Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-14
THIEVES ENTER
BUSINESS HIGH
Students Bank Safe With
stands Efforts of CuIprits
and Fund Is Intact.

The record of the students bank al
Business High School of 19 years exist
ence without financial loss still stands
today, despite efforts of thieves last
night who broke into the room occu-
pied by the bank but were unable to
open the safe in which the funds were
kept.
Another safe in the bank was broken
open, two other safes in different por-
tions of the school we're jimmied, and
closet, cupboard and desk were
broken into and a cash drawer was
rified. After searching every likely
depository Of money in the building, the
burglars escaped unnoticed with 1870
Great excitement prevailed when the
students began arriving this morning.
Papers were strewn about the floors and
police had just arrived. creating a sem
sation in the usual routine Of the school
day.
School Bank Intact.
No money was taken from the school
bank The only safe there which con-
attempts of the apparent amateurs to
crack it, The combination was knocked
off, but the door remained closed de-
spite efforts. revealed by chisel marks,
to pry IL of the hinges. The second
safe In the room was opened by smash
ing the combination and lifting the
door OF its hinges, but nothing was
taken. The safe contained no money.
The theft was discovered this morn
ing by William Nalley of 1909 Kenyon
street, the janitor, when he opened the
building, He first noticed that his tool
closet in the basement had been pried
open and his kit of tools stolen. The
burglars left undisturbed a saxophone
valued at $50 and new automobile
tire. 1t was with the tools that the
thieves worked in other parts OF the
building.
Police Take Over Case.
A hasty survey of the upper floors
revealed to Nalley what had happened
and he Immediately telephoned Miss
May Bradshaw, assistant principal, who
summoned police. Policeman Edward
l.. Shelton of the second precinct was
dispatched to the scene.
Besides the strong boxes in the bank,
he found that safes in the Offices of
Principal Allan Davis and Miss Brad
shaw had been broken open. It was
from the latter receptacle that the
largest amount, $50. was stolen. 1t
represented receipts from the sale yes
terday of class pictures to students.
Nothing was taken from the receptacle
in Mr. Davis office.
The thieves seem to have been intent
only on money throughout their search,
leaving untouched other objects of
value.
The only other place where cash was
taken was In the bookstore. The door
of this room was found locked this
morning and police think entrance
must have been gained through the
transom. The cash drawer was opened
and $720 taken. The bookstore is run
under the supervision of Miss J. G..
Lockwood, q teacher.
The last spot ransacked was the Of
nee of DR.. A. l.. Howard, head of the
department Of business practice. Here
a cupboard was broken into and DR..
Towards desk opened. Several pennies
found in one of the drawers were scat
tered over the surface of the desk but
a check-up revealed nothing missing.
Believed Work of Amateurs.
Police say the robbery bears all the
earmarks of having been committed by
amateurs VINO were 1amlIlar with the
school. They point to the fact that the
robbers did not bring their own tools
and to the diff1culty they experienced
in opening the safes. particularly the
one in the bank, which def1ed their eff
forts. The only clue to the identity of
the robberies Is numerous finerprints.
but If the surmise of police is correct
that the thieves were operating for the
first time last night these will be Of
little value
Nalley, the janitor, said this morning
that the building was closed last night
at II o'clock by the Waterman, George
w Bond, following a rehearsal by the
senior class of class day exercises. All
the doors and windows we're locked
when he discovered the robbery this
morning. he said.
Mrs. Kate S. Outwater, faculty ad-
wiser to the students who conduct the
bank. feels that her care In handling
the funds yesterday was justified. An
unusually large amount of money was
taken in during the day, but so appre-
hensive was Mrs. Outwater for its safety
that she insisted on sending cash to city
banks at six different times.