Evening star., 1932-10-12
Two Robbers Lie in Wait for
Workers as They Open
Northeast Institution and
Force Them Into Vault.
VICE PRESIDENT HELD UP
AS HE OPENS MAIN SAFE
Twenty Detectives Unable to Pick
Up Clue to Daring Robbery.
Intruders Apparently Entered
Building Some Time During Last
Night.

In a carefully planned hold-up,
two young white bandits this
morning robbed the Woodbridge
Langdon Savings and Commercial
Bank, 2027 Rhode Island avenue
northeast, of between $4,000 and
$25,OO0.
The robbers, who entered last
night or early today, apparently
by breaking in a rear basement
window, imprisoned, one by one
as they arrived, five employees of
the bank, including the vice presi-
dent and cashier, E. L. Norris.
They made of with the cash in a
satchel belonging to the banks
runner. Whether they had a car
planted is not known.
Twenty picked detectives under
the active command of Assistant
Detective Chief Bernard w.
Thompson, were assigned imme-
diately to the case and all roads
leading out of the District were
ordered watched. A group of de-
tectives also was detailed to duty
at the Union Station.
Took Money From Vault.
Several hours after the robbery not a
clue had been uncovered by police. No
fngerprints were left and police said
gloves had been worn by the bandits,
full descriptions Of whom have been
broadcast over the police radio system.
The money, taken from the main
vault on the first floor, was obtained
after Norris, unaware of the bandits
presence, had opened the door to the
huge safe, preparatory to opening for
business at O'Clock.
Five Men Detained.
Shortly after the robbery five men
riding in car bearing New York Ii
cense plates were arrested for investiga-
tion in connection with the hold-up.
The men were picked up after they rode
past the bank and were seen to laugh.
Going toward Maryland they we're
taken in custody when they turned
around to drive back toward the city.
Held at the fifth precinct station,
they said they were picture Salesmcn
from New York and had arrived here
last night. They may be placed in a
lineup to be viewed by the bank en-
ployes. However. detectives are in
clined to doubt they had any connec-
ton with the robbery
1t was the third bank hold-up here
in nine months, the other two victims
being the East Capitol street and
Georgia avenue branches Of the Wash
ington Mechanics Savings Bank. A total
of S23,l66 were stolen from these banks
in daring, daylight robberies. None of
the bandits has yet been arrested.
When Norris entered the bank at
:55 o'clock. he noted nothing suspicious,
he reported to police and began at once
to work the combination to open the
vault.
Forced to Enter Vault.
Just as swung back the door, a
man suddenly stepped up behind me
and jabbed a gun IN my back" the
bank executive related. Then he made
me go into the vault with him
Earlier. the two men had imprisoned
the bank janitor, Waverly Newell. two
bookkeepers. Miss Alice Richmond and
Norman Bell, and Edmund Baldwin,
friend Of the janitor, in a basement
vault.
While one of the robbers stayed at
the door to the basement vault to guard
it's prisoners, the other held Norris in
the main vault upstairs. When Charles
Weckerly, 22-year-old teller. came in a
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