Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-07-02

ETY. burglar" Star Stan Photo.
apprehended him, that he spent some
time preparing for his work by reading
criminology in the New York Public
Library.
One.Man Crime Wave
Other than that and an account OF
Juvenile participation in a fatal holdup,
Mitchell was reticent about his back
ground. A 1.-the, slender. quick moving
man of no more than 1875 pounds and
not more than feet 7, he came here
two and a half years ago and gave
Washington one of its infrequent crime
waves. He dressed in the neat and
unobstr,,sive fashion of the New York
underworld-solid ties and serge or
smooth worsted suits fitted little too
tight. Although 1t is so entered in the
highest court of the land, Mitchell prob
ably is not his real name.
Burglars. he told the detective, always
give themselves away by their modus
operandi He was determined to avoid
that by variations of technique. He
was puzzled by the detectives roster OF
his jobs. Sergt. Williams had almost
all of them listed. How had he given
himself away? Mitchell wanted to know.
Mitchell did have the police fooled
for a long time. He operated here
year and half He entered one home
twice in successive summers. He might
still be at work here but for one de-
parture from his rule never to dispose
of anything locally. Once he must have
been temporarily hard up for money.
He sold six pairs Of gold cuff-links to
Washington dealer instead Of sending
them to New York The cuff-links
trapped him. But he still wanted to
know how the police realized that one
burglar had done all the Jobs.
Suspected Three Gangs
Mitchell used all manner of evasive
tactics. Ordinarily a burglar becomes
welded to the same method of entry.
If he iimmies windows, he uses the
same Jimmy. Police measure the marks
and soon identify every job he pulls.
But the outbreak of burglaries during
Mitchell's career had some detectives
thinking three gangs were at work.
On the wall of No. police station
there Is a map Of the precinct which
has Rock Creek Park in the center and
most OF Washington's new fine homes
within its boundaries. A blue pin is
stuck in the map for every unsolved
burglary BY the summer OF 1912 there
was hardly room for more pins in some
sections.
Some houses had been entered by
brace and bit. A ring OF holes had been
drilled near the latch to make an open
Ing large enough for hand to unlock
the door. Some were entered by break
ing windows, some with a glass cutter,
some with jimmy.
Sometimes silver was taken, some
times beautiful silver was left untouched.
In some homes there was evidence that
women had been entertained. Lip
stick was on highbAll glasses ard coffee
cups. Food had been eaten by three or
four persons.
Police were looking for the house
party burglars" They were also look
Ing for the "aug,r man." That Is, for
q time.
There were no hngerprints. Mitchell
had used gloves But soon one thread
of consistency running through all the
Jobs was noticed Trod-on cigarette
butts would be on the floor, even If
ashtrays were right above on table.
The cigarettes were cork-tipped and had
always been smoked right down. Exam
nation showed they were always Ra-
beighs.
one Of the four popular brands would
not have been so convincing. But not
person in 20 smokes Raleigh tips. 1t
was evident that one person had been
In on all the jobs.
Mitchell had the entire Police Depart
nent on the run because his victims
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