Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-10
GEM BANDIT TAKEN
AFTER WILD CHASE
Youth Tries Suicide in Cell
After Falling to Shoot Way
Free From Police.

Tackled by O civilian as he aimed
his pistol at a policeman, Robert
Evans. 23.year-old jewelry store ban.
dit was captured late yesterday after
noon after he had been chased
through the heart Of the shopping dis.
trict carrying jewelry valued at $3.2S0.
which he had grabbed from a show
window in the store Of Samuel Nit.
chell. I'll Ninth street.
Firing three shots. two Of which
went through store windows. the
fugitive lodged his way through the
first floor OF Woodward & 10th.
rop's. He Communicated an auto.
mobile at the point Of his pistol. At
Ninth and Il streets traffic jam halt.
ed his machine. and he was captured.
tossing his loot to the street as he
was taken into custody.
Tries to Hang Self.
Evans readily admitted the theft
to police. and plainly showed his
fright when captured. He attempted
to hang himself in his cell at the
first precinct during the night. 1t was
learned this morning, but a watchful
policeman blocked the attempt.
Frank Bell, 20, @ printer. Of Brent.
wood, Md, and member Of the
Brentwood police force, IL credited
with the actual capture OF the bandit.
Attracted by the shouts OF pursuers
just "a he was leaving his place Of
employment at SIP Eleventh street,
Bell jumped on the running board OF
a passing car and shouted, Follow
him." to the driver.
Bell said he could plainly see the
bandit standing on the running board
OF an automobile Just few cars ahead
or him. holding q pistol In his right
hand and apparently watching the pc.
lice. Catching up to him al the first
car slowed down for traffic, Bell said
he leaped from one running board to
the other. and, throwing his left arm
around Evans neck. he grabbed the
time pulling with all his might, AZ the
bandit aimed his gun at Traffic Police
man r. 8. Bridges, who also was pur.
suing him.
He was scared to DEATH" Bell said,
and the moment he knew ne was
caught. he walled. Don't hurt me,
don't hurt me-" Bell said the man
became SO weak with fright that he
had to be practically carried across
the street to Policeman Bridges, who
was coming after him.
Il don't know for sure whether his
gun Jammed or not" Bell said. but
he had pointed It right at Bridges and
looked like he was getting ready TO
shoot when I grabbed him."
Bell would take no credit for his
act, saying that he was SO close to
the bandit when he first saw him that
there was nothing else for him to do.
and that somebody would have been
hA ho1 -
Jewels Recovered.
II only wish that policeman had
shot me-" the prisoner, who gave his
occupation as that Of seaman, said
this morning when he was brought to
detective headquarters.
He is booked under a technical
charge OF investigation pending fur.
Their questioning by detectives. The
stolen jewelfy. consisting Of six dia.
mond rings and q diamond bracelet.
was recovered when he threw 1t to the
street as he was being put in the
first precinct patrol wagon.
Evans said he was born at Phoenix.
Ariz, He had been on a coastwise ship.
he said. plying between Texas and
New York. and after being discharged
In New York was trying to make his
way 10 Arizona.
II never tried to hit anybody" he
said. II just shot to scare them of.
l never tried anything like that be.
fore"
He said he spent Sunday night on
q bench In the Union station.
Hides In Once.
Entering the jewelry store at $50
O'Clock on pretext OF inquiring
whether n young woman had called to
exchange a bracelet. he pretended 10
leave, but stepped into an ONCE In the
rear OF the show window. closing the
door behind him. Quickly he opened
the sliding panel leading to the show
window and scooped up the rings and
bracelets from the window.
James Penn. colored porter, noticed
the closed door. Mr.. Mitchell opened
the door only 10 have a pistol thrust
In his face as the thief brushed by
him and ran into the street. Lawrence
J. shelton. ~, the store bookkeeper.
dashed after him, but the bandit
wheeled and fired. the bullet smashing
the window Of the Lincoln Radio Elk.
change, as Ninth street.
Oliver f. Thomas. %, las + street
southeast, who was parking his car in
front OF The store, started after the