Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-21
NEGRO BURGLAR
SECURES $50 At
POINT OF 4 Gun
presks Into Home Of Mrs. Matthews
1871 Sixth Avenue. at 4O'clOck
This Morning.
ruEy LOCKS HER IN CELLAR
r.tes Sack Containing $40 in Bills
From Miss Mary A. Pratt as
She Lies in Bed.

Negro burglar Of the Will Carter
,,ns early this morning perpetrated
one of the boldest robberies in Rock
Island in many months, which netted
him $50 in cash.
This Negro entered the home of Mrs
Hannah Matthews. 1921 Sixth avenue,
ash from Miss Mary A. Pratt, retired
bool principal, who makes her home
m Mrs. Matthews, and $40 of Mrs.
atthews' money. after locking her in
1a cellar
he police were notified as quickly
ha Negro left the home, but up to
this afternoon had found
M TIA him. Eleven Negro sus-
meets were arrested early this morning
and all later were released.
Mrs. Matthews was awakened about
4 o'clock this morning by noises in
the house. She lie still for several
minutes, listening breathlessly. and
soon heard someone walking in the
kitchen. Deciding TO investigate. she
got No and walked to the kitchen door.
Tpon opening il. she was confronted
br Negro. who held a fiashlight on
her with his left hand and a wicked
looking revolver in his right hand.
- III YOU scream or make noise, I'll
kill YOU" the Negro growled.
$50 open that door to the cellar
way and be quick about it, he COM
msnded
After Mrs. Matthews had opened
this door the Negro ordered her to &c
down the stairs into the cellar. Then
he closed the door and turned the key
locking her in the basement.
With Mrs Matthews out of the way
the Negro ransacked the home as sys-
teInatically as he could in hurry. He
picked out some Of the best garments
he found, furs, coats and other arti
cIes. and threw them in q pile on thu
Kitchen floor. He also found $40 be
longing to Mrs. Matthews. which hat
been secreted under a dish This HI
pocketed.
Next he came to the room wner'
Miss Pratt was sleeping. She did no
awaken until he entered. He pushe'
the fashlight in her face and com
manded her to sit up. Seeing strin
around her neck. he next proceeded t
PULL il off over her head. In littl
sack at the end of the string was 81
i In currency.
He tore the sack open and pockete
( the money with a grunt Of satisfaction
Still covering her with the revolver
be backed out of the room without an
CHER word. Miss Pratt was too fright
ened to utter word.
A little later Miss Pratt heard hir
leave the house. On getting up sh
discovered Mrs. Matthews predica
ment and released her from the cellar
Arrest II Suspects.
The police were notified immediate
" after the robbery. A squad OF pa
troImen was sent out to spread
aragnet over the city. Every Negr
who could rot give a good account
himself was placed under arrest an
taken to the police station. BY
o'clock this morning II Negroes ha
besn arrested. None of them answer
ef 10 tEe descrlpllou iui hisnou
Mrs. Matthews and all were release
after they had proved satisfactor
alihi.
Mrs. Matthews described the Negl
Intruder as being of short stature an
wearing stiff hat.
The Negro had obtained entrance
the home by opening window IN u
Lt,bou au Tho hurpIar had ny1den
" secured enough loot in cash. he lie
the clothes which he had piled on Il
kitchen floor.