Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-16
OWNER PLAYS SLEUTH AND
RECEIVERS MISSING AUTO
c. Fl. Simpson, OF Clayvillc, Finds
His Stolen Car in Hopewcll
Jitncy Service.
POLICE ARREST TWO MEN
j. s. Williams and l.. Il. Albert, OF
Richmond, Arc Found Operating
Machine in Powder City and Are
Charged With Its Theft.

{. H. Simpson. of Clayville. ycster-
day proved his ability rs n sleuth SO
weii that he recognized the automobile
which had been stolen from him last
"Wednesday night. even though the
lamps had been changed. new license
tag attached. the clock removed and
other changes made in its appearance.
; lie was even more successful than this.
for he caught the two alleged thieves
In the machine and held them until the
arrival of officer who placed them
under arrest
j. :. Williams and L. F.. Albert, both
or this city. are the men now under
arrest here charged with the theft of
the machine. five passenger Ford.
rhey were unable to give bail last
night. and arc being held in Second
irecinct station pending their ar
raiEnmcnt before Justice Crutch,ield.
CAR STOLEN WEDNESDAY
FROM BANK STREET.
simpson struck the trail OF the al
lcrel thieves by chance but local de-
'ec'ites say that that is no reflection
Oh ms abii!tE, as many good clues are
obtained in just that manner Tho
car was stolen early "Wednesday. ri,,h,
from Rank Street between Ninth and
ieh'h' simpson intended starting for
nome that night. but the theft OF bis
machine prevented and he has remained
.n lHc!imohd. Yesterday he decided to
SiEc Hopewell the once ovcr"
iardiy had be stepped from tho car
which took him from pctersh,rr -
,loPcwell when he saw his car stand :
me IN front of store Two yourr
"cn were seated In IT and were about
10 start away. simpson glanced bur
sieuiE around and discovered Police
a,S s george w. Jones. OF the Hone.
Vel force, standing nearby.
Arrest those men for rho ,b.-,
mat machine. officer" he exclaimed
~" zones without waiting TO ask IN.
necessary questions ut once dct,,nnd
the mon.
HoTH MEN LOUD IN
DENIAL OF THEFT
Both were loud in their denials and
"enanaed that tho officer stand aside
he shown W
How do YOU know this is your ma
chine? he asked of Simpson.
Throw up the hood and you will find
anese arc the numbers on the motor
ana engine was the reply, as Simpson
passed the officer u piece OF paper
The men In the car cychoncad
chances. So did Jones and simpson
a Few minutes later. Jones looked nj
the occupants OF the machine, and ,hcy
E'nIiceo hurr,edly in another direction
guess you've got en- mister"
Jones informed Simpson. the mum
bers are certainly there"
Jones At once took the men into
CUSTODY and conveyed them TO the
police headquarters in Hopewell From
there the owner OF the car communi
Gated with Detective Sergeant wiz .,
the local force and requested that n
man be sent for the prisoners Wilv
could not leave the city, and II the
usual routine had been followed II is
probable that several days would have
elapsed before the mon reached tho
city. Jones signincd that he could
make the trip to Richmond, go he and
me prisoners returned here in SimD-
sons machine last night
USED AS JITNEY BETWEEN
PETERSBURG AND H0pEwEIL
The men persisted in their denials
Of the theft of the car when uues
toned by Willy. They claimed that
they had purchased the car from n
man on the streets Of Petersburg last
Thursday morning. They were unable
TO tell who the man was. and could
show no receipt for the purchase.
Both admitted they had been using tho
car as jitncy between Petersburg
and Honcwell, and also claimed that
they had been operating II In this city
Detective Willy learned that Williams
lives at sos North Fifth Street. and
went TO that address. He found that
the man is married, and that his wife
is in rather n prccarious condition
just at this time. The news of her
husbands arrest is being withheld from
her. When the detective searched the
house he found one OF Simpsons lamps,
his pump and the automobile clock
Although numerous reports OF stolen
cars have been made to the local no.
lice within tho last few months there
have been relatively few arrests and
few convictions. However, detectives
who had been working on the Simp-
son car theft are OF the opinion that
they have at last succeeded in sccur-
ing sufficient evidence to warrant n
conviction. The men Will be given n
preliminary hearing in the Police Court
this morning.
4 1IINIcnS