Evening star., 1934-09-29
Legenza Free
With Mais
in Fray.
USE MAIL CAR
In MAD FLIGHT
Escape peIsDescribed
as Outside Job
by Jail Heads.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, September %
Two gangsters convicted of gang
land hold-up murder here and SEN
fenced to death escaped from the
Richmond Jail today, in what was
reported to be an outside job" in
which two policemen and a guard
were reported shot.
Details at first were meager, but
a police report said among those who
broke from the jail were Walter
LegenZa, alias William Davis, and
Robert Mais. awaiting death in the
electric chair for their participation
in the hold-up of a Federal Reserve
Bank mail truck and the murder OF
its driver, E. NJ. Huband.
Gang Chief Killed Here.
Both were alleged members of the
notorious tri-State gang headed by
William B. Phillips, who was slain
by Washington police.
general radio call summoned all
pursuit.
The names of the guard and the
policemen reported to have been shot
we're not Immediately available, and
first reports were to the effect that
two others escaped, in addition to the
convicted gangsters.
Police said the men seized mail
truck in the escape, drove 1t a few
blocks and then jumped into high
powered sedan. They abandoned the
mail truck.
Every available city and State
policeman was put on the case.
Mais and Legenza we're tried sew
eral weeks ago. Legenza was sentenced
TO die in the electric chair October
81. and Mais was sentenced to the
same end early in November.
Juror Was Threatened.
Immediately after Mais' trial, re-
ports reached Trial Judge John L..
Ingram that a Juror had been threat
ened if he gave 'Mais the death SEN
tence" Defense counsel have an
nounced that they were considering
an appeal on the grounds that a
Juror ndQ Deen lnIlH1ludIeu.
This week Marie McKeever of Phil
adelphia. brunette girl friend of Mais,
q principal defense witness in both
trials, was arrested here on charges
of mot of good fame and ordered by
9 Police Court justice to leave town.
Mais and LegenZa shot their way
to freedom when they were brought
from their cell into the corridor lead
ing to a reception room where Charles
w. Moss, their attorney was waiting
to confer with them in regard 10
plans for appealing their cases to the
State Supreme Court.
When they were led into the cor
ridor by Warden Moore and Deputy
Sergt. Selph. the two gangsters, in
stead of turning left into the room at
the rear of the Jail where Moss was
waiting alone they drew pistols,
ordered the officers to put up their
hands and made a break through the
front reception room leading to the
Jail entrance, shooting wildly as they
went.
Killed Bank Driver.
The two gangsters were convicted
for participation in the hold-up-
murder of E. M. Huband, driver of
Federal Reserve Bank truck, last
March. Huband was shot to death,
and the gang made away with the
trucks cargo of Cancelled checks.
They were described in their early
September trials as bad men"
First police reports said two others
escaped with them, but this was not
Immediately confirmed
Seventeen State Police in Richmond
area Joined the man hunt within a
few minutes and all State officers
within radius of 80 miles of Rich
rnond were given the alert within IS
minutes.
State roads to Washington. Tappa-
hammock, Newport News. Petersburg
and highways to the West were under
guard
Capt H. E. Nicholas, superintendent
Of State police, directed the search.
Described Long Record.
At his trial Legenza testified to
his own long record of crime, having
broken out of the Lorton Reforma-
tory, and said he was a robber "and
burglary was the line"
Mais was shot in his capture by
Baltimore police, after Arthur Misunas
gave evidence that led to the arrest
and conviction of the two men said
by him to have participated with him
in the Richmond job.
Misunas was lodged in a Henrico
county jail today as his two confed-
crates escaped.
They shot Guard Bill Toots, and
two policemen as they blazed their
way out of the city jail. Once out
they first sped away in mail truck.
later abandoning it for a sedan bear
ing Virginia license 20629.
Marie McKeever. Philadelphia girl