Evening journal., 1915-01-16
BOYS STEAL AUTO.
TRY PURSE Grabbing
Three Youths Break Out of
Detention House and
Move on Crime Trip
CATCH TWO, BUT
LEADER ESCAPES


the Juvenile Court escaped al noon
yesterday from the detention home.
No. 204 w Seventh street and before
two of them were captured here early
last evening they had added a long
list Of offenses to their careers. The
youths, David Lofand. aged il years,
Of this city, Howard Morgan, No. 1904
South 9th street and Michael Rainone.
aged IA years, No. 1921 Hazel avenue,
Philadelphia, after their escape from
the home went TO Linwood. Pa, where
they are alleged to have stolen an
automobile owned by Lit Brothers.
Philadelphia, In which they drove to
this city The youths then proceeded
70 play the role of auto bandits and
before they We're caught they had at
tempted TO steal purses from several
women they aecosted on the streets.
one OF the victims being Mrs. Fred
erick ]. Hilbiber, of No. 1922 Van
Buren street, who was accosted by
leonand at Gilpin avenue and Van
Buren street Loiand, who failed
N MS attempt to get Mrs. Hilbiber's
purse ran to the automobile that was
ed away. '''e''
This attempt at highway robbery
on Mrs. Hilbiber as well as tho loss
OF lap robes by ]. A. Booker and VIII
lard 5. Springer. residents of the
Ninth ward, early in the evening.
caused the police TO be on the look
out for the thieves, and some time
later Mounted officer Robinson found
a machine bearing Delaware license
tag NO. 344 carrying three boys along
Washington street. The mounted OIL
heer gave chase on his motorcycle.
ana as he reached the side of the au-
tomobile, the youth steering the car,
VINO was later identified as Lofand,
turned the automobile towards Rob
inson. In order to prevent being run
down the patrolman was compelled to
run his motorcycle on the sidewalk.
The three youths then continued in
Washington street toward Ninth street,
and when that corner eas reached
Lofland turned the car west. Again
Officer Robinson was forced on the side
walk. The chase then started west on
Ninth street, and at jackson Lofiand
jumped from the automobile and es.
capped. Officer Robinson then placed the
other two boys under arrest and
brought them to the City Hail. The ma.
chine was taken to the rear Of the police
station.
Following their arrests the two boys
related their experiences to the police
men on duty at the station house. They
said that at noon yesterday Lufand
planned to attempt to escape from the
cell at the detention home. LofandI
called for water and when Mrs L. Ross
Farra, wife Of the probation officer Of the
court, went TO the second floor she left
the keys TO the door in the lock While
the water was being taken to the boys
they say Lofand turned the lock, and
later, when the attendant had removed
the keys and left the second floor of the |
building, the boys walked from the |
cells. Searching for valuables, they en- /
tered the bedroom of Officer Farra. on |
the second floor OF the building. ana |
ok therefrom two watches and 4
blackjack. With these the boys walked
down the front stairs and into the
street
Once free, the three boys started to-
wards Philadelphia and after walking
several miles. driver of team gave
them ride to Linwood Here. the boys
say. Lotland declared he would steal an
automobile and n machine used bv the
Lit Brothers, in its special delivery
service, was found iii the road nearby.
Into this the three boys jumped and the
return to this city was begun
When the ear arrived here the BOYS
being cold, took lap robes from the ma
chimes OF Mr. Booker and Mr. Springer.
which were standing in front OF their
homes beyond Washington street bridge. |
1t was at this time that the bows dc.
elded to hold up women passing along j
the street. Under the directions Of Lof-
land, the two smaller boys were left out
of the machine and they made several I
attempts to snatch purses from the j
hands Of women who were passing along J
the streets. IA
The only reported case at highway .
robbery was made by Mrs. Hilbiber /
who was returning home from a visit q
to her daughter. Mrs. Elsie Schlick. q
Of Gloucester, n. J. Mrs. Schlick. y
her baby in her arms, was
walking beside her mother. at Gilpin 4
avenue and Van Buren street, when y
q youth approached the women and I
asked the time. The woman referred
The boy to the store nearby. where 4
upon the youth started to tug at the &
purse carried by Mrs. Hilbiber.
II was afterward learned that while
several attempts at highway robbery a
had been made, nothing of value had a
been secured. Loiiand, who was {
awaiting trial before the Juvenile L P
Court on charge of driving off an
Other automobile without the consent
)f the owner had been an inmate of
The George Junior Home in New II
Jersey, but he had been sent back II
70 the court here owing to his age @
The two Philadelphia boys were ar e
'ested here early in the week for tres J.
passing on Pennsylvania Railroad y
company property and they were be- n
ng held TO await word from their s.
parents. lie developed today that the a
ocal police had received a request
rom Philadelphia concerning the two :
boys several days ago. but they did
lot know that the boys were being de-
aimed at the Juvenile Court home
iere.
Following the arrest Of the two
,oys last night. Chief Black communi-
'ated with the Philadelphia police.
md officers will be sent here this af-
ernoon. AS the alleged theft of the
automobile was committed in Penn
ylvania, il will be a matter for the
ihicials of that State to handle
The local police are endeavoring to
pprehend Lofand. This morning an
aicer at the police station found one
4 the watches taken from officer
y. tafslt