The Washington times., 1922-03-07
IDENTIFIED
BY VICTIM,
SAY POLICE
c. E. Harris, colored, in Gus.
tody for investigation
of Actions.

Suspected Of knowing the iden-
tity Of the negro bandit who last
night held up at revolver point
four merchants in Northwest
Washington, Charles E. Harris,
colored, twenty-seven. who gave
his address as 1915 Forty-first
street northwest. Is being held at
the Eighth precinct police station.
Identity Uncertain.
Harris denies any connection with
the robberies, declaring that he was
at home when the stores were held
up. Alexander Goldberg, son Of
Morris Goldberg. of 1888 Twelfth
street, one of the merchants robbed
by the bandit. Is said to have iden-
titled Harris as the robber who had
entered Goldberg's store shortly
after Q o'clock last night. The
elder Goldberg, however, could not
positively identify the negro as the
hold-up man.
Brandishing a cheap nickel plated
revolver, q negro bandit held UP the
four stores within a half hour and
made his escape from in front of the
Goldberg shop after he had been
cornered by q number of enraged
citizens. He escaped his pursuers
by firing several shots at them.
Youth First Victim.
Shortly after o'clock a negro
entered the store Of Goldberg. where
he was confronted by twelve
yeer-old Alexander Goldberg. Or
dering the boy to back up against
hA uta - 81 70 trif Ia
the cash drawer, when Mrs. Gold
berg rushed screaming into the
store.
shut upr' shouted the negro, as
he pushed the revolver in Mrs.
Goldberg's ribs. Noticing a purse
In a pocket of Mrs. Goldberg's dress,
the negro seized 1t and escaped from
the store.
Reaching the pavement he was
confronted by q number Of men and
women who had been attracted by
Mrs. Goldberg's screams. Several
of the men attempted to seize the
bandit, but he fired two shots. and
as the crowd rushed to cover he fled
down an alley.
The bandit next made his appear
ance at the store Of Fernald a Co.,
book dealers. 1901 Florida avenue.
where he encountered Frederick A.
Fernald.
Robs Book Store.
up with your handsr' shouted
the robber. When Mr.. Fernald hest
tated the robber showed his revolver
in the book dealers stomach and or
dered him to back into a rear room
of the store. The negro then looted
the cash register, stealing about $26.
In the meantime, several riot
calls were sent to police headquar-
ters. Detectives were ordered by
Night Inspector c. l.. Plemmons to
the Goldberg store. Arriving there,
q dragnet was thrown about the
neighborhood.
Then while the headquarters men
were at Fernald store, the negro
walked into the grocery store Of
Michael Finelli, 931 Eighteenth
street. When Finelli saw the rob
Der brandishing the revolver he ran
to rear room and shouted for help.
Becoming frightened the negro fled
from the store and ran to 1902
Twelfth street where Otto Rupert
conducts a grocery store. Rupert
edged himself to the half-open door
and rushed into the street calling
for help. The negro then ran out
and was chased some distance by
the grocer.
Effects Escape.
As each hold-up occurred, citi.
gems flashed the police on the tele-
phone. Although a dragnet had
been thrown out and the police
visited the haunts Of negroes Of
questionable reputation, no trace Of
the stick-up man was found.
The robber was described by his
victims as being about five feet
five inches tall, weighing about las
pounds. wearing a dark cap, hav-
ing a small mustache and wearing
q gray overcoat. While several ne
groes were taken into custody by
the detectives, none OF them could
he connected with the rohheries.