Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08
POLICE AFTER THIEF
Negro RobS Mrs. NJ. A. Smith
and Makes Escape.
DEFTLYL LIFTS POCKETBOOK
Conclusive Proof He Was Old Hand
at Business.
OUTCRY BRINGS ASSISTANCE
Footpad, However, Proves to Be
Swift Sprinter-Police Have
Good Description.
oUTCRY BRINGS ASSISTANCE

Detectives Baur and Cornwell of
police headquarters and tenth precinct
policemen searched the woods in the
vicinity of Columbia and Belmont roads
last evening for an unidentified colored
man, who is wanted to answer a charge
of pocketbook snatching The complain
ant is Mrs. M. Alice Smith of 1913
Columbia road. The property taken from
her consisted of four 81 bills, small
change. bunch of keys and a pair of
gold-rimmed eyeglasses
Mrs. Smith, who is the widow of
former Representative Smith of Illinois,
made an cutlery when she was robbed,
the janitor of the Woodley apartment
house going to her assistance The lat
ter pursued the robber, but was unable
to overtake him. No time was lost in
notifying the police of the occurrence, a
message having been sent to the tenth
precinct station from the Woodley tell
ing of what had happened.
At the time Mrs. Smith was attacked
she was strolling leisurely along between
the Highlands and the Woodley: and
was not far from a lane leading In the
direction of the Zoo. She carried
her handbag on her left arm, with her
parasol resting on her left shoulder. She
saw the cOlored man walking toward her,
but paid no particular attention to him
further than to get good enough look
at him to make her certain she would
be able to identify him.
Makes Swift Move.
Without making a suspicious move
while in front of Mrs. Smith, or say
ing word to her, the colored man
grabbed her handbag and managed. to
get it away from her without dislodging
her parasol. indicating to Mrs. Smith
that he was an old hand at the bust
ness.
She is certain it was not his first Of
Tense, and the police are inclined to be-
lieve he Is the man who has robbed sew
eral ladies on public thoroughfares during
recent months. AS soon as Mrs. Smith
cutlery. as stated, attracting the janitor
OF the Woodley to the scene.
Mrs. Smiths Outcry and the sight of the
janitor in pursuit of the thief had the
effect of attracting a number Of pedes-
drians. The suggestion was made that
bloodhounds could be used to good advan-
tage, the colored man having sought ref
uge in the woods, but the police have no
such animals for service. and had to de-
pend upon themselves to do the trailing.
Detectives Detailed.
Inspector Boardman. chief of detectives,
when notified of the theft. directed the
two detectives to work with the police OF
the tenth precinct, and if possible bring
the guilty man to justice. The police sur
rounded the woods in which the robber
sought refuge, and made an active search,
but at late hour they had not overtaken
the man wanted.
Mrs. Smith describes the negro as being
about thirty or thirty-five years of age.
about five feet eight inches tall. and he
had smooth face. He wore a dirty brown
suit of clothes and a SLOUGH hat. The de-
scription was telephone to the several
precincts with Instructions that every eff
fort be made by the police in all sections
to locate and cause the arrest of the rob-
Der.