The Humpty Dumpty Burglar: Twelve Silk Shirts and a Footrace Down Columbia Street

A very clever burglar went through Kline & Rosenheim's store at the foot of Cherry street early yesterday morning, but he was not clever enough to evade Patrolman Birdsall, and that accounts for his presence in a cell at the city jail. He gives his name as James White, and occupation a sealer. Chief Rogers had no trouble in securing a confession, which simplifies matters materially. Officer Griffith also took a hand in the capture, and deserves a share of the glory of running down a real live burglar.

It was a peculiar case, and shows conclusively that the vigilance displayed by an officer on his beat always brings its reward. Officer Birdsall was passing through the alley from Yesler avenue to Columbia street, between Front and West, when he heard a noise and saw someone drop to the ground from the fire escape at the rear of the Kline & Rosenberg building. He took after the man, who proved to be well dressed, with an overcoat over his arm, a fine new hat on his head and a body that appeared stuffed out like a Humpty Dumpty.

The man did not try to get away when the officer grabbed him by the coat collar, and walked along peaceably as far as Columbia street. Then he suddenly gave a jerk that set him free and went flying down Columbia street as fast as his legs could carry him. Birdsall gave chase and the burglar found things so warm that he dropped the overcoat. Then he turned up Railroad avenue and would not halt when the officer commanded.

Out came Birdsall's big Colt's revolver, and as he ran he sent a shot over the flying man's head. This only served to make the fugitive run faster, so another shot was fired. The fusillade attracted the attention of Officer Griffith, who was on the water front some distance north. He ran in the direction of the noise as quickly as possible and came very near having a collision with Birdsall's man. The result was that the officer effected a capture and was soon joined by Birdsall, who explained matters.

At police headquarters the prisoner gave his name as James White, aged 23 years, and occupation as that of a sealer. He was searched, and then the fun commenced. He had twelve brand new silk shirts, worth on an average $1 each, on his person, one over the other, two pairs of trousers, a full set of new underclothes and a new derby hat. In his pocket was found $2.50, including a $1 bill that Kline & Rosenberg identified as theirs.

The case was turned over to Chief Rogers in the morning, and it was found that White had gained entrance to the store by climbing up the fire escape, and then getting in through a window slightly ajar. He had torn the band out of his old hat when he exchanged, but did not succeed in helping himself to any extent by that means. He also piled up a lot of clothes in addition to those he put on, and which were taken from him at police headquarters. The evidence was so strong that White confessed the job, and told how he got in. He said he had been in the city only two days.

It was discovered that of the $2.50 in White's pocket, $2 had been stolen from the money drawer in the store.