The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-10
TYCARTED
OFF IN TRUCKS
Keep Three Warehouse Watch
men at Bay and Escape
With Liquor Loot.
COUP STIRS BALTIMORE
Federal Agents in Hunt-Be-
lieved Same Gang That
Robbed JeWeIer.

Twelve masked bandits, armed with
automatic revolvers, early today
held at bay three watchmen of the
Mount Vernon Distilling Company's
warehouse, in the eastern suburbs
Of the city, while they loaded sixty
barrels of whiskey, valued at 100000.
on trucks, and made a successful
getaway, under threats of death to
pursuers.
Baltimore had scarcely recovered
it's breath from the thrills Of the
daring jewel robbery yesterday,
when armed auto bandits smashed
the window of the jewelry store Of
James r. Armiger Company, in the
heart of the shopping district, steal
ing diamonds worth $4,000, when
the report of the warehouse robbery
became known.
Detectives Start Man Hunt.
The city detectives greatest man
hunt was on when the startling re-
port reached police headquarters o.
the daring hold-up Of the watchmen
at the whiskey warehouse. score
Of detectives were rushed to the plant,
and in questioning the watchmen
came to the conclusion that the
bandits were Of the same gang that
looted the window of the Baltimore
jewelry shop.
Each of the watchmen was cor
nered by a bandit holding a leveled
revolver while their confederates
loaded the barrels of whiskey on q
fleet of motor trucks, which seemed
to come from nowhere. The watch
men declared they had been taken by
surprise. but the police believe the
plot to rob the distillery was well
planned, and when the time came to
strike bandits swooped down on the
warehouse employees and covered them
with revolvers, Under threats of death
IL they made /outcries, while other
members of the gang looted the ware
house
Engage watchmen.
Two Of the robbers talked freely
with the watchmen they had under
guard while their confederates were
getting the loot, and are said by the
police 90 have intimated that they
had been members Of the gang which
robbed the Charles street jewelry
store.
The robbers told their prisoners
they would not hesitate to shoot to
kill IL any outcry was made. for they
had shot a man on North Charles
street yesterday. The latter state
ment is not considered an idle boast
by the detectives, who believe the
gang actually did have a hand in the
gem theft.
Not only are the city detectives At
ha hfoE
thieves, but Federal agents are as
sisting in the investigation. The
watchmen are being closely question
ed by the Federal authorities in an
effort to secure from them any evil
dence which might tend to identify
the bandits.
Watch man Taken by Surprise.
1t was at 4 o'clock this morning
when the bandits swooped down on
the warehouse, taking the watchmen
unawares. AS the distillery employees
put in their appearance, each was or
dered to throw up his hands. After
the bandits had "frisked" the watch
men, relieving them of their revolv-
er., each was taken aside and held
at bay with a robbers automatic.
1t is the opinion of the police that
the gang not only carefully laid the
plans for the whtskey robbery, bue
establish cache somewhere be-
tween Baltimore and Havre De Grace
where the whis1Sey will be kept until
an opportune time arrives for It's re-
Is, unless the Baltimore
detectives and Federal agents trace
their movements and locate the hid
ing place OF the whiskey.
The police believe the outlaws are
members Of professional gang OF
bandits who recently terrorized New
York, Philadelphia and other cities.
Two daylight holdups staged In the
Quaker City only few days ago
have been attributed to two members
OF the gang that robbed the tewelry
store here yesterday and whose pic
lures have been Identified this morn
ing at Police Headquarters by pedes-
TRANS who witnessed the smashinr
OF the jewelry shop window yester-
day.
Ask Ala os Capital Police.
Descriptions of these two men, as
we'll as photographs are being rushed
nv n detective to Washington. and
the police OF that city were asked to
cooperate in every way In the cap
ture Of the bandits should they arrive
In that city.
whno the police believe that the
rhiskey has been taken to a cache
Of the thieves somewhere north Of
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