Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-05
BOY ADMITS THEFTS
Baker Declares He Was in
Need of Food.
ENTERED SEVEN HOUSES
Made His Escape From Reform
School in Baltimore.
JEWELRY IS FOUND ON HIM
Attempts to Break Away When Two
Detectives Arrest Him in
His Room.


O'Brien of police headquarters. Baker.
who has admitted, the police say. he
committed the seven robberies or at
tempted robberies last Monday morning.
was arrested shortly before midnight.
The detectives trailed him from 9th and
E streets northwest. where they first
saw him. A short time before midnight
Baker entered his boarding place at sos
9th street northwest. He had been In
the room only a few minutes when the
two detectives arrived outside the door.
One Of them turned the knob, but found
that the door was locked.
A sharp rap by Detective O'Brien
brought the youth to the door. He hasti-
ly opened it. Just as the door was
thrown open. with tbs weight Of the two
detectives against it. Detective Spring
mann grabbed Baker by the wrists. AS he
did SO. Bakers coat flew open. exposing
to view a leather holster, containing a
heavy revolver hanging under his left
arm. Throwing tine youths arms upward
Detective Springmann forced him back
ward. while Detective OBrien took the
revolver from the holster. During the
time Detective SprinSE:ann HAD hold Of
him Baker attempted to break away. but
Baker soon submitted quietly to arrest.
False Mustache Found.
While the detectives were in the room
they made search of the place. Their
hunt disclosed two black masks. such as
are used at masquerade balls. and a
false black mustache. In Bakers hip pocket
the officers say they found a heavy leath-
er-covered blackjack. an electric pocket
fashlight and two soiled handkerchiefs
the corners Of which were twisted, in
dicating apparently that they had been
tied on the ends
Baker was taken to police headQuar-
ters, where, in the presence OF Night
Chief of Detectives Hartley and several
newspaper men, he was searched by
the two detectives. 1t is declared three
poke tbooks, two of them black. and
the other of tan leather. containing
$l2, a railroad ticket to Laurel, Md.
and Chinese laundry ticket, together
with several stickpins and other ar
ticles Of jewelry. among them a gold
watch, were taken from him.
During the searching OF Baker he
joked with. those in the room. and
picked up the false black mustachs
lying on Chief Hartley's desk, remark
ed that he was not quite old enough
to grow one of his own, SO he bought
one.
List of Houses.
A post card, which, upon being re-
moved from the young mans pocket.
did not at first attract much attention.
had. the police say, list OF addresses
Of houses on 18th, K and 10Th streets
and near Iowa Circle, and several on
downtown thoroughfares. The police
believe the list is a memorandum OF
places Baker had planned to enter. He.
however, refused to disclose any infor-
nation as to the addresses on the card.
Following an examination lasting sew
eral hours, Baker was taken to the first
precinct police station, where he was
locked up during the night.
shortly before o'clock this morning
Baker was taken to police headquarters.
His coming had been whispered about
the District building and when he en-
tered the 14th street entrance OF the build
ing, escorted by Policeman McDaniels. a
score of heads of offices, as we'll as
clerks, had gathered in the lower cor
sidor to get q glimpse Of the youth who
had terrorized peaceful Washingtonians
by suddenly flashing an electric light
into their faces while they slept.
Denies Robbing Grocer.
He was taken into the squad room OF
the detective bureau, where all Of the de-
tectiyes were assembled at roll call. He
was questioned as to his exploits. 1t Is
declared Baker admitted having been the
burglar who entered the seven boarding
houses Monday morning. An emphati
denial was made by Baker when it was
charged by one Of the detectives that he
was the man who had robbed Abraham
in, hi nf CT
ness. $50 Florida avenue northwest, last
night.
Baker also declared that he was not re-
sponsible for the robbery of seven houses
at Hyattsville, Md. Tuesday night or
early yesterday morning, and said he
had nothing to do with nearly ending
the lives of members OF the family OF
Edward Keegip by leaving a gas Jet
turned on in the lower part of the house.
Baker was photographed and measured
by the Bertillon system and his finger
prints also were taken by Inspector Lamb
and Photographer Sandberg while he was
at police headquarters.
Escaped From Institution.
Baker is said to have told the officers
his father holds a good position in Bal
in his home city. for which he was ar
School. He was to have been confined
there until he was twenty-one years old.
Several days before Thanksgiving, how
ever. he said he made his escape from
that institution and came to Washington.
He said he tried to get work and would
have led an honest life while here, but
was unsuccessful in his quest. He de-
clared that although he carried a revolver
with him he did not intend to shoot any
one.
The local police have notified the Balti-
more authorities Of Bakers arrest He
probably will be taken to the Police Court
tomorrow for a preliminary arraignment.
Only ole charge had been preferred
against him as yet by the detectives
That is a charge Of housebreaking at the
home of Philip Slater, 1345 L street north
west. 1t will be remembered a man
entered Mr.. Slater's home and was in his
bedroom when the occupant awakened
He started to get out Of bed. when the
fed from the room and escaped
RECEIVER FOR NEWSPAPER.