Evening journal., 1913-10-24
CRIME WAVE
WHILE NIGHT
HOLDS CITY
Store Robbed Of Guns, Armed
HighWayman Stops Youth
and Woman MOIeSted
PURSE GRABBER GETS
AWAY WITH LOOT

A wave Of lawlessness swept over the
city last night. One Of two thieves who
smashed window in the store of E. ].
Chapman, at Delaware avenue and
Scott street, and stole two guns, is sus-
pected of being the highwayman who
later held up James Thompson, at the
point of a shot gun, but got nothing.
Early in the evening MRS. Edward Mon
tsgue was molested by a strange man
while she was entering her home, at NO.
1873 Rodney street. Several nights ago
a purse grabber attacked a woman on
the western side of the city and made
off with his loot
Smashing a plate glass window of
the hardware store of E. J. Chapman
at Delaware avenue and Scott street
about 70 o'clock. thieves secured two
shotguns that were in the window
and made their escape in the glare of
the electric light on the corner with
out interference from either the
neighbors or the police.
The implement used to smash the
window was a common brick wrapped
in paper to deaden its sound in strik-
ing the window. The hole made in
the window was almost large enough
for man to crawl through, and it
is believed that the thieves became
frightened over the noise that the fall
ing glass caused and ran away after
In NH la
ed at about $40 each. The window is
smashed beyond all use. 1t was valu-
cd at about $40. The brick was
wrapped in a paper which bore the
advertisement of butcher whose
store is in the neighborhood and may
be useful in tracing the thieves.
According TO stories told this morn
ing, two very suspicious strangers
we're seen in the neighborhood during
the evening One of them was dress
ed in light clothes, and by their rough
appearance they attracted more than
passing attention. The men seemed
TO be watching something. and looked
over the neighborhood walking
around several blocks and finally
coming back to the B. and o. depot
z. J. Chapman, proprietor Of the
store, noticed the men early in the
evening and thought them very
suspicious characters. He was in
the Logan House a little after 10
o'clock, when the men came in, and
several other persons remarked that
the actions of the men were SUSPECT
GUS. Finally they went out, and Mr.
Chapman followed them. They walk
cd around the block and passed the
fully. with the air of a prospective
purchaser and then returned to the
railroad bridge over Delaware ave-
nue. Mr. Chapman went over to the
Matchbox near the depot and watched
the men for some time.
Becoming alarmed he looked about
for a policeman, with the intention of
having the men arrested as suspicious
characters. He could not find an Of
ficer however, and finally concluded
that he was foolish to watch the men
who really had done nothing but look
at his store, and he went home.
few minutes. later the men were
seen going up Delaware avenue and
in about half an hour neighbors of MIR.
Chapman we're awakened by the
sound OF falling glass. One woman
who lives over the hardware store,
heard the crash, but not hearing any
other noise. decided that nothing was
wrong. and went back TO sleep.
Armed Youth Tries Robbery.
Coincident with the Chapman store
robbery a white man armed with a
double barrel gun held up James
Thompson, employed by the Dragon
Run Dairy Company. at Eleventh and
West streets, early this morning, but
got nothing.
-'he attack on Thompson was made
as he alighted from his milk wagon
to serve milk at No. 1907 West street.
Thompson says the highwayman was
tall young man who was standing
on the pavement with the shot gun
under his arm. AS Thompson served
the milk he thought the stranger was
waiting to steal the milk. AS Thomp-
son came towards the street leaving
the alley lie found the man pointing
the gun directly at him.
Thompson told the man he did not
nave money and wien requested to
eurn over his watch and ring Thomp-
Bon again said he had neither.
After the highwayman start
ed Thompson's horse up the
street he dropped the gun to his side
and ran around the corner. The man
was later seen by arother milk man
Continued on Page Twelve).