Evening journal., 1922-04-08
HOLD Up DANCER,
DROP HER gems
Thieves Set Upon Florence
Walton at Door of Home
and Snatch Jewels,
DANCING PARTNER
JOINS IN CHASE

Miss Florence Walton. formerly
OF Wilmington. daughter OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Alfred Walton. OF sis Van
Buren street. ant nationally known
as a dancer. was held up in front
or her New York home Thursday
night by automobile robbers who
were almost successful in their At
tempt TO rob her OF si5O.OoO worth
OF jewels. according to reports in
New York newspapers. Miss Walton
was accompanied at the time by her
sister. Miss Helen Walton. and her
dancing partner. Leon Leitrim. She
reported the holdup to the police.
The New York Times says OF the
attempted holdup:
Florence Walton. former dancing
partner and wife OF Maurice; her
sister Helen Walton. and Leon Lett
rim, her present dancing partner
told tho police that they had been
held up In front OF Miss Waiton'f
nome at 1874 East Sixty-nfth street
by automobile robbers, who were
almost successful in an attempt te
rob Miss Walton OF Sl5o,OOO worth
OF Jewels.
Miss Walton said that one OF IN,
bandits grabbed a pasteboard bo,
containing the Jewels from under
her arm while another seized he,
sister and stihed her cries for helm
Recovery OF tho Jewels was due :,
the alertness OF Mr.. Leitrim, VIII,
pursued the robbers and struck tn,
the gang leader so hard a blow o,
the back OF the head that he drop
ped the box.
Miss Walton told Detectives 10
seph Skelly and James Smith. VIII,
were sent around 70 investigate
that she was returning home in he
automobile with her sister and dane
Ing partner from the Eighty-firs
Street Theatre. where she ended al
engagement. She said she notice,
a passenger car pass her. turi
around when nearly at Third ave
nue., and draw opposite just as sh
drove her car 10 the curb in from
OF her home. Miss Walton, who ha,
been driving. said she was the frs
10 leave the car. carrying the jewe
box under one arm and a pet do
under the other.
Just as she stepped ont the side
walk. she said. two men jumped from
the roadster. She said that one o
these men grabbed her and snatche
the box so roughly that she droppe
the dog. The other man, she sait
struck her sister on the head an
then placed his hand over her mout
TO prevent an outcry. Miss Wslto
said that she screamed and the wv
men ran for their automobile, whic
had been kept running in READINGS
for a quick escape.
! At this moment, Miss Walton SAID
Mr.. Leitrim jumped out OF her au
tomobile and gave chase to the nee
ing robbers. He overlook the ma
carrying the box and struck him o
the back OF the head so that h
dropped the box. The box burst an
the jewelry scattered over the pave
ment.
BEAT st." one OF the bandits e1
claimed, according to Miss Walton
story. and the robbers jumped int
the automobile IN which there wer
three or four other men, turned IN
corner into Lexington avenue an
drove rapidly northward.
Aided by Mr.. Leitrim, Miss Wa
ton and her sister picked up the seal
! tered pieces Of jewelry. A rapi
: checking up. when the three ha
gone into the Walton apartment r.
vealed that an emerald and saI
phire bracelet, valued by Miss Wa
ton at $4,000. was missing.
Mr.. Leitrim Immediately went OF
to the street and by a stroke Of goo
fortune succeeded in finding tf
bracelet. Almost Immediately aftei
ward a neighborhood watchman al
peared with Miss Walton's dog, n
loss OF which had been lost sight
! in the excitement. Miss Walton e.
plained that the watchman kne
! the dog and that she was It's owne
- Asked by the police why she ha
been carrying jewelry OF such valu
Miss Walton said she was accuston
ed to wearing much OF It in her dan
ing act, and under prevailing cond
tions considered 1t safer in her po
session than keeping them In h
apartment.