The Washington herald., 1922-04-04
CAPTURED BANK
ROBBER PLEADS
FOR NARCOTICS
Deetor Called to- Quiet
Man Who Seized $1,000
And Ran.
F@LED BY TELLER
Lewis r. Merriam Declared by
Police to Have Served
aTwo-Year Sentence.
F@LED BY TELLER

Earestigation by police OF the
activities Of Lewis R. Merriam. 20
years old. arrested yesterday after
he~had seized between $1,000 and
$4,000 from under the teller's win
dow at the Merchants Bank and
Trust Company. Fifteenth and II
strets northwest. revealed previous
cripInaI record. according to police.
When taken to the Bureau Of
Identification Of the local police. the
prisoner gave his name as Edward
Royton. but he was Identified as
Lewis Merriam. who served two
years in the Eastern pententiary at
Philadelphia for the theft of $50. 900
worth OF Liberty bonds. Merriam
also admitted. according to police,
that he served a term at BlackwelPs
Island for larceny and aggravated
assault.
Teller Acts Quickly.
The arrest OF Merriam was due
TO the presence Of mind Of Samuel
April. assistant receiving teller of
the Merchants Bank and Trust
Company. who pursued the robber
from the bank. firing several pistol
shots
April succeeded in catching the
robber and was Erappling with him
when Policeman W. A. Schotter,
who had been attracted by the re-
volver shots. arrived and placed
Merriam under arrest.
Fires Three shots.
Merriam was noticed among the
crowd attending the opening OF the
banking institution but no particu-
lar attention was paid to him. Sud-
denly he walked over to the teller's
window, where April was on duty,
and put his hand under the bars.
SeiZinE a pile OF bills just inside Of
the window, he attempted to hide
them under his overcoat which he
carried on his arm and at the same
time to effect an escape through the
crowd
April hastily grabbed a revolver
from a nearby drawer and started
in pursuit Reaching the door,
April fired three shots. During the
chase. several bills were scattered
over the street.
Pleads for "shOt."
The financial district was thrown
into an uproar by the attempted
robbery. Hundreds OF pedestrians
scampered for cover with the reports
from April's revolver. When April
grappled with his captive scores OF
pedestrians crowded around them.
Police believe that Merriam had
two confederates who made their
escape Merriam. however, declared
he was alone.
When searched following arrest, the
prisoner, police say. was found 10
possess a quantity of morphine
and other narcotics. In his cell at
the First precinct last night he re-
peatedly pleaded with Capt, Brown
and Lieut.. Holmes OF that precinct
for a shot" to quiet his nerves,
with the result that a physician
from the Emergency Hospital was
called to treat him.
Search for Confederates.
The prisoner was questioned by
the chief of the detective bureau
and Capt. Brown, OF the First pre-
cinct. following his arrest and IT is
probable that both officials will
question him again this morning in
an effort to learn further OF his
previous activities.
d. G. Anderson, manager of the
local office of the William Burns
Detective Agency. is conducting an
Investigation of the robbery in an
snort to apprehend accomplices OF
Merriam
The police OF Cleveland. Detroit
Philadelphia and New York also are
said to be anxious to question Mer-
Ram in connection with certain uG-
solved crimes
Records OF the central office also
showed that Mrs. Marion Merriam
who police say is the wife of their
prisoner. was arrested in connec-
tbon with the theft December i3
1918. of a $500 diamond and sap
phire brooch from a local jewelry
store.