Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-19
CoIored EmpIoye of JeI|eff
Store Grabs Gun From
Robber in HoId-Up.
FIRES ON TWO FLEEING
AND RECEIVERS SATCHEL
Bullets Stop Men About to Es-
cape in Auto After
Bold Attack.

Snatching a pistol from one 81 three
negro bandits, who attempted to hold
him UP, Andrew Beckett. 55-year old
rulored messenger for Frank X. Jel-
left 5 department store, turned on his
armed assailants, telled one with a
blow from the butt Of his own gun.
hot the other two probably fatally
pounding one of them. and recovered
bag containing $4,000 of his en-
u!oyer's money.
The attempted hold-up occurred
~lurtiy after 10 o'clock this morning
III the entrance TO an alley running
north from L street, between Twelfth
and Thirteenth streets. In the very
heart OF Washingtons business dis
riot, the scene of the daring crime
was crowded with men and women
who, stunned by its suddenness
watched the gray-headed little mes
senger bring down his three huskier
assailants unassisted.
One Bandit May Die.
The two negroes shot by Beckett
are George f. Maxwell. Q Florida
avenue northeast, and James Simp-
son, SIC Springman's court southwest,
both 80 years old. They were taken
10 Emergency Hospital, where it is
expected Maxwell will die from two
bullet wounds through his abdomen.
Simpson suffered a fractured right
leg from a third bullet The man
felled by the butt end of the pistol
hn
is being sought by police.
Beckett, who has been in the en-
ploy of Jelleff's for 81 years. had
been sent to the bank for the weekly
payroll this morning. He used his
own car and upon returning, shortly
after 10 o'clock, started to turn up
Il small alley that runs to the de-
partment store from Z street, be-
tween Twelfth and Thirteenth. He
has gone this way when returning
with the payroll for many years and
It is believed the highwaymen had
watched his route before.
AS Beckett's car slowly crossed the
sidewalk, negro with q handkerchief
over his face leaped on the running
board, pressed a high-caliber pistol
against the messengers side and
ordered him to put up his hands. At
The same instant two other negroes
Jumped on the opposite running board
and reached for the little black satchel
containing the money.
Beckett Routs Trio.
Before the first highwayman knew
what had happened Beckett had
wrenched the pistol from his grasp
and feiled him with single blow over
The head. In the meantime, however
the other two negroes had obtained
The bag and We're fleeing toward
Twelfth street. Beckett followed and
trapped them as they leaped for a car
which stood on Twelfth street Just be-
low e, with the engine running
Without hesitation Beckett opened
fire. The first two bullets passed
through NaxweIl's body. Dropping
Tho bag, he fell to his knees and
pleaded with the messenger not to
shoot him any more. Beckett turned
Just in time to see Simpson making
across Twelfth street and turned the
weapon on him. A bullet struck the
fleeing man in the right leg, but when
Beckett fired again the bullet damned
in the barrel.
At this point, however. Detectives
Frederick Alligood and Eugene Davis
drove down Twelfth street Alligood
fired bullet into Il fence to brighten
simpson. The wounded man was on
the point of collapse. however. and
the two detectives had no difficulty
rapturing him.
Beckett Small in Stature.
Maxwell had already been taken to
Emergency Hospital in the automo-
bile of John Bissett, CIT Myrtle street
northeast. Simpson followed a few
minutes later in the automobile of
George c. Schenck. 1401 Eleventh
street northeast. Before Beckett
would go to detective headquarters
and tell his story to the authorities,
however, he insisted upon depositing
the bag OF money safe and sound in
the vault in Jelleff's store.
Beckett, who lives 1T 1892 Fourth
and all three of his ASSISTANTS We're
least 6 feet tall. Beckett told police
that he wasn't taking chances" with
the bandits, and admitted that if the
gun he had seized had not damned
he would probably have killed both to
make sure they did not turn on him
again.
The management of Jelleff's an,
nounced shortly after hearing of their
messengers heroism that they would
amply reward him for his bravery
and fidelity. I'VE would rather have
lost the $4,000, however" ii was said
than to have had our messenger
who had been faithful for 50 many
years, injured defending 1t"