Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-29
JONES MAKES GUESS
Captured Burglar Thinks He Is
'::In" to Stay.
ADMITS CRIMINAL RECORD
Arrest Of Mulatto Boy for Numerous
Recent Robberies.
REMOVED WINDOW SCREENS
Policeman Recognizes Him From
Description Given by Resident
Whose House He Entered.
REMOVED WINDOW SCREENS

Robert JONES' mulatto, eighteen years
old. is under arrest at the third precinct
police station, charged with being the in
diyidual who has been robbing houses in
a wholesale way In the northwest section
of the city. The prisoner admits, it is
said, that he has entered four houses,
gaining entrance by removing screens
and also says he snatched a pocketbook
from q woman near Scott Circle about
three years ago and robbed store in 18th
street about two years ago. He is said to
have confessed also that he committed
robberies in Baltimore and Philadelphia
before coming to Washington, and says
he was employed by the hardware firm Of
j. C. Vowel & Co., Culpeper, Va, about
two years ago.
Policeman J. r. Stringfellow of the
third precinct arrested Jones this morning
about 8 o'clock. He discovered him near
Scott Circle, and captured him after a
that he got the idea OF robbing houses
from Andrew Lee, the noted burglar who
is now in Jail awaiting trial on q number
Of charges. The officers do not take much
stock in the statement, however, believing
that Jones is acting upon his own in
itiative.
Lee did tell me how to rob houses"
Jones persisted. He carried jimmies and
weapons, but 1 never went armed
Were you afraid of being shot by peo-
pie in the houses where you committed
robberieS?" Jones was asked by a Star
reporter.
II thought they might try to do So" he
responded; but was always careful"
Admits These Robberies.
The houses the prisoner admits he
robbed are those of Claude E. Parker.
1893 Rhode Island avenue northwest Mrs.
C. v. Russell. 1918 18th street northwest:
DR.. F. D. Rice. 1900 o street; house in Q
street northwest between 10th and 18th
streets, not reported. He supplemented
this information by specifying the other
thefts he had committed.
Claude e. Parker, at whose home Jones
paid an early morning visit yesterday,
and where he stole small amount in
change, was one Of the first of his victims
to greet him at the police station today.
Each recognized the other, the negro
smiling pleasantly as II he thought he
had perpetrated a joke upon the occu-
pant of. the Rhode Island avenue house.
He had the bunch of keys he had taken
from Mr.. Parker's house and suggested
that as he had no claim to them they
might be turned over to their owner.
Jones says he is a native of this city,
although he has had no home any
where since he lived at the house OF
Mrs. Johnson. colpred, in South How
ard street, Baltimore. Since his re-
turn to this city. he declares. he has
slept in vacant houses and has peen
enough to more than provide his wants
He was searching, for a house to rob
this morning, but had not found one
to suit him before the policeman
caught up with him and took him into
my father died when 1 was a small
boy" said the prisoner, land don't
know If my mother is living. ! was
sent to the Cook Home for fighting,
but got tired of living there and ran
away"
Escapes From Custody.
Two weeks ago Jones was aDested
by the police Of the eighth precinct to
answer for the theft Of a coat from
q Florida avenue tailoring establish
ment. He was permitted to sit behind
the rail for few minutes. and when
with him the lad had disappeared
Nothing more was seen of him by the
local police until this morning.
Policeman Stringfellow was mounted on
his wheel. a change In the hours OF
duty having been arranged by Maj. Syl-
the city bettA' protected during the
early morning hours, and he noticed
young colored man walking south on 18th
street. Jones was aware that the police
man was watching him and turned east
on Massachusetts, avenue. He went al
most as far as 14th street, Stringfellow
following and calling to him that he
wanted to see him. Jones was willing to
let the wheelman see him, but he OBJ
jected and did not want him to get near
enough to place his hands upon him. and
when he fully realized that he was ar
rested, he ran, retracing his footsteps
to the circle and starting through Rhode
Island avenue: