Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-08-01
STATE HOLDS THREE
Charged WITH ROB-
Bin GEYER STORE

Sheriff Dean returned Saturday
: afternoon from Richmond, Va, with
Harold Wingert, and Tailor Jack re-
turned the same night from Roa-
noke, Va, with Carson and Elmer
Jenkins, all under indictment with
having been implicated with Char
les w. Jenkins, brother of the two
other Jenkins, now serving a term
in the penitentiary follwing con-
fession of his share in the crime, in
the burglarizing of the James F.
Geyer clothing store in this city
early in the morning of February %,
1920, the theft of a considerable
quantity of goods from the store.
and the theft of the autmobile of
DR.. w. E. Minghini from the rear of
the store, which they used to carry
their goods to Baltimore. The three
prisoners have been serving term
of two years in Virginia institu-
tions, Wingert in the penitentiary at
Richmond and the other two at Cat
awba sanatorium, near Roanoke, for
the robbery of a store at Stanley,
Page county, Virginia. When they
were named in the confession of C.
w. jenkins as accomplices, the state
filed detainers with the Virginia au-
thorities. whereby the local authori-
ties took the prisoners upon their
release. The term of two years was
shortened by reason of good behav-
dor to sixteen months.
All three will be held for trial at
the term of Circuit Court opening
October 18th, under indictments
charging them with burglary, the in
dictments having been returned by
the grand jury in April 1920, on in
formation Of Mr.. Geyer, who identi-
fed the goods found in Baltimore.
and former Prosecuting Attorney
Allen B. Noll.
Carried Through Swiftly.
In his confession c. w. jenkins.
now at Moundsville, told of the
swift descent upon the city the
night Of the robbery, and their es.
cape. He said they came to Mar
tinsburg over the Baltimore and
Ohio without previous arrangement
as to what store they would enter.
They first broke into Tavenner's
store where they took a few pens
and other articles. They then tore
a hole through the wall into the
Geyer store adjoining. through
which Wingert. who weighed then
only 102 pounds, crept and opened
up the store for the others. They
took what they wanted and carried
the booty through the rear to a gar.
age where 49, AIDED it into the
car belonging to DR.. w. E. Minghini.
and then hurried from the city in
the car towards Baltimore. The car
was driven into the heart of the
city. where they unloaded.
Jenkins arrest was the result OF
watchfulness of the Baltimore DO
lice and detectives. He had been
under suspicion for some time be-
cause his two brothers and Wingert.
now held here, had been caught in
the act OF Tobbing the Stanley CVa.)
store, and were also believed to
have been involved in a number Of
robberies around Hagerstown and
sectional points. The Baltimore Of
ficers learned in some manner that
Baltimore woman had received a
letter from the prisoners relative to
some of the stolen goods. Mr.. Noll
and Mr.. Geyer were advised and
they went to Baltimore where they
identified goods found at jenkins
home on Charles street He at first
denied all knowledge of the robbery.
but later c~nfessed, told the whole
story, oen3 .ng that he was involved
In the Maryland or Virginia acts.
1t is understood that the Maryland
authorities will have the call on the
prisoners when West Virginia is
through with them. The conduct of
wingert at Richmond has been un-
usually good, Sheriff Dean was ad-
rised.