Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-12
WOMAN STEPS OUT,
THIEF STEPS IN AND
ROBS HOME OF $500
Germantown Wife Absent
Just a Few Minutes, But
Job Is Perfected-Police
Powerless.

Another thief today eluded the vigilance
of the plain-clothes policemen scattered
about Germantown and got away with
$1,000 in cash and jewelry before break
last The victim is Benjamin Stoker
66OS McCalum street, lumber dealer.
Mr.. Stoker left his home early to go
to his office. and Mrs. Stoker was away
from the house a few minutes on an
Grand Two maids were In the laundry
The thief stepped in few minutes after
Mrs Stoker left. He used side win
dow that had been left open.
A buffet in the first floor was ransacked
in an incredibly short space of time
and $l20O in cash and jewelry stolen.
when Mrs. Stoker returned a few minutes
later she found everything topsy-turvy.
She notified the Germantown police sta
tlon but the squad of bluecoats hurried
TO the scene failed to find any trace of
the thief.
HOMES SMALL ARSENALS
Hitherto peaceful homes in German
town. Logan Olney. Branchtown and Oak
Lane are now being turned into small
arsenals. Nearly everybody Is buying a
revolver and learning how to use it, and a
mass-meeting of citizens of Logan will be
held next Thursday night at which plans
will be suggested TO form vigilance
committee.
At least 200 men are expected to join
the vigilance committee, according to
William II. Bateman, the organizer
Fifty men each night will patrol the
streets in conjunction with the police,
They will endeavor to be sworn in as spe-
cial policemen and will continue the work
until Councils appropriate enough money
to supply the district with enough blue
coats.
Three boys arrested today at Oakdale
street and Germantown avenue were
found to have about $3.50 worth of jewelry
in their possession that corresponds In
description to the loot taken from homes
in Logan, the police say. The lads are
Charles Braver 16 years old, of 255 Car
Isle street; Edward Mageridge, Is years
old, of 2565 North Mole street, and Henry
McKenna, of 2537 Carlisle street.
Special Policemen Richardson and NAL
len, of the Park and Lehigh avenue sta
tion, caught the lads, VINO were sent to
City Hall for a hearing. Lieutenant
Boyer, of the Germantown station, thinks
the boys may know something of the
Logan ana GeTndnlOWH lHSIts'
Two other lads caught this afternoon
also were sent TO Central Station for ex-
animation. A watch and some jewelry
stolen from the home of w. j. Beam
1926 North 18th street, were found in their
possession, the police say. They ara
Joseph Sterling, II years old, OF 2oOi
North Carlisle street. and William john
SON. "A years old, of 2223 Fountain street.
Since Christmas 3s homes have been
visited by thieves in the Logan sec
tlon Ordinary subjects of neighbor-
hood conversation have given way now
, to the absorbing discussion of the unwel-
come visitors. A woman who lives at
1905 North 18th street stepped out on
the porch of her home this morning and,
noting a neighbor across the street. called
out:
"Hello, have you been robbed yet?"
Similar conversations are heard In all
parts OF the terroriLed district some
times the person questioned has been
visited by the thieves. in which event
the answer is mot since last week. or
mot since yesterday"
SQUARE MILE BEAT A "CINCH."
The Branchtown station has Sc police
men working in three shifts TO cover the
territory OF Branchtown, Logan. olney,
part of Oak Lane and part OF German
town. Some OF the men are mounted
The beats OF the policemen rarely are
less than a square mile in area and some
,un as high as a square mile and half.
The bluecoats consider a square mile
residents of Logan take exception to
SUPERINTENDENT of Police Roblnson's
statement that there is no objection to
the lighting in the district. They have
10 objection TO offer TO the work OF the
noliee of the Branehtown station, who
do the best they can, according TO house
hoIders Councils is blamed for its fall
ire 10 appropriate funds for more men
for the section. Director Porter asked
for an additional appropriation TO pro
tsat adeauately homes In Logan and sur
rounding sections 1t is probable that a
general demand for action by Councils
vim be made at the mass-meeting
Thursday