Evening star., 1924-03-24
Escape After Staging Daring
HoId-Up Near Langley
High School.
LOCAL PlGGLY-WIGGLY
STORES RECEIPTS TAKEN
Victim Declares Every Precaution
Was Taken to Avert High
way Robbery.

Four masked bandits III ii high
powered automobile today held up at
pistols point two Piggy Wiggly store
officials en- route ON T street northeast
to store headquarters, and escaped with
approximately $4,000 in cash, the Sat
urday night receipts of about thirty
three stores in the chain.
Operating with a daring and a swift
ness unparalleled in criminal annals o.
the District of Columbia the robbers
crowded TO the curb near Lincoln road
the automobile occupied by N. l. Clea-
ton, cashier of the District unit of the
corporation, and John Starnes, District
superintendent, showed revolvers into
their faces before they themselves had
an opportunity to draw weapons, re-
iieved the covered men OF three paper
camoufiage bags containing the money
and made a quick getaway east or 7
street in the direction of Rhode Island
avenue and Baltimore
Noticed Parked Car.
Mr. Cleaton and Mr.. Starnes said
they were on their way 10 the execu-
tive offices, 1885 9TH street northeast
when the robbery occurred. They
said they came UP Pennsylvania
avenue to North Capitol and out Lin
coin road to T street northeast.
where they noticed a parked car on
the hill. As they approached the
car began to draw out and crowd
them to one side. Thinking that the
car wanted to turn, Mr.. Cleaton said
they took no notice of it. when sud
denly the machine swung in front
of their path, forcing the officials
car to stop
Two masked bandits jumped out.
opened the door of the car carrying
the money and demanded the cash.
which was handed to them. Mr.
! Cleaton and Mr. Starnes attempted
| to follow the fleeing bandits, but
/ found that the car the latter used
| was too speedy.
Carried Dead Tags.
/ The police were given a description
of the car, which was closed-in type,
afterward found to have been carry
ing a dead District tag. Three Of
the men were about twenty five
years OF age, wearing brown caps and
suits, and the driver of the car was
ABOUT thIrty-fNe- OF snort, StockE
type. Maryland and Virginia police
were Immediately notified and a care
ful lookout is being kept on all
exits out of Washington.
According to Thomas Good. mana
ger Of the District unit, the hold-ur
was well planned, as those collecting
the money have several routes which
they take at varying hours every
Monday in order TO forestall any such
occurance as this. 1t was pointed out
that the bandits We're parked on the
hill near Langley Junior High School,
where they could see which route
the store men took and cut them of.
Precautions Were Taken.
Instead of taking the money from
the stores late Saturday night, the
money is put in large time lock
safes so that it can be brought out
in daylight on Monday, Mr.. Good
pointed out.
The exact amount taken cannot Be
! estimated until each of the thirty
! three stores report their Saturday
! night receipts. Mr.. Cleaton explained
I that he carried Il pistol in the car.
! but the robbery was accomplished so
quickly and they were so well cover
| ed by the guns of the bandits, tha
! they were not able to reach for their
! weapons. The loss is covered by in
I surance, it was explained.