The Washington times., 1921-05-29
HELD
ind. c. FOR
NAIL THEFT
Willie Keith and Thomas Ryan
Nabbed by Local Police
After Chase.

After Willie Leo Keith. twenty
one years old, had admitted to Wash
ington detectives that. he was one Of
the men wanted in connection with
the shooting of United States mail
messenger and theft Of three mail
bags at Bayonne, N. j.. on April 20.
his pal. Thomas Francis Ryan. last
night confessed that he was with
Keith at the time of the theft.
DENIES SHOOTING CHARGE.
Keith denied he had anything TO do
with the shooting or Matthew Lyons.
the mail messenger. Ryan admits he
and Keith were at the scene of me
crime. but refuses to say who did the
khooting.
Both young men claim to be from
Chicago. The Postofnce Department
has offered rewards Of 5000 each for
the two men.
Arrested Friday as ordinary room
ing house thieves. Keith and Ryan
were finger printed and their Ber-
tiiion measurements taken. Both
gave numerous aliases.
1t was through nnger prints ana
Information furnished by the Post
Office Department that washington
identity. Last night after detccti~ cs
had grilled Ryan for three hours and
Informed him that Keith mad come
through with tae whole st,ry. he ad-
nttted havins bean with Keith in
bayonne. N. j., at tho time Of the
shooting and -obbsry OF the mails.
CLEVER POLICE WORK.
The arrest and Identification Of
Keith was due to the clever work Of
Inspector Clifford L. Grant, chief of
detectives. and Detectives Arthur b.
scrtvener and Edward j. Kelly. who
doubted that the youth had given his
right name when he was arrested and
who believed he answered to q de-
scription of one of the three men sent
out by the Postoffice Department.
A week ago Inspector Grant learned
that two rooming-hous thieves were
operating In this. city and he sent de-
tectives to all Of the second d-hand deal
ers to be on the lookout for them.
On Friday one of the men--. Keith
sold suit of stolen clothing to an E
street merchant. Policeman Roce fort,
OF Third precinct. was called by the
dealer and told that Inspector Grant
had sent out a description of the man.
Rockfort took Keith into custody, and
while walking him to a nearby patrol
box the thief bolted and escaped from
the officer. A crowd, In which was
Patrolmsn Helmuth. also of Third pre-
cinct. gave chase and Keith was cap
tured after chase of several blocks.
Brought before detectives at Police
Headquarters, Keith was questioned
and later -was finger-printed and
Photographed. Grant, Scrivener. and
Kelly looked up the photograph of
Keith as sent out by the PostofYice
Department. and found a circular
bearing the young mans picture.
Keith then admitted that he YVES
born In Kingston. N. ", and that until
recently he had lived In Bayonne, N. J.
He eIso admitted being In Bayonne
when the three masked robbers held
up The mail messenger on a train
Bayonne.
VICTIM RECOVERING.
Lyons, the messenger, had just
left Bayonne In his car, Attached
TO Lackawanna train, when he
was suddenly confronted by three
men with revolvers who held hin,
at bay while the sacks were thrown
from the train. The robbers then
ieaped from the train. Lyons firing
at them. One OF the robbers re-
turned the nre and Lyons fen un-
conscious on the car noor with a
bullet wound In his chest. He In
recovering from the injufy.
Identification of Keith as one Of
the rooming-house thieves who
robbed several houses In Richmond.
Va. was made by Inspector Grant
through a description and pen draw
Ing of one young man sent TO ths
police by the Richmond
authorities The drawing had been
made by one of the victims OF the
rooming-house thieves and fitted
Keith TO a T." as Inspector Grant