The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-10-11
PATENT LAWYERS
HOME BROKEN INTO
BY COLORED THIEF
Attorney Sees Man Ransack
His Room While Pretend
ing to Be Asleep.

Following a series Of daring daylight
roooeries in the northwest section of
the city colored man believed by the
ponce to be the one responsible for
many Of them, was discovered early to-
day In the home Of Edwin E. Vrooman,
patent attorney, living at 14O1 HAM
uton street northwest
Awakened by an unusual noise in his
bedroom about 2:3o o'clock. Mr.. Vroo-
man saw a colored man standing in
front Of his bureau. Mr.. Vrooman's re-
volver was in one Of the bureau draw
ers, and fearing the thief might pick up
the weapon and shoot him If he made
an cutlery, he lay still until the man had
completed his work.
Through half-open eyes Mr.. Vrooman
watched the thief at work for more
than ten minutes. He went over every
thing in the bureau carefully, took a
gold watch to the window where he
examined It, decided he had no use for
the ttmepiece and put 1t back in the
drawer.
Burglar Disappears.
Finally, having completed his work at
leisure, he climbed out the window to
the porch roof and down a ladder to
the ground. The ladder had been left
by painters. Awakening his wife and
telling her he was not feeling we'll, so
as not to frighten her by aging there
was burglar in the house. Mr.. Vroo-
man got up, took his revolver from the
bureau and hurried downstairs. He
opened the front door and went out on
the porch to look for the burglar, but
the man had made good his escape.
Investigation showed that the thief
bad stolen pocketbonk containing IS
from Mr.. Vroomans trousers picket.
The thief is believed to be the one
who ransacked several homes Yesterday
hnG who drew n revolver and threat
ened to shoot Mrs. Henry w. Kenner
wife Of druggist. living at I'LL Seven
teenth street northwest. when he
thought she was endeavorinR to thwart
his escape from her home. During Mrs
KennerS absence Yesterday afternoon.
the colored maid. Sarah Kensley. was
attracted by the persistent barking Of
"a ret fox terrier before closet door
In Mrs. Kenner's bedroom.
Threatened to Kill Her.
The maid went upstairs, opened the
closet door and found a colored man
hiding back of some clothing. The man
pushed the colored woman aside and
was Just starting down the front stairs
when Mrs. Kenner came in the front
door. Realizing that the man was an
the door for him In order that he could
get out without causing any trouble. |
The housebreaker, however, thought |
that she was endeavoring to intercept
him. Drawing a revolver. he said:
Get out Of my way or I'll kill YOU"
The man then fed from the house, |
and by the time an alarm was sounded |
had escaped. In the meantime a report
had come into Police Headquarters that |
the home Of Mrs Mary W. Coleman,
l4lS Girard street northwest, had been |
ransacked during the absence of mem
bers of the family and revolver
stolen 1t is believed the revolver with |
which the thief threatened Mrs. Kenner |
IS the one stolen from Mrs. Coleman's |
home, as 1t Is believed by the police |
that the same man was responsible for
both thefts.
The homes Of William r. Andrews
David r. Chamberlain, 1853 Fairmont |
street northwest were also entered yes
terday afternoon, but nothing stolen |
Report was made to the police that |
the apartment of Berkeley Simmons, an |
attorney, living at PA Wyoming ave-
nue northwest, was ranSacked yester- |
DAY, and a pair of shoes stolen.
The Sanitary Grocery Companys store |
at Seventh street and Pennsylvania
q venue southeast was entered last night |
by breaking the glass in the front door |
md IS in cash and $50 worth Of canned |
goods stolen.
A thief was also busy in downtown
store yesterday. While |
shopping in the store three women were
robbed OF their. pocketbooks. Mrs w.
H. sorrell. Of "a Eighth street south
Seventeenth street northwest, lost $40,
md Mrs. Id. Winslow, S35 Fifth street
northeast, was robbed of SO.