Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-03
NEGRO Thief SEEN
WHILE TRYING TO
BREAK IN DWELLING
Burglar Had Narrow Escape With
His Life at Twentieth and
Tatnall Streets.
WAS FACING LOADED GUN
BUT DIDN'T KNOW 1T

While ignorance Of the law is no excuse
before a court of justice Negro who
attempted 10 break into the house OF
Samuel Ellcott, 2000 Tatnall street,
early today, probably owes his life 20 the
fact that one good citizen questioned
his own legal rights. Unless the police
capture the Negro, he will probably
never know how close he came to receiving
the contents of IS calibre revolver Mt
the hands Of Walter Davis, q hoarder at
the Ellicott home. Two shots, which
were fred in his direction after he had
made his escape from the house, may
however have gwen him an inkling Of the
fate which he so narrowly escaped.
Davis, who occupies the front room on
the second floor of the house. SAYS he saw
the Negro plainly in the moonlight climb
on the roof of the front porch and
try to open the screen in his room
He always keeps a revolver on bureau
within easv reach of his hand and said
he did not shoot the Negro. because he
thought the law forbids shooting anyone
until they had actually entered the house
His carefully laid plans to set the mis-
creant when he did enter were spoiled by
Mr.. and Mrs. Eilicott.
About 2 o'clock Mrs. Elliott was ava
kened bva scfaping noise, as II some one
was trying to open window or tight
bureau drawer. She awakened her hus-
band and together they explored the first
floor and failing to find anything there
they went to Davis room and found him
sitting up, with the pistol in his hand.
He told them what he had seen and that
the Negro retreated when he heard the
Elicotts moving about.
FLED PURSUED ny SHOTS.
At this time. as they looked out Of the
window. they saw the Negro running
across vacant lot opposite the house and
Davis orened fire on him from the second
story window, but with no effect. The
fugitive darted into the bushes in the lot
and was lest to view The police were
notified and made search Of the hOue
and the immediate vicinity but failed 10
find any trace of him. He had not been
apprehended up to noon today.
Davis claims that he saw the man hang
ing around the Elliott home several
nights within the last week One night
he forgot his kew and was locked out and
il stead of awakening the Elliotts, he scaled
the front porch and crawled into his room
through the window This was one of the
nights he saw the Negro He believes that
this gave the miscreant the idea OF enter
ing by porch route.
The Elliott hcme is the only one on
Tatnall street between Twentieth street
and Concord avenue. Opposite is vacant
square covered with high grass and bushes.
1t was by way OF this lot that the burglar
made his escape.
VAN BUREN ST RECT HOUSE ROBBED.
Thieves made a bold entry into the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. f. G. Blackiston,
SIC Van Buren street, this morning be
. tween ard 3 o'clock, taking away with
them 40 pieces of valuable silver and a
small amount of money.
They entered the house by means of a
skeleton key, and thoroughly ransacked
the first floor. They used great skill
in the takirg of the silver from buffrt,
which stood in the siniDg room, for they
left nothing of any value. They also
entered the bed room of Mr.. Cannon, "a
boarder, removing this clothing to the
hall and from the pockets they took a
small amount of money. 1t is thought
that tlry intended TO ramsack the whole
house, but at that time Mr.. Cannon
awoke and uncorsciously scared them off.
When the family arose, at 6 o o'clock,
they found everything in confusion. All
doors were open, and the remains of some
eatables taken from the refrigerator were
found on the floor. A hasty meal had
evidently been eaten.