The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-24
GRABS DIAMONDS
IN A STORE, Then
TRIES GETAWAY
Captain Myers Leads Excit'
ing Chase Through Bush
ness District
FUGITIVE MAKES
HARD STRUGGLE
Military Man Overpowers
Him Twice and Prevents
Him Using Heavy
Revolver

After attempting one OF the most
daring jewelry robberies ever COM
mittsd In Richmond and running out
of the Lumsden Optical company. 73l
East Main street. with tray of rings
valued at nearly $4,000. Frank Will
son, alias Myers. twanty-sour years
old. was captured last night after a
long chase by Captain w. NJ Myers,
chief bookkeeper In the store, and his
brother, John w. Myers. at Tenth and
Cary streets, ana was finally placed
in the hands OF Sergeant Zimmerman
and Policemen Dugan and Gary.
Captain Myers, who is commander
OF the Richmond Howitzers, was al
his desk in tho gallery in the Jewelry
store when his brother suddelly
called out stop him" Captain Ny
ers looked up, and saw Wilson run
ming ou, OF the store with the tray
OF rings under his arm He was
down the stairway In q leap. The
thief turned Down Eighth streetJ and
headed into the alley running between
Main and Cary streets. Putting on
his best gait and slipping on the
snow a. almost every step, Captain
AsSEs kaAbcu On tAsE A4SltANS- 4AS
latter turned down Tenth street. and.
with a great show OF uneoncern, be-
gan walking towards Cary. Captain
Myers ran up to him and asked him
IL he had seen man running away.
Two Desperate Struggles
Yes, there he goes" said Wilson.
but he was In such painting breath
tina; Captain Myers knew that his man
stood before him. He laid hands on
Wilson, and there was a scutfie- VIII
son attempted 10 reach his hand In
10 his right hip pocket, and Captain
Myers grabbed him ia the right sleeve
and In the collar OF HE coat While
the men were still struggling and the
prisoner was still trying to draw his
pistol. John w. Myers. brother OF
Captain Myers, and an employe OF
the tewelry store, rushed up with
revolver, Still protesting and strug-
Cling, Wilson was dragged mp 10 Tenth
street. He fought all the way, and
Captain Myers called on several citi-
zens TO help him. None would afford
him aid.
In front Of the American National
Bank Building. Wilson managed to
break away. and again reached for his
pistol. In a desperate clutch Captain
Myers cornered him again. and sue
eeedei in dragging him into the Leven :
son cigar company, near the corner OF
Ninth and Main streets. where the
three officers, who had been attracted
by the excitement and the crowd. ran
In and placed Wilson under arrest.
Most Of Jewslry Recovered.
In the melee Wilson dropped TWO
rings on the floor. Both were recov-
cred. Ten on, of eleven rings which
Wilson stole were found In the alley.
where he had dropped them. He car
rted the whole trap underneath his
coat. and dropped them as he ran.
Only one ring. valued at 1850, was
not recovered. That is supposed stil'
70 belyinginthealley. sn idrtcmp fwy
TO be lying In the alley. When he
was arrested, Wilson had only the tray
and two rings which he had tried on
In the store.
Wilson entered the jewelry shop be-
tween and O'Clock and purchased
q pair of cun buttons for 81. Sud
denly. II seemed. his eye was caught
by two diamond rings. and he asked
that they be shown him. He carefully
selected two,-and placed them on his
fingers The tray was resting on the
counter, and Mr.. Myers. all unsus-
picious. looked at him while he seemed
to be selecting more. There were out
few people In the store at the time, and
there was no one between Wilson and
the door.
Grabs Tray and Runs.
He eyed the door for a moment. and
then grabbed the tray and ran. Mr.,
Myers was speechless for a second. and
working at his typewriter in the gal
Jerry. 1t was a hard chase. but a short
one. Wilson dropped every ring he
. had stolen except those he had on his
fingers, and those he threw on the floor
ia Levenson's cigar store.
Tia value of the rings Is placed at
$3.50. But one 10 missing. The loss.
IL the missing ring Is not discov-
cred, will be covered by burglary In
surance.
Wilson was interviewed in the First
station by Captain Mcmahon and De-
t.ctive Gordon P. Smith. but refused
to divulze anything except his name.
Employs Lawyer.
..Sit on a tack" he said, .'and dig
for il. You won't get anything from
me-. The police feer sure. however,
that they win be able to convict him.
and did not much care that he de-
cIfned TO talk to them. Wilson, soon
after his arrest, inquired for Attorney
Harry r. Smith, Jr.. whom he en-
ployed to defend him. He Is of me-
dunn height. OF dark complexion and
ewes, and was nicely dressed.
Among his effects the police found
a silk cap. with which the prisoner
was supposed to disguise himself. A
revolver or thirty eight calibre was
found in his hip pocket, and he sim.
My smiled aa 1t was taken from him.
Though he was stripped from head
to foot. nothing else was found on
him. 1t Is supposed that he had a
confederate on the outside.
The captive gave the name OF VIII.
son, but in his pocket was found o
pawn ticket made out In the maine
OF Myers.
Claim He was Disordcrly. /,
X. q. Blankenship was arrested