Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
CORNERED BANDIT
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
HoId-Up Mans Gun Fails in
Effort to Shoot Policeman
After Store Robbery.

A chain-store bandit, who fired
bullet into his head when police closed
in on him yesterday afternoon, was
reported on the verge of death at Cas-
ualty Hospital last night.
John Boyd, "a years old, of Philadel-
phia, the hold-up man, turned the gun
on himself after it had misfired twice
as he pointed it at the three police
men who had cornered him and his
companion, Theodore Roosevelt Brewer,
% years old, of Winston salem, N. G.
Brewer surrendered and was lodged in
the fifth precinct on a charge of rob-
berry
The capture of the two hold-up men
was effected through the alert detec-
tive work of Gordon Hooff, 19-year
grocery clerk Of 800 Tenth street south
east, who trailed the robbers for nearly
an hour and finally came upon them in
Garfield Park, Second street and Viz
ginia avenue southeast where the shoot
ing took place.
The robbers, both armed with as
caliber automatics, walked into the At
lantic & Pacific Tea Co.'S grocery store
about O'Clock, after waiting a short
time outside until the store had
cleared of customers.
Larger Sum Overlooked.
Accosting the manager, William
Driscoll, SIS years old, of $40 I street
southeast, they held the store official
and a clerk, Louis Mckenzie, 20 years
old, of 500 B street southeast, at bay
and took all of the money from the
cash register, estimated at $21.
A considerably larger amount Of cash,
secreted beneath the counter to be
called for by an express messenger, was
overlooked by the bandits in their haste
to finish the LOB" and get away, store
officials told police.
Hooh, a former employe of the store,
passed the establishment a few mo-
mentS after the hold-up men left the
place and ran into a nearby alley. Nc
KenZie recognized Hooff, told him Of
the robbery, and the latter set out after
the men in an automobile driven by
w. p Cation of 1923 Pennsylvania ave-
nue. southeast.
Cation and Hoof drove to Ninth and
B streets southeast, where they learned
that the two men they were trailing
had boarded street car at Eighth
street and North Carolina avenue
southeast. Cation went to the fifth
precinct and summoned police, while
electric car to Eighth street and Vir-
ginia avenue southeast, where he saw
the men.
Police Car Overturns.
The two bandits, accosted by Hooff,
admitted they got on the street car at
Eighth street and North Carolina ave-
nue., but said they were workers ION
their way home" and advised him to
Hoof followed at a safe distance to
Seventh and 1 streets southeast, where
he recognized friend, and told him to
call police. Policeman Joseph Bowers
Of No. S precinct rushing TO answer
the call, was slightly injured when his
| police car overturned at Seventh and
streets southeast in attempting to
avoid colliding with a truck He es-
capped with slight scratches and abra-
sions.
Trailed by the youthful clerk, Boyd
and Brewer walked out Virginia avenue
and into Garfield Park where they
turned back and met Hooff in the cen
ter of the park for the second time. De-
manding to know why he continued to
follow them, the men were told that
Hooh was on his way home, and Boyd
ordered him to get going"
Revolver Misses Fire.
Policeman c. j. Stewart, who mean
while had been told by Pvt. Bowers the
route taken by the robbers, arrived on
the scene at this juncture. Boyd drew
his revolver, leveled it at the on-coming
policeman and pressed the trigger. The
gun missed fire, whereupon he turned it
upon himself and pulled the trigger
twice. The revolver missed fire on
Boyd's first attempt at suicide, but on
the second try he sent bullet into his
right temple.
Brewer was taken to the fifth pre-
cinct after Boyd had been carried to
Casualty Hospital. He admitted the
hold-up, and threatened to kill himself
If given the opportunity. He would give
no further details concerning himself OF
Boyd other than the identity of himself
and Boyd.
Thirty-four dollars was found in the
possession of the two men.
Brewers fingerprints were taken al
} police headquarters after he faced head
quarters detectives at the O'Clock
lineup" and an effort will be made
|. to determine If he is wanted in any
other city.