The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-31
Aged Burglar Declares He Is
Poor Old Man Who Can
not Help Self
SAYS HE EXPECTS TO
GO TO PENlTENTIARY
Wins Sympathy Of Bystand-
ers During His CONVEX
5ation With Judge
Richardson

William Hammond, aged burglar
and prison bird. was arraigned in
police court Friday. as & person SUE
pected OK felony Lila case NAE COL
tinued TO Saturday so that Detective
sergeants Wren. Wiltshire and Bailey,
who are In charge OF the case, can
arrange their evidence against the
old man fully.
u was Detective Wren who FIRST
fell on the trail Of hammond. The old
man had mentioned his name IN a
tsweIry store where he had gone to
sell some broken and blackened old
silver. and Wren's memory Travelled
back 20 the burglar who had made
himself famous in Richmond by rob
bling Judge Flournoy. once secretary
OF the Commonwealth. He found
Hanmonds picture in the pen!ten-
ttary. where he had served seven
years term under the name Of Mar
tin, and took II TO the jeweier who
identified II as that Of his customer.
With Wiltshire and Bailey. Wren
laid the trap that led 10 the arrest
Of Hammond. They also obtained
the evidence On which the govern
rnent expects to send him back TO
the penitent!ary: the Keys. which he
is said TO have used In opening doors,
the ptnchers he used TO pick locks.
the file he used to destroy halimarks
ON the silver he stole and the broken
and blackened silver that he had
smashed up and partly melted before
he disposed Of t.
Hammond in Subdued.
In police court Hammond was very
subdued. He went quietly hack 10
the prisoners cage when he was re-
nanded and sat down. n small, sorry
looking old man, with watery eyes.
Mayor Richardson went up to
speak 70 him and Hammond came TO
the bars Of the cage.
do YOU know this gentleman T.
asked Gilbert Pollock Of Hammond.
Hammond looked at the mayor long
and earnestly
Don, you know MAJ" asked ths
n1sxaf.
That's Judge Richardson who used
TO oa Judge hers and is now our
mayor" put IN Pollock.
on came the battered hat from
Hammond's old head.
NO. sir: didn't know you" he RS
Piled IN tremulous tones.
Take to the Mayer.
How many terms have you served"
questioned the Mayor.
Three. sir"
WAS II on your lsst term that YOU
were pardonedT" continued HIS Honor.
"No. SIR; the time before"
Hell ger abou, Ave years" com
rnented someone who hear the CONVEX
sation.
'''How old are you. Hammond @~ wen,
on the Mayor
sixty nine. sir."
He'll be seventy -four when he eornes
out again" said a hystander.
How long eso was II You robbed
ChristR church p Asked the MAJOR
Il don't know. sir: don't know any
thing about 81"
did you enter any Of theee houses
IN the n!Kht time. or Just the day time.
continued the Mayor
possn't Know Anything.
y don't know anything about II sir
I'm poor old man. They say that
robbie dthose houses and they say they
have the job ill put up or me. But
robbed those houses and they say the.
II suppose you know you will &C
back there 49, remarked one OF the by
ISLANDERS. as the mayor turned away
ri suppose SO. sir. I'm nothing but Il
poor old man. / have no friends and
no money"
Don't you plead guilty" one urged
him. Make them prove you guilty"
Thank you sir" said Hammond. as
he went back and sat down. 1t was
quite plain that the apparently help
ming him sympathy. And he seemed
to be aware of II.
Capt. Epps declared that Il was moi
Christ's church. but Grace church. thai
Hammond robbed more than thi-ty
years ago. The Christ church burg
larry WAS the work of 8 pair Of burg.
lars, he declares.