Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-07
MRS. J.C. GROOME.
ATTHEFT HEARING
Society Woman Tells of
Having Handbag Snatched
From Arm
"DUTY TO PROSECUTE"
Two Negro Suspects Are Held
After Testimony Is
Given

For moro than two hours today Mrs.
John c. Groome, Of 1913 Clinton street,
prominent society woman and active in
the Emergency Aid. waited in the hear
ing room Of the Twelfth and Pine streets
police station to prosecute two negro
boys charged with snatehing her purse.
The negroes were held In bail for court.
Outside the station negro loungers
lazily eyed the big blue limousine that
had brought the society woman and
her attendants, and commented on the
hearing in which Charles Watson, Of
South Mole street, and william Mitchell.
OF South Eighteenth street, were the de-
PENDANTS.
Mrs. Groome sat with Miss Martha
Robertson, one of the witnesses, In n
small recess of the hearing room, look
ing out upon motley gathering Of al
legged criminals; of witnesses, patrol
men and loafers. She and Miss Robert
son were the only white women in the
room.
Duty to Prosecute
Naturally, I hate this stay at the
police station" commented Mrs. Groome,
but feel 1t Is my duty to see this mat
theft and leass 1t to the police to find
and punish the criminal I believe IL
more persons who have been robbed
would prosecute crimes would greatly
decrease. Certainly It is appalling to
feel that your own city Is SO unsafe and
unprotected"
When brought before Magistrate Imber
the negro boys confessed they had
snatched a purse from some woman
T.k1 ntr n
$50 o'clock last Friday evening. They
said 1t was black purse containing
something more than $40, some of 1t In
an envelope, and a pair of glasses.
"I believe they must have missed some
of the money" explained Mrs. Groome in
the courtroom. There were two enve-
lopes containing donations to the Emer-
gency Aid and another envelope holding
s25 in new bills just from the bank
Aside from that there was small chahge
in q card case and coin purse:
Mrs, Groome. whose husband Is Colo
mel John c. Groome, head OF the military
police in France, was walking east or
Snruce street near Fifteenth when she
stopped in front Of 1928. Spruce street
to talk with friend.
Bar snatched from Arm
"As We stood talking, I held my bag
on my left arm, Mrs. pIoohio
Suddenly 1t was snatched from peh,ne
and turned to see two ngures running
dcwn Rosewood street. 1 could not say
,,ositively whether the men were whitt
or negroes IL. ,,
Miss Martha Robertson, who wa
n..s,nr on the other side of Spruce
street and saw the men snatch Mrs
Uroome's purse. appeared as witness
~ am not sure that the men were
re1roes." she declared. But saw then
run up behind Mrs. Groome, snatch hel
,,nr.a and fun down Rosewood street
Detectiyes McCaughn and Toland sun
..auently arrested Watson and Mitchell
Commended by Magistrate
.rf all woman acted as you did, ther
would be fewer robberies and hoio-up
in the city"
Magistrate Harris made this state
ment at the Thirty-second street an
Wood and avenue station To-Day WIZ
= Mrs. Loretta Moore, 36os South Eisn,'
fourth street. told of foiling a wouio-p
robber in her home yesterday ai'ei
noon. ,. u;
home. entered the Moore home late yes
terday afternoon and demanded saho
xvich. when Mrs Moores daughter re
fused IL. he asked for money. This wa
reused. Mrs. Moore went upstair'
xvhi,e the daughter held the man !
conversation. .
The next thing Rivers knew he wa
!, being held UP by revolver and toio
ret out Of the house. He packed ou
- tba front door into the arms or ~
+ro,nan Cavanaugh, of the Sixty-nrt
street and Woodland avenue station.