The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-03-26
DENIES HIS
GUILT ON
ROBBERY
CHARGE
Fingers TwItch NervousIyl A
Herman c. Davis Enters
Plea in Court

His face and fingers twitching
nervously, Herman Covington
Davis, twenty -four-year-old bandit
who is charged with robbing a
drug store at 1923 Seventh street
southwest to satisfy his craving
for drugs. was arraigned before
Judge John P. Mcmahon in United
States branch Of Police Court to-
day and held in 10000 bond.
Davis pleaded not guilty to a
charge Of robbery. An additional
charge Of violation of the Harri-
son narcotic law was placed
against the youth
Davis, despite his nervousness,
was in high spirits. He stopped
for a moment before entering the
court room to slick back his hair
and make himself presentable. =
Caught Red-handed.
The youth, wing resembles Ru-
dolph Valentino. the screen star,
was caught red-handed last night
after holding up the drug store OF
Doctor Harry H. Lantz, 323 Seventh
street southwest, and stealing four
teen bottles Of cocaine, heroin. and
morphine. He was captured In an
alley nearby by Policeman Harry G.
Bauer, Of the Fourth Precinct.
Early today Russell Litten, OF
lit N street northwest, q night
Waterman on upper Seventh street,
identified him as the young man he
saw in the store OF Doctor John
Simpson, 701 Rhode Island avenue,
the night this store was robbed of
several hundred grains OF heroin
and morphine.
Police now are trying to connect
him with the robbery Tuesday at
the offices Of Doctor Fred Repetti,
81 L street northwest. The thief
stole a revolver, a hypodermic
syringe, and 100 two cent stamps
in the physicians office. Davis de-
scription fits the man seen in the
doctors office by a maid.
Admits LAntZ Affair.
.1M admit what happened last
night" Davis told police who que*-
toned him. "But about this Seventh
street robbery. am not saying
anything"
robbed Simpsons store borrowed
white coat from a restaurant near
by, broke side window OF tne
store. entered, and put on all the
lights. When Litten, the "atcn ;t
man. passed. the man IN white
coat called out, Hello" Mistaldng
him for q pharmacist in the store,
fho Waterman called back, Hello,
Doc" and passed on.
Davis refuses to admit connec-
tion with any other robberies-
IF you get anything on me,
show me" he told the police, and
then maybe I'll tell you some
thing"
The good looking young boy was
taken to Detective Headquarters
TODAY and later to Police Court.
Before leaving his cell in the
Fourth precinct, he combed his jet
black hair, adjusted his clothes and
then inquired Of those near him:
mot so bad, eh?"
Talks to Times Reporter.
Davis talked freely with a Times
reporter, telling him the story OF
his life and the details of last
nights drug store robbery.
II just couldn't help it," he said.
THE habits got me and I can't
break it. 1 held up the store last
night to get drugs. 1 hadn't had
a. shot for two days. I was nearly
crazy. My nerves were upset. Ny
stomach panied ne / could hard
ly walk. was just wild with the
desire for something.
II went down southwest and
picked out a drug store to rob OF
drugs. / at first planned to make
my getaway by running, but / de-
cided that would be foolhardy:
There was a taxicab nearby and L
hired it, telling the chauffeur to
drive to the drug store. got out
and instructed the man to keep his
engine running.
"Inside 1 found several persons
beside the druggist. I pulled my
gun on them all. ! called Tor
drugs. The druggist took me to
his shelves and I filled my pockets