Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-13
OFFICER SURPRISES
BOYS ROBB|NG SAFE
Policeman Fires at Fleeing
Pair, Arrested After Jumping
Through Glass Door.

Frightened by policeman while at
tempting to break open a safe in the
rear of the Sanitary Grocery Co.'S store
at 333 Eleventh street southwest early
this morning, two youths jumped through
plate glass door and escaped fussilade
of pistol shots from the officer, only to
be captured later.
One of the young robbers, Richard C..
Swan, 19, of 1015 C street southwest,
was overtaken by Pvt. Earl D. Alber of
the fourth precinct less than a block
from the store, confeSsing his part in
the crime and furnishing police with
information that led to the arrest one
hour later of the man he claims to be
his accomplice.
The latter, Herbert J. Brown, 21, of
496 School street southwest, was ar
rested by precinct detectives when
found hiding ina clothes closet at his
home. Brown was bleeding profusely
from a severe leg laceration which po-
lice say he sustained when he jumped
through the glass door, and he was re-
moved to the Emergency Hospital,
where DR.. IgnatiuS RutkoSki took Is
stitches to close the wound. He was
also given firSt-aid treatment for minor
cuts on his hands.
Questioned by Detectives.
According to police, Brown has also
been identified as the man who held up
an employe of the Gulf Refining Sta
tion at Sixth street and Maryland ave-
nue. Tuesday at the point Of a pistol
and robbed the cash drawer of $1,000,
while Swan also admitted that he and
Brown last night entered the Minute
Service Station at Thirteenth street and
Linwood place southwest and stole SIS
and a fiaShlight
The two men were taken to police
headquarters for the morning lineup"
today and were later questioned by
headquarters detectives in an effort to
clear up several other robberies in the
southwest section Of the city.
Policeman Alber was patrolling his
beat shortly after 3 o'clock this morn
ing when his attention was attracted by
metallic sounds coming from the rear
OF the grocery store. Peering through
the window he made out the figures of
two men chopping away at the bottom
Of an upturned safe in the rear. Alber
tried the front door in an effort to
gain entry to the store, but the door
was locked.
Jump Through Glass Door.
Hearing the policeman at the front,
the youths slid back a bar over a side
QOOI OpttlIIlB OH 10 dIy1dIlQ avenue
and attempted to make their escape,
but Albar ran to the side of the build
ing, fired once at the figures in the
doorway and the men retreated, drop
ped the bar back into place and then
ran through the store and jumped
through the plate-glass door.
A bullet hole, little more than head
high, was found in the side door this
morning.
Alber raced to the front of the build
ing in time to see the men running up
Eleventh street. He fired three more
shots at them, but none took effect.
The policeman later overlook Swan, but
the other escaped. Swan was taken to
the fourth precinct and booked for
investigation.
He confessed to having robbed the
cash register of the store and attempt
ing to open the safe after gaining en-
trance to the building by knocking ont
a glass tranSom above a small display
window on the Maryland avenue side of
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