Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-11
WOMAN CATCHES
SOLDIER CROOK
a.
IN FAKE SCHEME
Sister of Late Detective Rooney
Holds PanhandIing Army
Man at Point OF a
Revolver.

Miss Margaret Rooney, 29l9 Fowl
er avenue, a sister ot Detective Ser
geant Frank Rooney, who met his
Death as a result with fight with
the bandits who robbed the Mala-
shock jewelry store last winter, has
Qualified as policewoman,
Thursday evening she held SOL
der Of the Fort Omaha balloon
school under arrest, at the point of a
revolver. until a lieutenant and de-
tail Of military police arrived and
took the man into custody.
On the evening in question, Miss
Rooney was approached by the SOL
Cier, who told her he was soliciting
cash for fund to go to caf,teen pur-
poses at the fort. He represented
that the men at the school were not
we'll fed and to keep themselves from
being in semi-starved condition
they we're raising money to establish
a fund to buy supplies for their mess.
Miss Rooney felt the man was not
telling her the truth and that no SOL
diers were better fed than those OF
Uncle Sam. She had read something
OF their daily menu and the quantis
ties that were given the men for
their daily ration and felt that the fel-
low was dishonoring his uniform and
discrediting his honest comrades in
making canvass OF this character
end was an imposter.
Telephones Fort.
She excused herself to the soldier
for moment, saying she had to 60
into the house and wouldNsoon return,
Inside she went to the telephone
and called up Colonel Hersey, COM
mandant at the fort, and told him of
her experience with the soldier who
stood patiently waiting outside. The
colonel told Miss Rooney that the
man was attempting confidence
game on her and asked her to keep
him entertained until lieutenant and
detail OF military police could ar.
rive and take the fellow into custody.
Miss Rooney felt that she was in
capable of entertaining him for the
length of time required, but she was
game, and she procured a revolver,
and with the weapon confronted the
soldier, told him to throw up his
hands, which he promptly did, and
she held him under guard for. the so
minutes that transpired until the ar
rival Of the officer and squad OF mill
tary police.
Placed Under Arrest.
The man was then placed under ar
rest and taken to the fort. His name
could not be asccrtained.
At the investigation held at the fort
Friday the fellow confessed he had
collected quite a sum of money from
sympathetic women in the neighbor-
hood OF Ames avenue, Fowler avenue
and contiguous streets between
Eighteenth and Twenty-fourth
streets. He told various tales to all
Of his victims, while on his pam
handling trip, confning his story
largely, however. to the'one that he
was half starved and the money was
for mess fund. y 8
That afternoon he was accompanied
to al! of the homes of his victims,
where he made abjeet apology and re-
funded the money he had collected at
each place. The prisoners apology
was supplemented by an explanation
by an accompanying lieutenant, who
assured the women who had been vic |
tiinizcd that the soldiers at the post
felt disgraced by the pusillanimous
act OF the prisoner and that the latter
was the only man OF the thousands
who had mobilized at. Fort Omaha
who could be guilty Of so disgraceful
an act.