The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-25
NEGRO BANDITS
IN AUTO MAKE
MANY RICH HAULS
Grocer Gives Battle and
Puts One of Daring
Brace to Rout.

Penetrating q series of the most
daring hold-ups which have been
staged in this city for many years,
two unidentified negroes, both
armed with revolvers. terrorized
the northwest section in the vi
cinity of Seventh and r streets,
collecting loot totalling Sis,
threatening the lives OF several
persons, and escaping a large de-
tail of police by means of high
powered automobile.
Securing q partial description of
the bandits, the police rxided
house located in Chester court
northwest and took the eight negro
occupants into custody at the
Eighth precinct police station
pending an investigation of the
hold-ups.
That all of the hold-ups were
committed by the same negroes is
the belief entertained by the po-
lice, owing to the similarity of tao
tics and descriptions given by the
victims.
One of Robbers Beaten.
At the grocery and delicatessen
store of Tony Sylvan. 1892 Seventh
street northwest the bandits were
given battle. Sylvan wrenched a
gun from the hand of one and
throwing him to the floor beat him
severely over the head with the
butt end of a knife. After a ten
minute tussle. the bandit broke
away and followed his partner who
had previously fed.
The hold-up men went to work
when they met Walter Peterson.
525 T street northwest shortly be-
| fore O'Clock on w street near
Fourteenth. Stealing up behind
Peterson, one negro pressed the
revolver to his back and demanded
that he throw up his hands. The
accomplice then searched his
pockets, obtaining s38. Both fed
down w street And boarded the
automobile.
Lone Proprietor Held Up.
Driving from the scene OF the hold
I'D. the bandits went to the gro
cery store conducted by Sylvan. Leav-
ing the motor running. they went
| into the store with caps drawn over
their eyes and asked for a package
of cigarettes. Both followed Sylvan
to the rear of the store. and as
the proprietor reached for the smokes
| one negro, pldtllS ltNOlNci ~ hi'
head, demanded that he stick up
both hands.
With the quickness of lightning.
| Sylvan struck the negro, who in turn
pulled the trigger OF his revolver
| failed to explode. Sylvan followed
with second blow, which tempo
rarity stunned the negro. then
wrenched the gun from his hand
The revolver was thrown behind a
sugar barrel.
Puts Robber to Rout.
Sylvan succeeded in throwing the
bandit. after which he bounced down
upon him. beating him savagely with
the butt end of knife. Squirm-
ing and twisting. the negro freed
I himself and escaped to the street.
leaving his gun and cap. He ran
down Seventh street and disappeared.
The then lone bandit, in the auto
mobile, escaped toward Eighth street.
and a short time later staged an
other hold-up near Eighth and r
streets.
At the intersection he pulled along
the curb aside of Joseph Shelton. 1922
Sixth street northwest. Give me
match" said the negro. as he
stepped from the machine and walk
ed over to Shelton. AS the latter
reached into his pocket for match.
the negro. drawing his revolver. ex-
claimed And everything else you
have"
Pressing the revolver close to Shell
tons bosom. the negro searched him
and took s25 and a gold-handled
pen-knife valued at IS. He then
| leaped into the automobile. and
speeding through an alley leading
to r street disappeared.