly frightened negro
turned south in Tenth street, the min
ister was only short distance behind
Palmer and running easy"
The housebrcaker turned west Or z
street. with Palmer and the minister only
a few PAGES behind him Just west Of
Eleventh street. Palmer grabbed the
negro by one shoulder. and the clergy
/ man got 4 hrm grasp on his collar The
other Qursuers surrounded the three. and
many compliments were voiced for the
running pTocIivities OF the minister. Hs
modestly and biushinEIy said he had
I been something of an athlete in his col
/ lege days. and quietly slipped around
/ the corner and disappeared Neither bs
nor those who knew him would give his
name
Surrounded by a dozen mea. the negro
was hustled down TwelEh street 20 th,
I First precinct station There he wa,
turned over go a policeman. and Palmer
{ explained the clrcumstauces of the ar
rest
/ Palmer said that as a rule. no one
visited the Offices OK the typewriter com
Z pauy on sunday Yesterday. however. D.,
{ had occasion 20 get some papers he had
I left there on Saturday. lie opened The
: front door and went 20 the rear of the
Office When De reached the desk h,
1 heard a noise behind H.m- Turning. D.,
[ saw the top Of a mans head He -ar
/ toward the intruder. and a big Negro
/ Jumped from behind the desk and elud-
{ ing Palmer's grasp. darted out Of IN.
[ front door
At the station the negro gave his uams
as William Stanton. and his age a. forty
wears. He was charged with housebreak K
Ing As be was led away 90 a cell. one
I OF the policemen noticed the coat ne Wa.
I wearing tailed with the description giver
. of a coat stolen on Saturday night from
. the tailor shop OF James Makover, 81
Eleventh street The negro was accused
I Of breaking into the tailor shop and al
[ first denied his guilt Later he admitted
that he had broken into the shop and
stolen the coat be wore. He was asked
. 20 describe the coat he wore when III
Z entered The shop He did so. and the,
/ Identified the coat found IN the shop. dis
carded by the thief as being his own
+ RE also admitted all the charges made by
. Palmer. and described his methods o
/ entering the two stores
Forced Open n window.
Stanton said he had entered the taUo,
I shop about 1o o'clock on Saturday night
/ by forcing open a basement window
I He then forced a trapdoor and got int,
/ the shop He selected q new coat and
/ several pairs Of trousers and. ,IeavinE hi.
l old coat. d5uued the new apparel and de.
parted. He told the police where IN,
{ trousers had been secret-d- He sa5d n,
( gained entrance 70 the typewriter store
/ by the same means He broke open q
4 trapdo1r IN the rear yard leading 20 IN,
J al
I little difficulty in gaining the upper floor
He said he intended rifiug the desks OF
I the ground floor
The negro viii be arraiEned in the Po-
I lice Court to-day on two charges of house.
I break king.