Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-02
MAS IT A BURGLARY
But Police Couldn't Find In
truder in the Cellar.
PERHAPS 1T WAS A GHOST!
For the Bakers Certainly Heard a
Noise Down Below.
NORTH WIND, MAYBE IT WAS!
But the Three Guardians of Law
Think Something Fell Against
Door and Barred Way.
ORTIZ WIND, MAYBE IT WAS!

Belated Halloween ghosts, burglars or
the cold nor wind-any of these things
may have been responsible for great ex-
element in a fashionable part of 10Th
street northwest last evening.
'Gi'me Main 6CO0," demanded voice
over the telephone to Central" shortly
after o'clock. Excitement was be,ray-
ed in the tone.
The desired phone connection was made.
The voice asked:
rs this police headquarters"
An answer in the affirmative was given.
The voice continued:
Then please give me No. 3 station"
The desk sergeant in the third precinct
station heard his telephone signal
whir-r-r He took down the receiver. The
voice told him a burglar was trapped in
the basement of the reSid nee O. ii. S.
Baker at HOS 10th street northwest, and
IN 81 IAN was wanted.
Three Policemen Put to Work.
..s-.-, answered he desk SER
geant. He put up the telephone receiver.
and turned from the desk to attend to
the matter. The signal box tape began
working. He knew a policeman was re-
porting. After it had rat led off the num-
Der and added more records 10 the po-
lice department archives, the desk SER
geant raised the receiver. The CHEEKY
caIl came This is Walsh
'There is a call for HOS 10Th street.
They say burglar is trapped in the
basement" the sergeant ,old Walsh.
Both receivers clicked back in place.
Tommy Walsh, one of the most eff
Gent OF the bicycle squad, noun, ed HIS
wheel in a hurry. He mad turned in from
a box at Scott Circle. but few squares
away from the location OF trouble.
The signal box apparatus in the third
precinct station began clicking again.
This time the report was: This is Lake,
anu another of the bicycle squad was sent
10 llUo 10th street northwest.
The next call signal was from Grant.
And third bicycle man was put on the
job.
Crowd Gathers for Fun.
Out at the 10th street dwelling young
man came to the gate every now and then
ana asked severa. who had gathered there
If a policeman was in sight. He also
said burglar was IN the cellar and tnat
the rear was guarded to prevent his es-
cape.
Two men stopped to listen to the recital.
Then ot..erS halted crowd gathered
and the sidewalk was blocked.
Then Policeman W alsn uasned up. Into
the house ne nastcn-d. Soon followed the
sounus of door beng broken in.
Policeman Lake came up next, with
Policeman Grant just behind him. Three
Dicycle cops on the scene and tie
burglar froZen mute and lmmovabie with
lear somewhere in the cellar.
Then two big policemen crashed in the
The crowd at the gate saw a lantern
Search going on in it's black depths.
Soon this was over. The ponce came
forth. They had found no burglar.
If a knight of the Dark Lantern" was
in the cellar earlier in the evening, ne
had decamped after a while and before
the arrival of Maj. Sylvesters cohorts.
A Noise and an Obstruction.
Then Mr.. Baker had time to COL
lect his thoughts. He told the police
that, as he and his family were sit
ting at tea there was a jarrlng noise
in the basement. One Of his sons went
to the door leading to the basement
There was a noise on the other side of
it which gave him thrilling notion
that a burglar had a grip upon the
knob.
He attempted to open the door, It
site side. HIS attempt was futile.
Then another of Mr.. Bakers sons
ran to the rear door and guarded the
exit from the basement.
And then another gave the hurry
call TO the third precinct station. he
police hustled for the address.
The police were of opinion that a
screen had fallen behind the door, made
the startling noise, and barred the way
when an attempt was made TO get to
the basement. AS they came from the
cellar looking as though they had
crawled under about one dozen beds
ana gathered all of the lint upol. the
floor both coming and going. MIR. Baker
was satisfied they had performed their
duty well.
He thanked them for the aid they
had been to him in searching the
premises The guardians of the law
came from the front door and picked
up their wheels. The large crowd be-
gan to dwlndle away.
To-day is All SAINTS Day." muttered
an aged coIored man. Il spec dat de
ghostses war Walkin'."