Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-04
TWO COLORED men
TAKEN IN Staying
Cab Driver Killing Is. Solved,
Police cIaim-StoIen Gun
Revealed by Suspect.

with the arrest in Philadelphia and
Baltimore early today Of two young
cOlored men named by one under ar
rest as his companions In the fatal
shooting Of Mamie Solomon, 29-year-
old taxi driver, last Monday night. police
announced today that they had solved
the murder mystery
Leonard Augustus Layton, 10 years
old, Of $40 ] street southeast. was taken
into custody by Detective George
Darnall at Layton's fathers home tn
Charles Edward Washington, 13 years
old, Of 40 Six-and-a-half street south
west. was captured BY Capt Edward
Kelly and Detectives Carlton Talley,
Thomas Sweeney, Robert J. Barrett and
w. ,. Mahaney in Baltimore about the
same hour.
Named as AcompIices.
Layton and washington were named
by William g. Robinson, alias Robert
son, 10 years old. Of ia 3 street SOUTH
east. the FIRST man arrested In the muir
der Of solomon. as his companions.
Robinson, police say, already had adj
mitted firing the shot which killed Solo
mon, and had led them to the shed ut
the rear Of his fathers house, l21 II
street southwest, where he revealed TO
siiem o concealed revolver. Layton and
Washington were booked "foT investtga-
tom by the police on their arrival In
Washington this morning.
Robinson, Layton and washington,
together with Ralph Brown, 70 years
old, colored, who also is under arrest,
constitute band which calls itself the
Silent Four" police said this morning.
Brown was arrested Saturday at his
home.
Stolen Gun Is Revealed.
Robinson first had told police he had
thrown the murder gun in the river.
but late yesterday he admitted the
gun was found wrapped in paper and
hidden in stove.
The gun. the prisoner declared, was
stolen from the home of colored
Reserve force Oflcer by the Silent
-Four" Lieut.. John Fowler, Police De-
pertinent ballistics expert, who took
charge Of the gun, said hts tests were
to determine whether the gun was of
the same make as that which dis
charged the fatal slug into Solomons
body.
Ali four men, police announced to-
day, admit membership In the Silent
Four" and police are pressing their
investigation of the operation of this
band to determine what other crimes
have been committed by its members.
Two hold-ups and three burglaries al
ready have been admitted. police say.
Robinson told police the quartet dubbed
Itself the silent Four" because the
men never talked about what they
were doing, each keeping his own
counsel rs to his movements. Robin
son, however. became quite taikative
when taken into custody.
Case Shaped for Juries.
Brown, police explained today, was
regarded by his companions as lacking
nerve and preferring to remain In the
background when the quartet was do
ing Job" Brown was not with the
other men the night Solomon was slain
police say. but he has admitted to them
that he accompanied his three COM
panions on their excursion about the
city last Wednesday night In quest Of
victims. Police say that he stood guard
outside Of Isadore Koblen's store at 1856
South Capitol street that night when an
unsuccessful attempt was made at rob-
berry. They add that he walked away
| from the store front as soon as his COM
| pai1ions erltereds and was some distance
| down the street when the robbery at
! tempt was made. Because he had not
entered the store. he told police he made
no effort 70 elude them. believeing he
would not be hooked" for the crime.
| Detective John Flaherty, chief Of the
homicide squad. said today he was pre-
pared 10 present the murder case to q
coroner's jury and the grand jury. He
plans to await further DEVELOPMENTS Ia
the inves iRation. however.