Evening star., 1932-03-26
PURPLE GANGSTER'
HUNTED IN CAPITAL.
Police Broadcast Lookout
for Suspect in Lindbergh
KIDNAPPING.

The sleuthing instincts of half
dozen youths residing in northeast
Washington today had the Police De-
partment on the lookout for a green
sedan occupied by two men, a woman
and a baby following a report that one
of the men resembled Harry Fleischer,
Detroit gangster, now the object of a
countrywide search for questioning in
connection with the Iindbergh kid
naping.
Leaving the woman and baby in the
car, which bore Virginia tags, the men
appeared at 1868 Maryland avenue
northeast last night seeking lodging.
The man making the inquiry had his
head bandaged and resembled Fleischer,
according to Howard Wolfrey of the
Maryland avenue address, who talked
to him.
When the strangers had been turned
away for lack of accommodation
Wolfrey and three companions went to
the ninth precinct and reported the
case. The boys were taken to head
quarters and shown police photograph
and description of Fleischer, and it was
insisted that this made even more GER
tain the early Identification. which was
based on a newspaper photograph.
Lookout Broadcast.
+ A lookout was broadcast to all pre-
cincts and police warned that these
men are dangerous"
After reporting to the police, Wolfrey
and his companions, Bernard Ocker-
shausen, 327 Thirteenth street north
east; Alexander Mackie, 1904 o street
northeast and Everett Lucas, 231
Twelfth street northeast. returned to
the neighborhood of their homes. Half
a block away from the house where
they first applied, they found their car
parked. apparently for the night.
Taking for granted the occupants
had taken quarters in one of the lodg
ing houses in that vicinity, Wolfrey
and two ompanions-William Hope,
338 Thirteenth street northeast, and
Bernard Lucas. brother of Everett
decided to watch the car, but gave It
up about 8 O'Clock. When they re-
turned at 7 the car was gone.
The boys were brought to headquar-
ters this morning. and they insisted
again that the visitor of last night
looked like FleiScher. While the youths
were being questioned by Capt. B. w.
Thompson, assistant chief of detec-
tives a report came in from the Elev-
enth precinct that green sedan bear
ing Michigan tags was going east on
Sheriff road, occupied by two men.
woman and a baby The man driving
was said to have a bandage on his
head. A radio lookout was Immediately
sent out.
When the strangers were seeking
lodging on Maryland avenue the man
said to resemble Fleischer declared there
was third man in their party. He ex-
planned his bandage as the result Of an
automobile accident.
Reputed Purple Gangster."
At the time the report of the car was
made last night it was said only that
it was using a black tag with white
lettering. which is the sort in use in
New Jersey. The same sort of tags are
being employed in Virginia this year
and the boys said that 1t was Virginia
license. The numbers corresponded to
those issued to man in nearby Vir-
ginia. according to a check at noon.
Earlier this morning the police had
report that the car with two men,
woman and a baby had passed the
night at tourist camp at Hyattsville,
but had left early this morning headed
toward Baltimore.
Fleischer. reputed head of the
purple gang" of Detroit, an associate
by the name of Wagner and third
man whose identity has not been estab-
lished are believed to be travelling to-
gether, according to report from the
New Jersey authorities yesterday.