Evening star., 1932-10-08
H0LD-UPS DOUBTED
AS SSN|PER'S WORK;
ONE VICTIM SHOT
Man Is Seriously Wounded
and Gunman's Bullet Just
Misses Another.
GAS STATION BANDIT
KICKS CHILD IN FACE
Descriptions Differ in Important
Details With Killer Who Caused
Scare Last Spring.

Headquarters detectives and police OF
all precincts were working together to-
day in an extensive investigation of a
series of holdups last night, in which
one man was shot and critically wound
ed and another narrowly escaped
similar fate.
Although descriptions of the gunmen
who staged the various holdupS tailed
in some respects, they differed so greatly
in other important details that invest-
gators were inclined to doubt the cases
had any connection with the "Sniper"
scare of last Spring.
The victim of the gun play, j. Carle-
ton Briggs. 26, of 1916 Tenth street, was
in a serious condition in Emergency
Hospital, where he underwent an opera-
ton shortly after he was shot in the
abdomen.
William A. Copsey, 81. manager of
filling station at Eleventh street and
Rhode Island avenue, was the near
victim of a bandit who used similar
tactics.
Promises to Return.
Copsey, who lives at 81 Rhode Island
avenue northeast, told police the gun
man first came to his station about 6
pm, inquiring about the prices of five
SdliOli SdllS VI Olls EAllCl aioSucoiAiS
various grades of oil, the man according
to Copsey, promised to return later.
When the customer" returned, Cop
sey said, he asked for one of the cans
of oil that had been under discussion
on his previous visit. As Copsey turned
to get the can, he said. the bandit drew
pistol and announced:
Il don't want your oil. Give me all
the money you have"
Just then, a small colored boy entered
the station. accompanied by Pete
Sonalitro. %, of the 100 block of
Four-anoa half street southwest, an
employe The gunman hurled Sonalitro
across the station, then turned and
kicked the child in the face.
AS he did so, Copsey darted into the
automobile washing room. but the gun
man whirled and fired. The bullet tore
through the edge of CopSey'S trousers
pocket, but he continued his flight.
Speeds Away in Auto.
The bandit ran from the station.
1eaped into an automobile parked on
Eleventh street and sped away. Copsey
called to paSSerSby to note the license
number, which he later turned over
to police. More than $500 was in the
station, Copsey said.
A few minutes later a man drove
into filling station at Sixth and K
streets, where Briggs was on duty
alone. After purchasing five gallons
of gasoline the stranger drew a gun
and ordered Briggs to hand over his
money.
Briggs hesitated for a moment and
the gunman fired.
Detective Sergt Frank M. Alligood,
waiting for traffic light to change
block away, heard the shot and rushed
to the station. He turned his car over
to Roy Belt, an employe of an auto
mobile firm in the neighborhood, and
told him to rush the wounded man
to the hospital.
About two hours later a bandit held
up drug store at Fifteenth and K
streets and, after being chased by
policeman, escaped with $3.50.
Officer Chases Bandit.
Samuel Grogan, 80, a pharmacist,
and Paul Brown, 81, clerk, were at
work in the store. owned by Mrs. Rose
Edelman, when the hold-up man en-
tered After forcing Grogan to give
him the contents of the cash register
the bandit herded both employees into
the rear of the store. A customer who
entered the pharmacy while the hold
up was in progress was forced to join
Grogan and Brown in the rear.
meanwhile, fOllCeIldIl GUluOu hui
combe, third precinct, had stopped be-
side the robbers machine. parked out
side with the engine running. The Of
ficer decided to wait for the driver and
give him a ticket.
Seeing the policeman beside the au-
tomobile, however, the bandit ran west
on K street and disappeared around the
corner of an alley. The officer told OF
the hold-up, pursued him, but was out
distanced. He did not fire at the fugi-
tive, he explained, for fear of striking
a pedestrian.
Briggs described his assailant as being
about 26 years old, 6 feet tall and weigh
ing about 100 pounds. He said the gun
man was pale and wore a dark overcoat
and dark suit.
The gunman who shot at CopSey also
was about 6 feet tall and weighed about
100, but he was dressed in soiled
gray suit.
The drug store bandit, on the other
hand, was about %, feet tall, weighed
about $50 and wore blue overcoat.
Because the heights and weights given
by Briggs and Copsey approXimated
those of the gunman who killed Paul
Riedel, Mount Pleasant baker, and
wounded several other persons last
Winter police gave some consideration
to the possibility all the hold-ups might
have been the work of the "sniper."
Three other hold-ups also were re-
ported last night.