The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-19
LEGISLATOR BAKER
ROBBED IN STREET
Member OF House Of Delegates from
Chesterfield County Has His
Pocket Picked.
RICHMOND

cd. SuaVe individuals. OF pleasing ad-
dress. at the Southern Railway depot
at the foot of Fourteenth Street Thurs
day night shortly before the departure
of IT,, . O'Clock accommodation train
which operates betweeR Rich mOnd
and Keysville.
The legislator. in company with his
son. James u. Baker, had just boarded
the train when the elder Mr.. Baker
was robbed. The Job" Ms neatly
and Systematically Plauacd and exc
cuted 10y the trio OF artists. two OF
whom managed TO eGect their es-
cape.
The senior Mr. Baker had just en-
tered the car and the younger man
was in the act of following. when his
progress was impeded for perhaps if
teen seconds-long enough for the job
to be pulled off without the Interior
enCe of the younger Mr.. Baker.
Father and son, upon boarding the
train. passed smooth looking
stranger standing on the steps of the
car. This is the one who prevented
the younger man from entering the
car and going TO his fathers assist
ance. Another took mp his position in
the door Of the car and only a few
feet from the accomplish on the steps
Just as the elder Mr.. Baker pass
ed this second individual, and when
opposite the last of the trio, who was
stationed just within the car. the
party who was standing in the door
the third quickly thrust his hand into
his victims pocket.
THE whole thing happened so
quickly that l didn't realize that
had been robbed until it was all over
said Mr.. Baker this morning in dis
cussing the robbery. Certainly not
more than five seconds elapsed from
the time j entered the coach until
discovered that / was robbed
Describing the actions Of the men
h.
OF any evil intent previous to being
robbed. Mr.. Baker said:
The man that 1 passed as I en-
tered the coach caught me by my
right wrist eievating my arm even
with my shoulder. while he pinion ed
my left arm to my side. precluding all
possibility of my defending myself.
simultaneously. the man inside the
car thrust his hand into my right
pants pocket extracting my pocket
book.
1T all happened so quickly that ]
didn't realize that I had been robbed
until 1 hurriedly felt my pocket dis
covering that my pocketboOk had been
taken"
Before Mr.. Baker could call out to
his son, who was prevented from en-
tertng the car by the confederate or
the steps. or TO sound an alarm, the
duo inside the car rushed past their
victim and jumped to the ground the
escape. The individual who pinioned
his arm to his side Jared not so for
tunate.
Seeking TO thus divert suspicion he
mace no attempt TO escape when but
tonholed by Mr.. Baker, who shouted
to several bystanders, who at this
Juncture rushed up.
This is the man that robbed me-
The man, who gave his name as
THOMAS +. Hanley, and said he was
"A ha 1 inc
stoutly disclaimed any knowledge of
the robbery. characterizing his deten-
ton as AN infamous outrage"
You will pay dearly for this" he
hotly told Mr.. Baker. threatening the
legislator with a suit. And you'll
pay me heavy damages" ne added.
Mr. Baker would not be shaken
in his identification.
He is the man who held me. while
ms accomplice went through my
clothes" he told Policeman Duggins.
who happened to be at the depot at
the time and who placed Hanley un-
der arrest.
He was taken TO the First Police
station and locked up for the night
being denied bail.
1t has since been learned that Han
ley. who represented himself as a
travelling salesman for a well known
perfumery importer OF New York.
Philadelphia and London. registered
James A. Britt. Washington. D. G.
When questioned at the depot yes
terday evening, he said that he was
at the train TO see his boss off.
Special Agent C. w. Thompson. OF
the Southern Railway. who figured
prominently in Hanley's apprehension
said this morning in speaking of the
robbery:
Il am confident that the man we
have. as well as his confederates who
got away. are criminals of the deepest
dye; adopts at the art. Since being
taken into custody the man we have
has given me no less than four nc
tit1ous names and addresses. He now
says he is from Philadelphia"
Mr.. Thompson asserted that he
knew who the mon were who got away
and says that il will be only a mat
ter of a few hours before they win be
arrested.
Hanley was arraigned for a prelimi-
nary hearing in the Police Court this
morning. He was represented by Gil
bert K. Pollock.
The man has every appearance OF
refinement. He was neatly dressed
and on his left hand wore two dia-
mond rings. His linen was immacu-
late.
The senior Mr.. Baker narrated in
court how he was robbed.
1.-The thing that makes me mad, -
he added, lis that / have just return
ed from Philadelphia and New York.
with their millions Of population and
countless thousands of crooks, pick
pockets and thugs. and where / was
not so much as even jOstled by a sus-
piciou looking person during my stay
in both cities. to be robbed among
my own people. 1t is CALLING.
Fortunately, ! had a quarter in
one Of my pockets which this mans
confederate (pointing to Hanley)
overlooked. l guess / should be
thankful for small favors."
The pocketbook which was secured
by the pickpocket contained two s.
notes. three 81 notes and a railway
ticket to HallsbOro.
Hanley. shortly after his arrest, de
manded that ne be searched which
was done by Policeman Duggins. On
his person was found a $40 note, a
IS note, three 81 notes and ca cents
in change.
He did not have a pocketbook
about him." his counsel reminded JUS
tice Crutchfeld.
THAT does not alter the case in the
least. nor does his willingness to be
searched" replied the justice. HE
didn't the 49,