Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-27
4 GYPS|ES ARRESTED
FOR STORE HOLO.UP
Three Women and Man Cap.
tured at Ferries After Auto
Chase Across City
ROBBERY NEAR DARBY

Three gypsy women arc being held
by the police today as bandits. \
man is prisoner with them, but the
police say he was merely an assistant
in "a daring holdup by the women at
Cardington. One of the women aud the
man are said to have been armed with
revolver.
The arrests were made after an cxcit-
ing chase through the city TO the ferries.
Mrs. ii. johnson, owner of gro
cory store in Marshall road, is said to
have been threatened with death and
forced to stand by while the three
women stole $50 from the cash register
and carried of n quantity Of groceries.
The women prisoners are Anna Mi
quail, forty five years old: her daugh- =
ter, Bessie Migual. twenty ono years
old; and Mary Varup, thirty eight
years old. The man in custody is
stephen Migual. nineteen years old, a
son of Anna Miguel.
The gypsics have been encampcd for
some time near Darby. Instead of
the usual lean horse and rckety wagon,
which form part of the gypsy equip
mcnt. they Travelled in a motorcar.
About > O'Clock yesterday afternoon,
they drove TO Mrs. .Iohnson's store.
This much they admit
But here the stories of what hap
pcncd differ.
Threatened With Knife, Charge
Mrs. Johnson says Stephen Migual
remained in the automobile outside
while the three women entered the gro
Gerry. Mary Narup, she says, drew a
butcher knife from underneath a gar
ment and, fourishing it, threatened tc
make mincemeat" Of Mrs. johnson il
she made an cutlery or resisted.
Then, Mrs. johnson says, the two
other women went to the cash register
and took $50. After that, according tc
Mrs. johnson, the three women helped
themselves TO groceries. These they arc
said to have loaded into the automo
bile which was driven off,
Deputy Sheriff Wolgaman lives
nearby, and Mrs. johnson telcphoncd tc
him as soon as the gypsies departed
The deputy sheriff was in pursuit
within few minutes in an auto.
mobile. lie was able to keep the
car used by the gypsies in sight in the
long race from Cardington into Phila
dclphia. along Walnut street to Sixty
third street, across Sixty third street
| to Chestnut street, east on Chestnut
street short way and then across
to Market street. The pursuer los
sight of the gypsies in the crowd o.
vehicles at Thirty second and Market
streets.
Arrested at Ferries
lie at once appealed to the police
for help and an alarm was sent from
the Thirty second street and WOODLAND
avenue station. Desk Sergeant Hill wa
mt the Fourth and Race streets station
when the alarm came in. In three min
utes he had policemen on watch at tn,
ferry stations. In seven minutes th
arrests were made at the Market stree
ferry by Detective O'Drain and Sergean
! Hill, who had hurried there from tn
! police station.
When the prisoners were searched
revolver was found hidden in the dres
Of Anna Migual. Her son had anothe
revolver.
Prisoners Deny Charges
The gypSies explained to the polio
that they were on their way to Roselle
n. ]. They denied that they had triet
to- escape in the long race from Card
ington and said they intended to re
turn to the gypsy camp at Darby
They said they went to Mrs. johnson
store to- buy groceries for gyps,
wedding at the Darby camp tomorrow
and denied that they had robbed Mrs
johnson. The police say they founC
the stolen money and groceries in pos
session of the gypsies.
The four prisoners were taken befor,
Magistrate Boyle this morning, VIII,
ordered that they be taken to Mill
bourne. They, will be examined thi
afternoon by Magistrate Yerkes, a
Sixty fourth and Market streets.