Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-11
POLICE CAPTURE
SELF-CONFESSED
DAYLIGHT THIEF
SURPRISED WHILE TRYING TO
BREAK INTO HOUSE
WEsTLAkE DISTRICT BURGLAR
BELIEVED IN CUSTODY
Prisoner Openly Boasts Of Many
Crimes-Robber's Outfit, JeweIry,
Diamonds and 1914 Found in
His Possession

Confessing he had been a burglar all
his life and had operated successfully
in every large city between New York
and San Francisco, John Page was
caught yesterday afternoon in the act
of prying open window of a house
at 720 West Twenty-eighth street. He
was placed under arrest by Patrolman
r. G. Schreiner of the University sta
tion after an exciting chase of seven
blocks.
When searched at police headquar-
ters Page was found to have a com
plete set of burglars tools, ten pass
keys, one special make flat key, two
gold coin watch charms, five unset
diamonds each one-half carat weight,
diamond stud one carat weight, dia-
mond ring and $674.S2 in cash.
Despite the assertions of Page that
he arrived in Los Angeles Wednesday
morning from San Francisco, the po-
lice believe Patrolman Schreiner has
captured one of the burglars who has
been terrorizing the Westlake district
by daylight robberies.
The capture of Page is sensational.
Yesterday afternoon Thomas Collen,
who is employed as gardener at the
residence across the street from 720
West Twenty-eighth street, noticed
man go up the steps of the latter house
and ring the bell several times. Col
len was attracted by the persistency of
the man. He knew there was no one
in the house, as the occupants had left
half an hour previous to the call of
Page
Flash of Jimmy Exposes Him
After ringing the bell, Page drew a
porch chair near one of the windows
cot q capn1nd n ha rock
ing the chair leisurely as though
waiting for some person to return, but
the flash of jimmy in the sunlight
aroused the suspicious of Collen, and,
going to a place where he could watch
to better advantage, he saw that Page
was endeavoring to pry open the Win
dow, holding the jimmy in his right
hand and swinging the left in care
less manner to avoid attention.
AS every person in the Westlake dis
trict has been on the lookout for the
daylight burglars, Collen hustled into
his employers house and telephoned to
the University station.
Patrolman Schreiner, who is driver
of the University police automobile,
responded to the call. When Page,
who was working industriously to raise
the window, noticed the police auto
mobile he beat a hasty retreat, run
ming around the side of the house and
disappearing toward Key West street.
Schreiner left his auto, and jumping
on a bicycle which was standing
against the curbing started In pur-
suit. Page ran two blocks right on
Portland street, then east to Twenty
seventh street, with Schreiner in pur-
suit Near the middle of the block at
Portland and Twenty-seventh streets
Page lodged between two houses.
Tries to Jump Over Fence
He was trying to jump over fence
in the rear of house and held up
his hands when Schreiner leveled his
revolver at him.
81 guess you've got me all right"
said Page, but it will be a hard job
to prove my guilt. L confess my in
tentions to rob the house were good,
but your sudden appearance prevented
my accomplishment"
Page gave his age as AZ years, and
is a man of small stature, with an air
of innocence, which doubtless has been
a valuable asset to him in preventing
his arrest before.
He frankly stated he left New York
four months ago and stopped at all
the large cities, robbing houses reg
ularly and always avoiding arrest. He
said he was in Los Angeles during the
winter of 1898 and 1899 and pulled Off
manV nOuSeDGedkS dl lllelI lliilCs
Remembering that the picking" had
been easy, he decided to come west and
pass the winter months in Southern
California.
He denied he had been guilty of any
other burglaries since his last arrival
in Los Angeles but the police place no
credence in this part of his story, He
refused to state where he was living
in Los Angeles, and when pressed for
nn q nia6
nv his sweetheart. EIe said she had
left New York with him. and he would
not give his address, as he did not
want to have her know of his arrest.
The police believe the real reason
why Page would not give his address
is to give his sweetheart an oppor-
tunity to leave Los Angeles. 1t Is
thought search of Pages rooms
would reveal large amount Of stolen
property.
He was told it would be only ques-
tion of time before his room was To-
Gated, but he replied doggedly he
would take a chance. That he roomed
near the King Edward hotel is the
Impression of the police, and detec-
tives were detailed to search all room
ing houses along East Fifth street
When arrested Page was plainly
dressed and admitted that the proceeds
from his burglaries had been lavished
on the woman who was with him. If
the sweetheart is located she will be
held as a witness.
1t is not believed page" is the cor
rect name of the burglar, but no mem
ber of the detective force was able
to identity him as having been arrest
ed in Los Angeles before. The pris-
oner took his arrest coolly and was
more worried about his sweetheart |
than his own predicament.