Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-28
R|TCH|E ASKS DATA
IN TEA HOUSE CASE
Suggests Extradition of Pair
by U. S. on Vice Charges
if County Cannot Act.

Gov. Albert c. Richie of Maryland
has taken hand in the investig3 ton
of the Old Colonial Tea House shooting
at BladenSburg following criticism of
the apparent lack of cooperation be-
tween the various authoritiss working
on the case, it was revealed today.
The Governor said he tclephoned
States Attorney Alan Bowie yesterday
to learn the scope of the Department
Of Justice white slavery investigation,
an outcome of the shooting, and the
status of two men who had been de-
tanned in Philadelphia as accessories to
the murder of Grover Anick of Wash
ington, who was killed during the gun
play.
The executive said he wished to de-
termine whether the Federal officers
were called upon to take action right
fully within the province of the county
officials, or whether the Justice De-
partment operatives work would be Of
the more general nature made possible
by their broader authority.
Evidence Held Insufficient.
advised by States Attorney Bowie there
was insufficient evidence against the
Philadelphia prisoners to bring them to
Maryland if they fought extradition.
In that case" the Governor said,
1.-The Department of Justice might be
able to do what our county authorities
could not do-that is, bring the men to
Maryland on general vice charges.
After they are here the county author
,ioIo he oh IN ~
case"
Lieut.. Cornelius Roche and Sergt.
William Feehley, Baltimore detectives
assigned to the case, explained that pic
lures of Cicero Rensulli and Nicholas
Tronco, the Philadelphia prisoners, had
been shown all survivors of the shooting
but were not identified. Under these
circumstances, they said Chief Of Police
]. J. Crowley of Prince Georges County
yesterday wired Philadelphia police that
the prisoners need no longer be held
for him.
Department of Justice operatives,
however. sent word to have the men
held for further questioning.
U. S. Enters Shooting Probe.
Although Department of Justice Off
Gals say they have been investigating
white-slave operations in Maryland and
closing of the Kit Kat Inn on the Bal
time Boulevard near Laurel, more than
year ago, agents of the department
entered the Colonial Tea House case
for the first time yesterday, questioning
the five persons now recovering in Cas-
ualty Hospital from wounds sustained
in the shooting and comforting with
police officials who have been handling
the investigation.
One feature of the case which has led
Baltimore detectives to conclude the tea
house was connected with white-Slave
ring is the fact that all the women
arrested after the shooting give identi-
cal answers to their questions and APP
parently have been we'll coached in an
ticipation of police grilling.
All say they have never been out of
Maryland and that they we're not
brought to the road house, but came
of their own accord to seek employ
ment after being told of the establish
ment by friends, according to the de-
tectives.
Gang Rivalry Held Motive.
Fugitive from justice warrants are
now lodged against three of the five
persons in the hospital. The warrants
name John j. Bartlett, Mrs. Verne Ed
wards and Thomas Simone.
The detectives claim to have learned
that Bartlett fled the house as the
bandits entered, but re-entered the
kitchen door in the rear of the gunner
and fired the first shot that precipitated
the barrage.
Bartlett has been charged with the
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