The Washington herald., 1911-08-07

Missouri and Maine avenues northvvA
Lieut.. Flather devised the plan where
by 1t became possible to capture the
guilty parties. Lieut.. Flather explained
last night that many men. who either
miss the last car going to their homes
In the suburbs or find 1t too warm to
sleep indoors. select places on the grass
in the parks and easily fall victims to
thieves.
In company with Precinct Detective
Joseph Grant. Lieut.. Flather went to
the park about midnight Saturday. Both
men were in civilian clothes. Four other
policemen in "cits"-those Of the pre-
cinct who did not carry weight for age
were ordered to climb trees and sit qui-
city in the branches. They were given
signals by which they could inform the
lieutenant and precinct detective in what
section of the park suspects were prowl-
ing.
Flather and Grant both stretched
themselves out on the grass. It came
near being snoring match between the
two men as they lay prone and played
possum' for more than an hour before
they heard the expected "catcall."
Finally they were aroused by the signal
that the enemy was operating near
Third street and Maine avenue. Creep
ing along the grass, the two officers
halted in sight OF a negro sitting on
bench near a sleeping white man. The
negro was evidently making sure the
other man slept.
Nab Thief Mt Work.
Coming close enough to detect the
movements of the negro's hands, the Two
sleuths awaited the crucial moment when
the thief would ply his craft A moment
later their expectations were gratified
when they saw tho thief deftly draw
from tie sleeping mans pocket a small
book. In an instant Grant and Father
were upon the man.
The victim Of the theft, who later
gave his name as William White, Of ZIG
Four-and-h-half street, awoke at this
moment and identified articles Of which
the negro had picked his pockets as his
property. White told the police that he
was sleeping in the park because he
found il more comfortable than in the
house.
After sending the negro. who gave his
name as jackson, to the station house,
Flather and Grant again returned to
their sleeping postures on the grass.
They had not lain down very lorg when
the 'catcalI' again reused them to duty.
This time crawling on their hands and
knees, the officers noticed a negro pass
q white man asleep on bench and kick
him on tho foot, evidently to discover
whether or not the prospective victim
was asleep.
Second Robber Nailed.
The negro passed on, and in a little
while the policemen saw the negro Finks
come through the park from another d.
rection. He seated himself by the side
Of the white man and Immediately be-
gan TO go through his pockets. He had
just pocketed his loot when Grant and
Flather placed him under arrest.
The man whom Finks is charged with
is Albert Burgdorf, OF Chevy
Chase Burgdorf told the police that
he missed the last car to his home last
night and decided to sleep In the park.
Mr.. Burgdorf will appear against the
negro in court this morning.
Lieut. F'lather said last night that he
and Grant were lying down several times
In different sections OF the park, and
that suspicious looking characters passed
them and stopped.
We decided not to feign sleep after
staying in the parking a little while"
said Father because we were afraid |
IF being knocked in the head while We
ay on the ground. unable to defend our
selves