Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-29
CANISTER INVASION
REPORTS PROBED
RacketeerS' Presence Here
Suspected After Extor.
ton Effort.
Persistent rumors that gangsters and

Persistent rumors that gangsters and
"racketeers' from Philadelphia and
New York have been preparing to try
their luck in Washington and other
cities to the south, have resulted in an
investigation by the police to determine
whether there is any foundation for the
increasing number of reports to this
effect. it was learned today.
An alleged attempt to extort money
from the proprietors of the Mount
Pleasant Supply Shop, 1920 Eighteenth
street, which was nipped in the bud
yesterday, was in the opinion Of some
policemen, a forerunner Of a wide
spread "racketeering" campaign.
One high police official said he would
not deny that gangster invasion was
feared here.
Lieut.. Edward ]. Kelly, chief Of the
homicide squad. and Capt. Robert E.
Doyle of the eighth precinct, where the
supply shop Is located, were inclined to
ridicule the reports, laughing at the
possibility of gangsters from other cities
coming to Washington.
Detective r. A. Williams Of the eighth
precinct, who is credited with break
ing up yesterdays alleged extortion at
tempt, disagrees with the men from
headquarters, declaring that he has con-
vincing information that gangsters in
large numbers are on their way to
Washington, Richmond and other cities
in this vicinity.
IT feel sure" he said, ''that racketeers
who have been chased Gut of Philadel-
phia and New York, are drifting down
this way, and that number of them
are already in Washington. Things
are getting too hot for them on their
favorite stamping grounds, and they
have to go some place.
Alleged Extortion Prevented.
The alleged attempt to extort money
from William A. Jordon and Leo Curry,
proprietors of the Mount Pleasant Sup
ply Shop, was cut sho-t yesterday when
Precinct Detective Williams arrested
James M. Sheahin, of 800 block Rhode
Island avenue an alleged collection
man" as taxicab driver handed him
an envelope supposed to contain 500.
first installment of $1,000 sum which
the two shop owners say they were told
they must pay.
Police were told that two armed men
held up Jordon and Curry in their place
of business Wednesday evening. After
taking 500 in the cash register the two
bandits told the proprietors that this
| was not enough and that they would
have to pay 5000 in monthly INSTALL
ments of 500 each. A system of Pc
riodic payments was arranged and after
exacting a promise from Jordon and
Curry that they would meet the pay
ments the bandits left.
Yesterday afternoon Detective Will
liams was in the supply shop discussing
| the hold-up with Jordon and Curry
when a taxicab driver entered with a
note and envelope in his hand. The
note read, Give the boy the money"
| Williams questioned the driver and
| learned he was to return the envelope
to a man who was waiting III the 1900
block of New York avenue. Filling the
envelope with blank paper, Williams re-
turned it to the driver.
| Going to the house on New York
avenue, Williams waited out in front
until the taxicab drove up. A man
stepped from a doorway and started to
open the envelope which the driver
handed him. AS he did SO, Williams
placed him under arrest. He Is charged
with robbery and extortion.
| Denies Charge.
He denies that he was involved in any
attempt to extort money.
The prisoner said that he was arrested
three times while in the bootleg
racket" which he has given up, and
that he recently lost all his money in
the racetrack racket"
But, he says, insofar as robberies ex-
tortion plots and kindred ventures are
concerned he knows nothing.
Police say that the description of the
two men who held up the supply shop
tally with those of the men supposed to
have shot and fatally wounded Wesley
Poutra at Green Gables, a Maryland
-oadhouse, on March 20. The murderer
were supposed to have left the scene In
an automobile bearing Pennsylvania
license tags.
It has been definitely established
however, that the man under arrest In
the eighth precinct did not participate
in the fight at the roadhouse.