The Washington times., 1914-01-11
ALLEGED HOLD-UP
MAN IS PEN|TEkT
John POpkins Changes His
Mind About Return to leav-
enWorth Prison.

Penitent in the cold. gray dawn of
the morning after, John Popkins, ar
rested for an alleged hold-up, has lost
all ambition to return to the Leaven-
worth penitentiary. When arrested
Saturday night, Popkins declared that
he has been an outcast since his return
from the prison. and that the brand OF
the pen had caused him to lose hope.
This he Offered as the reason and eS-
cuSe for entering a lunch room on NJ
street. near the Aqueduct bridge, ana
attempting to hold up tie place.
Today Popkins declared, II certainly
do not want to go back. Goodness
knows eight years OF Leavenworth Is
enough for any man; man; 1t -oInnstd must have ave
actions and my conversation last
night" Then with a despsiring sign,
he said, 81 guess 1t Is no use, 1 will
probably have to so back noW' any
way"
Popkins is not SO talkative today.
Instead he maintains O u'oody and re-
morseful silence. According to the po-
lice records, he was first sent 10
Leavenworth for attacking fourteen,
year-old niece. Popkins and tine slrI
were living at the home of the girl s
aunt. Popkins became infatuated with
the girl, It is said, and began paying
her attentions.
To Send Her Away.
This left the girls aunt to the deter
n1ination to send her to her home in
Georgetown According to testimony at
the trial, Popl1ins learned Of this in
July, 1906 and in his dependency be-
gan to drink. He returned to the aunt $
home, and, calling the girl to him.
seized her and struck her three blows
with a hammer. He then slashed her
throat and wrists, and, thinking he
E,gl 1T hnr al
wrist and awaited arrest Despite a
crushed skull and loss of blood, Miss
Popkins recovered She has since en-
joyed good health and has married.
Popkins was given a ten-year SEN
tence. Six months ago he was released,
and after working in a Western city
came to Washington. He visited his
father and sister on Columbia street.
He obtained employment with Sew
enth street furniture house, but his
work ran out, It is understood, after
the Christmas season. A week or more
ago he was arrested for being drunk
py the police of the Second precinct,
and was sent to Occoquan.
Another sister of PopkinS was re-
sponsible for his arrest Saturday night.
After the attempted hold-up, Popkins
fled to the sisters house in Thirty-third
street and had eluded his pursuers.
Hides Under Bed.
He climbed in a rear window and hid
under a bed on the third floor. He was
not recognized in his dash through the
house, and the police were called. Soon
after his arrest for entering the house
Popkins was identified as the alleged
hoId-up man.
The 'hold-up occurred shortly after
dark. Popkins, il is alleged, entered the
lunch room of John SkOTgas, at a time
when no one was to be seen but James
BetaS, a waiter. Mrs. Skorgas was in
the kitchen. Popkins pointed a revolver
at Metas and demanded the contents of
the cash drawer. After playing for time
until Popkins got close. Metas. seized
the gun.
A struggle ensued. and in il the
trigger was pulled The weapon was
pointed at Metas at the time, but his
thumb was between the hammer and
the plunger and stopped an explosion
of the cartridge. After a brief struggle
Popkins fled. He was identified by
Metas after his arrest.