The Washington times., 1913-10-22
HELD AS P|CKPOCKET
WHO ROBBED CLERK
Police Believe They Have Ac-
compIice of Man Who Got
Cash From Clements.

with the arrest of Thomas Sullivan,
alleged professional pickpocket. known
under half dozen aliases, SUSPECTED
OF being the PAL OF James L. Billings.
alias Boston Jack" now i'm the Dis
trtct Jail awaiting trial. the police be-
lieve they have in custody a second
member of the gang of pickpockets
who robbed Charles 4. Clements. dis
bursting officer of the Patent Office. of
an envelope containing $1,000 in all
elevator in the Interior Department one
day last week
Sullivan was arrested in Alexandria,
Va, and the police there are taking an
active interest in the case as the pris-
oner is said TO closely resemble one of
the men who robbed Henry Crump.
runner for the First National Bank of
Alexandria, of $3.50 about five years
ago: Crump had come to Washington
on business for the bank. and while on
a crowded street car his pocket was
picked OF wallet containing the So. 800
Suspected As AccompIice.
Billings. who was arrested Immediate
ly after the robbery following an eyclt-
ing chase through the Interior Depart
nIent ana the streets, is accused of be-
ing the man who actually picked the
pocket of the aged disbursing officer.
while Sullivan is suspected of being the
man to whom the money was handed
after the robbery in order to throw sus-
p:cion from Billings. Billings was ar
rsigned in Police Court yesterday and
held in the sum of 5000 for the grand
jury.
SulliN an was taken in custody in n
hotel in Alexandria shortly before last
midnight His arrest was brought
about by some good detective work on
the Part of Burlingame Weldon and
warren, OF the central Office, who had
been working on the case since Mr.
Clements was robbed.
The police knew that there Were a.
least two i'll the gang and following
sillings arrest they set about to get
some clue TO the identity of the others
festerday morning they received in
formation that a man in this city, who
had been endeavorine to set into COM
iEunication with Billings. had been in
communication with Sullivan in Alex
andria.
Suspect Rounded Up.
The detectives hurried to Alexandria,
but failed to get any trace of Sullivan.
They searched the city for several
hours without success. Finally, think |
ing the man might suspect the police
We're on his trail and attempt TO leave
he city by a freight train, they went to !
The Potomac yards. where they watched |
al trains until late in the night
In the meantime dragnet had been |
set in Alexandria. and shortly before !!
midnight, when Sullivan registered at q |
lotel, he was placed under arrest The |
nan with whom Sullivan had been |
yesterday Is said to have |
;ome to Washington from the West to |
ook after Billings interests and en-
ieavor to get him released on bond.
Sullivan gave his age as twenty-six,
ion. He was well dressed. and has the
appearance of a prosperous young busi- |
less man. In his possession he had sl6S
n bills
Picture In Rogues Gallery.
In spite Of the fact that he declined
o tell anything about himself, except
o say that his arrest was frame up
he police had little trouble in finding
lis picture and record in the criminal !
Identification bureau. Confronted with
picture of himself taken in Baltimore
n 1907, under the name of Thomas Ry-
n, Sullivan admitted it was his pho
ograph. but claimed he was acquitted
f the charge on which he was arrested
n Baltimore. The records do not show
he disposition of the case.
The records show that Sullivan is
nown as Ryan. Stone, and Maher. and
as been arrested in Baltimore, Yonk-
rs, " Y. New York city, Omaha.
;rooklyn. y. Y: Providence, r. l., and
I. Louis.
The records :how that Mason was /
r6 sted in Omaha in August, 1909. as
pickpocket and sentenced to eight
en- months in the Nebraska State
{ mite ntiary. In 81. Louis he was ar
rsted in 1897 under the name of Sui
van and was fined 500.