Evening star., 1922-01-08
BURCLAR'SPL|CHT
REJ0|CES SUBURBS
Dixon Admits Robbing Score
OF Houses, Police Say; Gold
Melted in Crucibie.

Residents Of Chevy Chase, Cleve-
land Park, Saul's Addition and other
northern suburbs are breathing sishs
of relief over the capture of Dewitt
Dixon, colored. twenty -four years old,
who, it is charged, has committed at
least two dozen burglaries in the
several sections this winter. Dixon
has admitted having robbed at least
score of houses. the police state
and he led the detectives to a num-
ber of them.
Numerous plans to trap the burg
lar were laid and extra precautions
against his depredations taken, but
eral sections held meetings and the
police were deluged with urgent re-
quests for the robbers arrest.
Inspector Grant. chief of detect
ives, determined to capture the
burglar and detailed Detectives
Springman and Darnall to conduct a
special investigation, directing them
to devote practically their entire
time to locating the robber.
Traced Through Sales Of Geld.
They learned a colored man, be-
lieved to be the burglar, had disposed
of gold bars in this city. Several
secondhand dealers had made pur-
chases, it was learned, and the de-
tectives laid a trap. pfxon made one
attempt at selling gold that brought
him into the hands of the detectives
Dixon, who had nearly $500 in cash
in his possession. was taken to the
Georgetown police station
When he was taken to headquar-
ters he weakened and made O confes.
sion. In addition, he told the police
he had roomed at 1896 Corcoran
street the past two weeks and that
he had articles in his room that would
interest them. A search revealed two
automatics and revolver. parts of
and q crucible and mold for melting
and shaping the metal.
Had a Fancy CrueibIe.
1t was because he had melted the
jewelry that he was able to avoid
capture 80 long. The crucible is an
improved piece Of mechanism, the po-
lice say, worked with gas and a foot
bellows. The instrument was taken
to police headquarters with the wea-
pons and pieces of recovered gold,
and they attracted much attention
yesterday.
While locked up in the seventh pre-
cinct police station, Dixon made an
unsuccessful attempt to dig his way
out through the brick wall, and his
attempt resulted in his transfer from
the Georgetown police station to q
steel cell in No. l under q special
guard.
After the prisoner had been inter-
viewed at length by detectives, 1T ii
btated, he remarked that If he could
see the man wearing a gold badge
and be alone with him he would tell
all he knew. Inspector Grant, the
man with the goid badge, had the
prisoner brought into his once, where
Dixon admitted an escape from Jail
in Detroit, Mich, ana Inspector Grant
warned him that an attempt to es-
cape from his Ofiice would mean the
use OF an automatic to drop" him
In his tracks.
Pried Opsn windows.
The prisoner told Inspector Grant
his plan was to visit houses usually
during the dinner hour or later,
while the occupants were away at q
theater or paying calls. He made q
pry open windows or doors, usually
windows, and ran but little risk Of
being caught. invariably obtaining
plunder and leaving before the re-
turn Of occupants. Two screwdriv.
ere were found in his room. On sever
al occasions, however, he narrowly
escaped being caught, occupants re.
turning while he was working.
Dixon has been measured and pho
tographed and copies Of his photo.
graph have been sent to the police
Of other cities, including Detroit,
Mich, where he said he escaped jail
and Columbus, Ohio. where he said he
lived shortly before coming here.