Evening star., 1931-06-27
Alleged Leader, ID, Styles
Self "AI Capone, Jr.," Police
Say After Roundup.
THIRTY-ONE CHARGES
BOOKED ON SEXTET
False Fire Call Probe Leads to Quiz
of individuals, With officers
Saying Each Confesses.

The gangster career of group of
Washington schoolboys who emulated
gangland methods as portrayed in cine
mas and stories came to an abrupt end
yesterday when six of the youths were
booked at the tenth precinct station on
2o charges of housebreaking and two Of
petty larceny.
Policeman Elmer L. Dalstrom whose
investigation of a series OF robberles
which extended overa period of year
led to the arrests, said the boys had
admitted all the offenSeS now charged
against them. The youths were released
in the custody of their parents on the
promise that they will be brought to
Juvenile Court when ordered.
The leader of the youthful pillaglng
expeditions was said to be Glenwood
Insley, IA years old, of the 1900 block
of Irving street. who is reported to have
boasted that he was "Al Capone, Jr."
The others arrested were John F.
Backus, IL years old, of the 3400 block
Mount Pleasant street: George Young,
IA years old, of the 1900 block Park
road; Eugene Chandler, IL years Old OF
the 1400 block Parkwood place; Henry
Mcdowell Deaderick, IL years old, of the
1900 block Irving street, and Arthur
Thurston Penn, IL years old, OF the 1900
block Irving street.
Held After Fire Call Quiz.
The youngsters were apprehended fol-
lowing an investigation of false alarm
turned in at the Powell School, where
five of the boys were students, which
resulted in the emptying of the school
building. Policeman Dalstrom said he
traced The act to one of the gang and
through information supplied by an un--
named informer and questioning of
each of the, lads separately, obtained
the alleged confessions. Police said the
boys went on their forayS in groups of
two or three but every member was
aware of all the Jobs" done, whether
he actually participated in them or not.
A seventh youth has been linked with
the activities of the gang, but he re-
Gently moved out of the city with his
parents.
The school boys initiated gangsters'
methods to the point of adopting their
Jargon, and they told police that at
one time they had put on the spot"
9-year-old Jimmie" Jones of 1873
Irving street because they believed he
had ''squealed" The child, who was
not a member of the gang. was the tar
get for crosS-f1re of stones. but made
his escape uninjured. A stray stone
from the barrage struck Mary Williams,
and cut her head, according to Police
man Dalstrom.
Mail Box LOoting Charged.
Policeman Dalstrom said the youths
carried cap pistols, and that while he
was taking them about the city they
leaned from the car and practiced
giving the works" to passing pedes-
trains.
One boy is said to have removed
checks from certain private mail boxes
in the Chevy Chase district. Only
the fact that the missives had been
placed in the boxes for mailing, and
had not passed through the mails or
into official government boxes, saved
him from facing the severe penalties
imposed on those convicted of tamper-
ing with the United States mail, if
convicted.
The wife of Policeman Samuel S.
Biddle, attached to the third precinct,
was one of the alleged victims of the
youngsters. The boys are charged with
the theft of $40 from the purse of Mrs.
Ann r. Biddle at her apartment, 1921
Columbia road. The largest haul
charged against the lads is the theft of
between $50 and $50 from the Spick
&c Span cleaning branch at 30O8 Four
teenth street. Three of the youths ad-
init taking $43 and splitting it three
ways, police state.
The proceeds of the alleged robberies
were spent at amusement parks and for
tickets to the gang movies, which they
liked, the boys told police. The youths
said they took articles for the thrill of
1t and not because they wanted or
needed the stuff"
Alleged Offenses Listed.
The first count held against them Is
Tor the entrance of the store of Jesse
l.. Prather at 3l65 Mount Pleasant
street and the removal of $50 pennies.
10 nickleS and skeleton keys. This is
Der 25, 1880.
Other offenSeS said to have been ad-
mitted by members of the gang are:
Theft OF s$22 from purse of Mrs.
Jennie Penn of Irving street. said to
be a relative of one of the boys.
Thet OF money from the purse of
Lillian Maizel while she was at work
In the Wolp Jewelry Store, 1902 Four
teenth street. on October Is, 1880.
Entrance of Elite Laundry branch ut
1881 Fourteenth street, through sky
light, on night of June l, and theft of
money from cash register.
Store RObberies Booked.
Entrance of delicatessen store of
marry rBTTlS. at Z0ZU FOurJeenGn street
by breaking glass in a rear window
and theft Of $1594 from cash register.
Theft Of cigarettes, candy and PEN
nies from gum machines at the store
Of Domenico Del Veconio, 1864 Park
road, on May 10.
Theft Of perfume and handkerchiefs,
a check for $29.62 and fur collar cut
from Woman'S coat and damage to
other clothes at the store of C. T..
Porter, 3l76 Mount Pleasant street, on
June IL.
Cash Register Theft Charged.
Thhft of $3.50 from the cash register
of the store OF Walter Camp, at 1921
Fourteenth street, April 10.
Theft of two vending machines from
the barber shop of William Hilton, 3205
Mount Pleasant street, June 16. The
machines later were recovered on va
cant lot5
Theft Of a $3.50 cigarette lighter,
which later was sold to a colored man
for so cents, from the Kenesaw drug
store, Mount Pleasant and Irving
streets, March IL.
Theft of cigarettes, cakes, soft drinks
and $1.40 in cash from the store of
Morris Berger, 3l02 Eleventh street.
NiDI EEIICN Nv AIIT0