Evening star., 1925-03-14
SIX ARE ACCUSED
OF "H|-JACK|NG" !"
Arrested on Complaint of
Man Who Tells Police His
Liquor Was Stolen.

The strange combination OF hi
Jackers stealing nine cases of corn
liquor about 3 o'clock this morning.
which had been delivered to the ad-
mitted owner about midnight last
night, resulted today in the arrest Of
seven colored men. six OF whom were
held, after a hearing, by United
States Commissioner George II. Mac
donald for action of the grand jury on
charges Of conspiracy.
Authorities believe this was the
hrst instance in the history Of pro
hlbition in Washington when hi-j jack
ers were captured upon complaint Of
a man admitting he had been robbed
of liquor
The first notice Of the case came to
No precinct station early this morn
ing, when Joseph Toles colored, Of si5
IWenty-seYenth street northwest
complained that attackers had stolen
IL cases of liquor in half gallon con
tainers from his place. Upon the sug-
gestion of Toles, Precinct Detective
j. L. Billman, who is also prohibi-
tion agent, and Officers ]. w. Casey
and Carl Belt of No. 3 went to an old
house on the west side of Twenty
sixth street, bordering on Rock Creek.
ll2S Twenty-siXth street, property @
II nited States Government
4ne officers found a negro cominu
from the place with three and a hall.
gallons of liquor under his coat.
making for an automobile parked in
front, according TO testimony before
Commissioner Macdonald. -Four other
negroes were in the car, the officers
testified, and two more were found in
the house with nine cases of liquor.
Had it not been for their anxiety
to make two gallons out of one BY
the judicious use of a little water.
according to the officers, the alleged
hi-jackers might have escaped But
this process was believed to have
delayed them in making their get
away.
Six Held in Jail.
The entire seven were arrested
and taken to No. and shortly before
noon were arraigned before Commfs-
sioner Macdonald. They demanded
hearing, which was granted, and the
government was represented by J.
r, Summerall, attorney for the prohi-
bltion unit. All but one, John a
Matthews, jr.. of p O'Briens Court
who was released by the commits
SlVHti. we're nelQ IN ponds varying
from $1,000 to $4,000. and were placed
in jail when they failed TO raise the
money one Of the principals in the
case. Carl Bell of 2sIO NJ street
northwest. who was held in $1,000
bond, admitted TO Commissioner
Macdonald that he had served a year
on the road gang in Virginia on
conviction of having held UP and
robbed a man some years ago Capt
Carl c. Flsther of No. pre- cinct also
said that this alleged hijacker had a
penltentiary record.
Sent TO Jail.
The whole case, according to Pre-
cinct Detective BHlman, was just an
instance of "bootlegger" informing
on a hi-jacker
Toles, the informant, was not TAX
en- into custody by the officials. who
said there was, of course no evil
dence against him
The five other alleged hi-jackers
were held by the commissioner in
bond as follows: Bernard Prader.
92I Hughes court. SI,5O0: jefferson
Mathews, "a O'Brien court, $1,000,
Louis Burrs, 1880 Nineteenth street
northwest. $4,000; Otto Hall, 252S e
street northwest, $1,000; John Rufin
2719 Rock Creek court, $500.
All those held by the commissions er
were committed to Jail later in the
afternoon in default of bond.