Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-05
LAUNDRY'S SAFE
BALKS BANDITS
Fail to Get $4,O0O-Take
$400 From Cash Drawer.
Tie Up Waterman.

The careful plans of four bandits to
rob the safe of the Arcade-Sunshine
Co.'S laundry, 700 block of Lamont
street. after binding the night watch
man to chair, were spoiled early this
morning when the strong box, contain
ing approximately $4,000 in currency
and checks, wtthstood more than an
hour of hammering. Failing in their
efforts to open the safe, the robbers
pocketed approximately $400 from a
cash drawer and escaped
The robbery has all the appearance
Of being an inside" job and officials of
the laundry stated today that it is their
belief that 1t was executed under the
direction of some disgruntled former
employe. Entrance was gained to the
building with a duplicate key, accord
ing to police.
Waterman Tells of Robbery.
The attempt to open the safe was so
badly bungled that it required nearly
an hours effort with an electric drill
and other safe-cracking tools before the
safe could be opened this morning to
determine whether it had been robbed
James Russell, 66-year-old colored
night Waterman, in telling of the rob-
berry this morning said that he was
2:30 o'clock when a masked man sud-
denly jumped from behind row of
shelves in the service department.
pushed a revolver into his face and
commanded him to throw up his
hands"
Il reached for my gun, but voice
behind me commanded me to STOP"
Russell said. II looked behind me and
another masked and armed man stood
q fJxyO
standing in the front of the room near
the street entrance"
Russell, who lives at 1924 Prospect
avenue and has been an employe of the
laundry for the past three years, said
that two of the men took him into
room opening off the service department
and trussed him in the chair, while the
other two men went to the engine room
where they obtained a pick, Ratchet,
hammer and chtsel. Returning to the
service department, they climbed the
high railing around the cashiers cage
and went to work on the safe with the
aid of f1ashlight to guide their efforts.
One Stands Guard.
One Of the men who tied the watch
man in the chair took up his post near
the front window and stood guard, while
the man who first covered Russell with
meaningless conversation.
Two of the quartet were tall while
the other two were of small stature,
Russell told police. He said that ore
man wore derby and was clad IN
dark sweater and light trousers, While
another wore brown trousers, a light
cap and light sweater He could not
furnish description of the two who
endeavored to open the safe.
in hn
worked on the strong box for a full hour
without a let-up. according to Russell,
but abandoned their efforts finally and
walked out. They were joined by the
bandit who maintained the watch at
the street entrance and after a few mo-
mentS of low conversation with Rus
sells guard, made their departure
through door leading into the garage
at the rear of the room. Russell's guard
stayed behind and did not join his
companions until after untyirg the
Waterman and cautioning him mot to
move for half an hour"
A door opening into the alley behind
the plant from the garage was found
open by tenth precinct police, while
fresh oil spots were found on the ground
1t is presumed that the quartet escaped
in machine.
Runs to Report Robbery.
Russell said that he disregarded the
warning of the burglar who cautioned
; him against moving and raced through
| another door as soon as the four had
left the building and ran to the tenth
precinct station, where he made re-
port of the robbery
Headquarters detectives investigating
the case found numerous fingerprints
on the safe and the tools used in the
| fruitless attempt to open it.
How long the men were at work IN