The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-09-28


as an especially desperate criminal,
told his captors that II he had had a
chance to s'get the drop" on them
they could never have taken him
alive. The two admitted they had
committed from 100 to so hold.nps
IN and about New York In the last
Is months: they could not remember
exactly how many.
These had brought them. they said
between SIS. 900 and $4,000 In cash,
which they had squandefed on dice
games and good timcs" When
caught they had IS cents between
them, and were counting on their
contemplated hoid-up for breakfast
money"
Special Watch ~ Police
Both captures were the result Of .
special Monday morning watch"
the police had put on all chain stores
to protect the collection Of Saturday
receipts. They were particularly
anxious TO pick up the black and
white" team, because 1t had begun
operating In New York after the
roundup Of the WhitfenOre mob
81 hold.up men early last year and
was the only one working regularly
in the city since then. Il had kept
the chain store people n terror for
months.
SIX detectives were patrcling
their precinct in an automobile
when they saw the negro and the
white man near Atlantic and Pa
cific and James Butler grocery
stores. The detectives suspected
the pair at once. At the same
time the robbers became Suspicious
Of the policemen and began to
walk hastily away.
The detectives potInced upon both
men, and Detective Harry BilmB
seized the Tegro's arms just IN time
To prevent him from drawing q So
caiiber revolver Of Spanish make,
which he wore inside his jumper.
tucked in the top OF his trousers
at the left side. The trigger was
cooked. It was what Ii known a.
"a quick pull gCn''--if the negro
had had time TO slip his right
hand between the shiny grass but
tons on his jumpers. he could have
got the pistol out IN no time. The
negro struggled with Bilms. trying
70 set the weapon, but another dc.
tectiye, hit him In the face with
the handle Of his pistol, ana then
Bilnas got the negro's gun.
Both Face Life Terms
No resistance came from the
white man, although he carried d
| .46.calibre automatic III the front
of his trousers, under his coat. The
detectives took their prisoners to
the Gates Avenue Station, where
they were locked up preparatory to
arrafgnment in court on charges Of
robbery and violation Of the Sulli.
van law. Both face life iinprison-
Inent under the Baumes laws.
During questioning BY Police In.
spector Ceughlin, the negro ap.
| peared to be the dominating mem.
Der OF the black and white team.
He identified himself az David
Mitchell, SliaB Robert Smith. alias
Harry Clark, 26, Of Columbia. 8, O.,
and admitted he was wanted in
Baltimore for shooting d teller IN 4
bank holdup In 1895. Tall. stoclxy,
powerfully built ana with 4 huge
chest and arms, he impressed every
one who raw him al thOrouRhly
"hardboiled. Far from Attempting
to deny his crimes, the negro
gloried IN them and jolSed with the
police about them, laughing loudly
as he ala 90.
he told Inspector Coughlin that ne
had been thief all his life. ana
had not done honest work Tor &C
least five years II lust couldn't
help stealing. even since was a
kid, he said. III wanted "a get NV
money easy" He had Travelled aii
over the country, from Florida 10
California, always living 81 thisv.
cry. He had had q white partner
IN Baltimore, but the whitA man
had been killed in fight with ths
police, after Mitchell had shot the
bank teller, Mitchell escaped 10
New York.
In Central Park he mat thu white