Evening star., 1932-01-31
Action Follows Bus HoId-Up
of Runner, 20, Carrying
$1,000 in Checks.
BANDITS TAKE SATCHEL
AND ESCAPE IN AUTO
Recent Robbery of Branch Bank
and Failure of Probe to Date
Irk Crosby and Chief.

Orders for increased police protection
for Washington banks were issued yes
terday by Brig Gen. Pelham D. Glass
ford, superintendent of police, at pro-
tracted conference with members of his
executive staff, precinct commanders
and lieutenants.
Gen GIaSSfordS action came as a
sequel to the latest Of a series of spec
taCular hOld-upS-the assault on a
Brookland bus Of Pau! Clarke. bank
runner who was robbed Of a Satchel
containing approximately $1,000 IN
nOn-negOtiable checks. The recent
hOld-up of the branch Of the Washing
ton Mechanics Bank at Ninth and East
Capitol streets, in which four gunner
obtained about $4,000, also impressed
the police superintendent with the need
for better protection of the banks.
Details of Gen. GlasSfordS plans were
not disclosed, but it is known he placed
squarely on the police captains the re-
sponsibility for giving increased atten-
ton to the banks, especially those out
side the congeSted area.
Bank HOId-up Irks Chiefs.
Robbery of the branch of the Wash
!ngton Mechanics Bank and the failure
thus far of police to capture the BAN
dts is said to have irked Gen. Glass
ford as well as Police Commissioner
Herbert B. Crosby. Fears have been
expressed that the success Of that hold
up might inspire other bandits to at
tempt similar robberieS
Clarke, a messenger for the Federal
American National Bank & Trust Co.,
was Slugged as the bus swung around
the corner of Thirteenth and Lawrence
- lob
branch for which he was bound.
While the bus driver and woman
passenger looked on, two men. who
also were riding in the vehicle, at
tackled Clarke one of them striking him
over the head with the butt dt re-
vOlver
At the same time the othel bandit
Enatched the SatChel containing the
checks. The bus rounded the inter
section. the pair pushed open the door
and umpeo to the street.
Bondits Escape in Auto.
Meanu hiIe. an automobile had been
following close behind the bus. The
robbers leaped into the car and the
driver sped away.
Clarke, who is 20 and lives at 2440
Monroe street northeast, walked to the
branch at Twelfth and Newton streets
4lOI AllCdSL anu II pm w CAAS AOGOSAS ,
Although there was a cash on his head,
he refused to go to hospital.
The only other passenger on the bus
Mrs. Anne Holman, $500 Twelfth
street northeast-gave police detailed
descriptions of the men who attacked
Clarke She also gave a partial de-
scription of the driver of the machine
in which they escaped.
The license number Of the autOmO-
ly-3y- hH
turned it over to headquarters detec-
tlves assigned to the case Maryland
and Virginia authorities, as well as po-
lice in all Washington precincts, were
asked to be on the lockout for the rob-
berS.
Checks ValueIeSS to Bandits.
The checks. according to J. L. Sher-
wood. vice president Of the bank, had
been issued by clients and were being
returned to the branch through the
Clearing House, for payment. While
they had not been Cancelled, they were
valueless to the bandits, he said
The Washington Mechanics Bank
was held up while Gen. GlaSSfOrd was
in the South recovering from a severe
cold He learned Of the robbery
through the newspapers.
Protection of banks was only one OF
the many ponce pIODIenS discussed az
the conference, the first Gen. GlaSsford
has had with the executive staff and
precinct commanders since his return.
Removal from the streets Of cars
seized by police was one Of the major
TOPICS of discussion Complaints have
been made to police officials of the un-
slightly condition in the vicinity Of pre-
cinct stations due to the storage Of
the seized machines, and Gen. Glass
ford gave instructions that the cars
must be moved.
Gen. GlaSsford was advised that an
intensive search already had been made
for vacant lot on which the cars could
be stored.