Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-15
TWO ROBB|NG SAFE
CAUGHT AS WOMAN
PHONES FOR POLICE
Mrs. Miriam fuckers Quick
Work AvertS Escape With
$1,1O0 Loot.
SEEK TO CONNECT PAIR
WITH OTHER ROBBERIES
Officers Note Similar Methods in
Attempt to Rob Blossom Inn
Made During Night.

A woman's quick thinking early today
resulted in the capture of two men
whom police caught as they were pre-
pairing to escape with approximately
81 100 obtained by breaking open a safe
in the cfice of the Automotive Supply
Co, Pennsylvania avenue and Twenty
first street.
The yeggmen-Charles E. Smith, 20
years old. 1920 Washington circle. and
Francis D. Carman, also 20, of 2l08 K
Street-are being held at the third pre-
cinct, and police are endeavortng to
connect them with an attempt TO rob
a safe in the Office of the Blossom Inn,
1915 New York avenue, last night or
early today An effort also is being
made to link them with other recent
robberies Of the same type.
Smith and Carman we're captured As
they were scooping up the money they
had taken from the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. concerns safe. Policemen A. T.
Davis, F. P. Martin and e. r. Franklin
Of the third precinct and S. F. Gravely
of the first precinct, who arrested them,
said they offered no resistance.
Woman Phones Police.
The men were captured about 3 am,
after Mrs. Miriam Tucker. 2l05 l street,
who was awakened by the noise they
made in their efforts to break open the
safe, telephoned police headquarters.
Mrs. Tucker, whose home adjoins a
service station operated by the com
pany, heard the men pummeling the
safe with a sledge hammer and a
chisel
Hastily dressing. she ran to the
window of workshop in the rear of the
office. Finding the window broken and
the room shrouded in darkness, despite
the sounds emanating from it. she con-
cluded robbery was in progress.
The alarm was broadcast, and Davis
Martin, Franklin and Gravely were or
dered to investigate. Shining their
flashlights into the workshop, they saw
Smith and Carman crouched on the
floor beside the safe, hastily Scooping
UP the money.
Police Break Open Door.
The policemen broke open the door
and ordered the men to surrender. Ex-
planning they we're unarmed, the pair
handed the policemen their tools, which
included heavy sledge hammer and a
ch:sal
The safe had been carried from the
office to the workshop, where its COM
bination had been chiseled eff, Failing
to break open the door, the robbers had
turned the safe upside down and ham,
mered hole in the bottom. Their loot
consisted Of about $500 in cash and
about $500 in checks.
In carrying the safe down the short
flight Of steps leading from the office
TO the Worship, the men had dropped
it. Smiths foot was crushed when the
safe fell on 1t, and he was treated at
Hospital before being taken
TO the police station Nearly $50 was
found in Smiths shoe when 1t was re-
moved at the hospital, police said.
The noise made by the yeggmen also
was heard by F. w Krichelt, an attor-
ney for the Veterans Bureau, who
rooms at Mrs. fuckers home.
Some time ego" krichelt said, 81
heard similar noises and investigated
them, only 10 find electricians were at
work in the place. This time con-
cluded something similar was in prog
ress and paid no attention TO the ham
mering."
Auto With Stolen Top Found.
Smiths automobile was found
parked nearby, and an investiga ton
revealed. police said, that the tcp had
been stolen from another car. Smith,
it was added, has police record, hav-
ing been implicated in the robbery of
Pennsylvania avenue pool room less
than two years ago. He Is on proba-
ton fer that offense.
The attempted robbery Of the Bios
som Inns safe was discovered this
morning when William Aiken, chief
steward, opened the place After sum-
moning police, he notified Mrs. Viz
ginia Fenwick, owner OF the establish
ment.
The combination had been broken
off, but the door still was intact, al
though an effort had been made TO
chisel hole in the concrete after part
of the steel jacket had been removed.
According to Mrs. Fenwick, the safe
contained about 5000. Headquarters
detectives will examine it for finger
prints, and II any are found, they will
be compared with those OF Smith and
Carman,
The safe was robbed Of about 5000
last Summer, Mrs. Fenwick said.
Similar methods we're used in both
the Pennsylvania avenue and the New
York avenue Jobs" police pointed
out In both instances, the yeggmen
gained entrance by forcing a window,
and a hammer and chisel were used
on both safes.