The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-30
Man Operating in Homes Of
Wealthy Folk Walks Into
Police Trap
WOULD ENTER HOUSES
AFTER LEARNING ALL
OF FAMILY WERE OUT
Ingenious Scheme Employed
by Veteran Crook Who
Had Become Too Old
to Climb Pipes

Aaron Getlman's pawnshop, 212 WesE
Broad street. early Thursday morn
ing and minute later, William 4.
Hammond, alias II. Nj. Martin, alias
K w. Martin, alias S. T.. Johnson.
habituai criminal. burglar and jail
bird, was under arrest.
1t Ia Hammond who has been max
ing life miserable for the police ever
since last May through robbing the
homes of the wealthy In the fashion,
able West End quarter. Rev kyiand
Knight was one of his victims anA in
one week about n month ago he rob-
bed the May. Rothsciiiid and Dfckin-
son homes. The Smiths and MeClel-
land families also suffered at his hands
and when the police complete the roll
of his burgIaries the scroll will con. Z
tain more than score.
Has Been There Before.
Hammond Is sixty-nine years old.
He has just completed a seven years
sentence in the :-enitertiary, having
been convfcted of burglary In Nor
folk. He was released last May. Then
he came to Richmond. and since the.s
has been the bane of the police. Ham
mond has served two other terms in
the penitentiary md when he goe6
back this time he will proba bly, go for
life.
To Detective Sergeants Wren. Wilt
shire and Bailey the credit OF the
capture belongs. They had been on
the trail of Hammond for some time
and had narrowed 1t until there waa
no chance for him to escape. The
detectives We're waiting for him at
three points and 1t fell to the lot OF
Wren to make the arrest
Wren Waiting For Him.
Hammond's visit to the pawnshop
was expected and when he entered
Wren was on hand to greet him.
Hello, Bin" he exclaimed advance
ing with outstretched hand. N
why. hello" replied Hammond
looking at him doubtfuily.
Don't you know me? I'm Wren.s
went on the detective.
"Oh. the detective" said Ham-
mond. "Howdy- dol"
Come along. Billy" was wren'a
reply.
Robbed Christ Church.
1t was just thirty-three years since
Wren had seen the old criminal. He
had created sensation then by rob-
bling Christ church OF its communion
service and prayer books. Another
time he walked off with the Law H.
brary OF the secretary of the Com
monwealth, including the numerous
volumes OF the criminal code OF vr-
ginia.
Hammond had been pardoned after
serving Il part of one OF his sentences
and to show how thoroughly he had Il
reformed would call almost daily On
the then secretary of the Commons
wealth. Judge tlournoy, and severy
time he called he got away with = Il
portion OF the State library.
In former days he Was regarded ~
II clever second-story man, bur hta
In lFF tra
done all in the open day He waAs
too old to climb up water pipes and
Chamber over balconies.
Nobody paid attention to a nice. iu~
nocent looking old man who would
go up To the door of q aprospefou1
appearing citizens in broad daylight
nor would they pay any attentfon
If nobody answered his vigorous RINK
at the door bell. Hammond chueo
houses that appeared to be unoccu-
pied or closed for the day. When -
obtained no answer to the bell lie
would go to the sidewalk. look around
and remark to a chance passerby th4k /
1t was odd that nobody appeared u
be at home. and the passerby would
agree.
Who lives there?" would be the
innocent question of the old man.
Why. John Jones'" the passerby i
would reply.
Would Use Phone.
Then Hammond would go arosA-e4
neighboring corner and look IN 4
John Jones' telephone number ana
get the operator to call up the hcu~s,
again and again. When he got no.
respo3se he knew that not even fha
servants were at home and the netd
was open for his operations.
Hammond took only solid siiv~F. q
He had no use for plate nor clOtily.
Ing. He was an expert ut knowing the Il
real metal from plate. Also, II waa
easily concealed about his person.
When he got to his home. 400
West Broad street, he would destroy
the hall mark on the silver, break q
up into as small pieces as possipies
and then burn IL, so that II appeared
as IL IL had been blackened and part.
ly melted by the burning OF q dws31~
ing. NJ WI
Then he would so to a jeweier. ma
telling him that the silver was IN Il
that had been saved from this fiamS ~
he would dispose OF 1t AZ old stIxG&Si
rates The police say that seven j0N63
elry stores have accepted Hamm61
tale u fires In his home from Wl1xx
the broken and blackened ssWer W1
tho sole salvage.
Wednesday he went fnt0 IN 1oy
~ stcpe Of o. e. Sp0tt. HI
Broad street, with = pair ~
spoon prongs which he I'D MA I61
"a made into 1 watch chay1
this Id to hts nndctnE HeSun&
nann0 81 Hammond. ARA whem
cs1fiSasd . ThiE1 -