Evening star., 1937-12-05
VICTIM IDENTIFIES
BANDIT SUSPECT IN
GUN TRAP BATTLE
Police Hope for Roundup of
Five Who Held Up Six
Stores.
STREETS ARE COMBED
FOR TRACE OF GANG
Authorities in Baltimore and
Other Cities Are Asked to
Be on Lookout.

One OF the five-man colored bandit
gang which barely escaped pursuing
policemen after gun battle climaxed
swift series of six store hold-ups
Friday night has been identified posi-
lively from "rogues' gallery" pictures
by one of the hold-up victims, police
said last night.
With this definite clue to work on.
police hoped for quick roundup of
the gang which Chief Of Detectives
Bernard w. Thompson said was sus-
pected in several other hold-ups here
during the last month.
All available policemen, heavily
armed with automatic rifles and shot
guns, cruised the streets for several
hours last night, but failed to find any
trace Of the hunted bandits. Authori-
ties in Baltimore and other nearby
cities were asked to be on the lookout
for the desperadoes.
Two Bandits Believed Hit,
Hospitals and physicians were
checked for any reports of treating
two OF the bandits. who were believed
to have been wounded when they
ran into gun-trap at liquor store
at New Jersey avenue and l. street
NV, the last of the six stores which
were robbed Of more than $500 Fri
day night.
Two white men and colored man
who were arrested with guns in their
possession after hold-up report in
the southwest section, were held for
questioning at the fourth precinct last
night, but police indicated they were
not involved in the Friday night
hold-up series.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Chesavoir, 36,
Of 219 L street NV, q bystander
who was wounded seriously In the
battle in the store operated by Dennis
F. Mccarthy, was reported in much
improved condition at Emergency Hos
pital
Motorcycle and squad car policemen
followed closely after the bandits as
they fed the Mccarthy store in large
sedan which was said to have borne
Maryland license tags. Almost trapped
at one time between two groups of the
pursuing policemen. the bandits
eluded the officers and fed out Mas
sachesetts avenue after laying down
smokescreen to throw Motorcycle
Officer Anthony Kakeski OF the trail
at Dupont circle.
Siren Order Issued.
Indicating that shrieking sirens Of
the pursuing police vehicles might
have served to guide the bandits in
their flight, Superintendent Of Police
Ernest w. Brown issued the follow
ing order to all commanding officers
yesterday:
"You will instruct the members Of
your command assigned to cruisers,
scout cars and motor cycles that in
responding to calls for hold-ups they
will not make use of the sirens on
their motor vehicles except in ex-
treme emergencies, as the sounding
OF the sirens in answering q call in
some instances has given warning to
tne nOlo-up men OF the police and
possibly contributed to their oppor-
tunity for escape"
Mr.. Chesavoir was shot by one Of
the bandits in the Mccarthy store
after Francis Mccarthy. son Of the
manager, had opened fire through a
narrow slot from behind q partition.
where he sat on guard against such
emergencies during busy hours Is a
result Of previous hold-ups. The elder
Mccarthy Joined in shooting at the
bandits as they fed from the store.
Police said the two men had fired nve
shots, and only three bullet traces
were found in the store. They be-
lieved the other two bullets had hit
their marks.