New-York tribune., 1922-10-15
Soapsuds Foil
Robber; Maid
Aids in Capture
Colored Employee in a
Brooklyn Home Crapples
Wiali am Armed Negro,
Who Is an Ex-Convict
Pursuit Ends in Trolley
81 900 in Jewelry Found OF,
Man Is Identified by the
Police as Stolen Goods

Robert j. Owens, negro, who has
served two terms in prison and had
about $1,000 wcrth of jewelry on his
person, some of it plumber taken in re-
cent hurglaries in the Fiathush section
Of Brooklyn. was captured in a Smith
Street trolley car yesterday afternoon
at the point of policeman's revolver
after a negro maid had fought him off
when he tried to get into a home in
Brooklyn and boys and men had chased
Kim several blocks.
Fannie Brooks, the maid, is EN-.
ployea by Samuel Mandel, cloak and
suit manufacturer, whose home at
1f04 East Seventeenth Street, Brook
lyn. Is across the street from that
of Justice William r. Bayes Of the
Supreme Court. The maid was alone
in the house and was scrubbing the
kitchen floor about 4 p. M, when she
looked up and saw Owens in the door
way.
He wore gold-rimmed spectacles, a
black derby and a ministerial air.
which at first impressed Fannie. When
he told her in agitated tones, how
ever, that he had just seen man go
In the front door of the house, she
became suspicious. She had just been
to the front door. and had given
peddler a piece of her mind. She
knew very we'll the door was securely
locked, for she had slammed it in the
peddier's face.
$50 long" she said. "Get outa here
Don't be botherin me with such tales"
Throws Suds in His Face
I, Il
drew an automatic pistol from the
at her and ordered to take him up
stairs fright quick and show him
where the jev.elry was. Fannie sprang
to her feet seized the bucket of suds,
and dashed it in the negro's face.
Forgetting his pistol in his aston
ishment, he grappled with her, trying
to force her up stairs. She fought back
furiously, though short and slight, and
they slithered over the lathered tiles
Of the kitchen floor, knocking down
pots and pans and upsetting furniture.
Twice her adversary snapped his
pistol in the maids face, but each time
the cartridge failed to explode. Some
how Fannie managed to thrust him out
the door and they rolled down the
steps.
fannie snrleked tor help, and four
teen-year-old Edward Mandel and Tall
man Eisenbud, of hot East Seven
teenth Street, who were playing foot
ball in the yard, ran to the back door.
The negro tore himself from Fannie's
grasp and took to his heels.
The boys pursued him down East
Seventeenth Street to Avenue X and
west to Coney Island Avenue, a dis
tame Of seven blocks, several men and
boys joining in the chase. At Coney
Island Avenue the fugitive swung
aboard Smith Street trolley car
bound for Manhattan and his pur-
suers were left behind
They kept up the chase, however,
and near Avenue G, where a Board Of
Registry meets, they recruited Patrol
man John J. Mcdonnell, of the PARK
vile police station. He jumped into
an automobile and went after the
trolley car, overtaking it within few
blocks.
Mcdonnell entered the car, revolver
in hand. Passengers leaped aside as
he coflared the negro, snatched the
pistol from his pocket and swung him
to the street.
Fannie Brooks identified him at the
police station, and Detective Captain
Patrick Randalls and Acting Captain