Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-12

Continued From First Page.)
east. Powell reported to police that he
was driving his cab at Massachusetts,
avenue and North Capitol street when
his attention was called to the other
automobile by its excessive rate Of speed.
Police were unable to locate any one
else who had seen either the escaping
automobile or the robbers themselves in
side the station. That section Of the
building where the robbery occurred was
virtually deserted at 2 O'Clock, attend
ants said.
Swygert, in the waiting room,
CHANGED on Lieut.. E. L. Eby and Sergt.
Harry Blackburn, who happened to be
in the station investigating another
case.
When the officers arrived at the
scene they were told by johnson that
he had just regained consciousness. He
was certain at first that he had been
slugged, but later admitted he might
have fallen on his head during the
scufle and excitement.
Had Scalp Abrasion.
Lieut.. Eby summoned DR.. @. s..
Grossberg Of Casualty Hospital to ex-
anime johnson. DR.. Grossberg, police
say, found johnson uninjured except
for a slight scalp abrasion Neither
johnson nor Swygert was able to say
If pistol was displayed.
johnson had been a postal employee
Tor more than 10 years. 1t was his reg
ular run and when he arrived at 1:55
aboard the New York train in charge
Of the registered mail, his duty re-
quired him to follow it into the post
ONCE to turn 1t over to the registry
clerk there
Postal Inspector w. F. Chester, act
ing chief OF the Washington district,
ana Inspector L. A. de Ward investi-
gated for the Post once Department.
Inspector de Ward said there was no
reason to believe that the men had in
SIDE knowledge Of the shipment, al
though they apparently were waiting
for mail from that particular New York
train.
Any one with an inkling of postal
procedure would be apprised Of the
presence of registered mail by the fact
that registry clerk was guarding the
pouches.
On the other hand, the robbers must
have parked their machine about the
time the train arrived, as it was not no.
ticed there previously, Inspector de
Secret Service Helps.
Two secret service agents were as
signed to the case by the Treasury De-
partment today to cooperate with Post
Office operatives and local police.
the officers from No. precinct no.
tined headquarters and general alarm
was broadcast by radio, giving descrip-
tons OF the two men who entered the
station and their automobile from such
information as the victims were able
to furnish.
Detectives w. J. Du Burky and ]. p.
Flaherty were assigned to the case
from headquarters. The investigators
found the black bag which the rob-
bers discarded when they fed. It con-
tanned three short sections of lead pipe
and nothing else.
Baltimore Is Notified.
If the automobile seen speeding out
North Capitol street contained the rob-
bers, they probably were bound for
Baltimore. The police there were no.
titled, as were other authorities along
the Washington-Balt highway.
Government agents, however, believe
the robbers remained in Washington
One Of them was about 40 years old,
over feet tall, heavy and of an athletic
build. He wore a dark overcoat and a
dark soft hat. His confederate was
somewhat younger, about S feet inches
tall and wore dark overcoat.
The attack and escape were so sud
den, the victims said, they were able to
get only a glimpse Of the men. No
one saw the driver of the car In which
the escape was made.