The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-17
BOOTH THIEF CAUGHT AFTER CHASE Police Believe He Has Been Operating Extensively
 Throughout The
 State
CAPTIVE,S POCKETS
 FILLED WITH COINS
Implements Used For Forcing Open Coin ReceptacIes
 Taken From Prisoner.

Caught in the act of robbing one of the telephone pay stations in the Atlantic hotel this afternoon. a man giving the name of Samuel Jacen of "A Hartford avenue, East Hartford, is being held by the police and is be- deved to be the mysterious telephone booth thief who has baff1ed the au- thorities of the state for the past year. In his arrest by Detective George F.. Simon, headquarters, following a live ly chase and brief struggle, it is be- heved that one of the most important captures of the year has been added to the record of the department
 Evidence has been found on him, it is reported, to connect him with similar robberies in all parts of the state. He is credited with being one of the most clever operators of his kind coming to the attention of the police. During the past six weeks there. have been between six and a dozen similar robberies coming to the attention of the Bridgeport police with no clues as to the person responsible.
 It was shortly after noon when the actions of Jacen as he left one of the booths in the Arcade was noted and an examination following showed that one of the pay station had been rob bed. He was trailed down Fairfield avenue by employees of the telephone company. seen to enter the Atlantic hotel lobby and go into one of the booths. Meanwhile Detective Simon was notified and hurried inside. Ac- acompaY1ied by Harold J. O1mstead of 54 Elmwood avenue, Louis Brague of 392 Huntington avenue, Stratford, and John Ktlbourne of 54 John street, he watched. All at once the door of the both flew open and Jacen rushed out, darted out into the cafe and was hur- rying for the street when Detective Simon placed him under arrest. There was brief struggle before the hand cuffs were placed on his wrists. In- Evestigation by the others showed that the pay station had been robbed in the customary manner. It was taken to police Headquarters for evidence.
 At first Jacen refused to say any thing but to give his name as James O'Brien Of 1211 Fairfield avenue, New [FIayenx This was doIbted. Later he gave Captain of Detectives George H. It is believed to be correct. He says that until some months ago he was employed by the telephone company and also admits to being but I g years old. This Is believed on account of his appearance and his expert work on the telephone wires.
 In his possession were found stop over tickets showing that he had been in Rockville Hartford, New Britain and other cities, in all of which sirni- i lar robberies have taken place. There were also found two screw drivers. used for prying open the metal coin
 receiver and breaking open the i'm side. His manner of doing it showed
 an expert knowledge as to the weak places and how to do it comparatively nofseIessly. There was $14.09, mostly
 in quarters. five cent pieces and dimes and a number of pawn tickets.
 Among the places robbed in Bridge port previously have been the tele-
 phone booths at the railroad station, l Western Union office. Atlantic hotel. | Stratfield and Arcade. The same pro-
 cedure was followed in all cases. The 1 Southern New England Telephone
 company has been pressing an active l campaign to capture him and his l acknowledged that he has been one o1 l the most danngerous of the criminals 1 operating against them.