Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-08-16
HEAVILY ARMED
SAFE-ROBBERG GANG
SEIZED BY POLICE
Band Believed Preying on
Business Houses for
Months Broken Up.
FOUR CONFESS "JOBS"::
STRONG BOXES HUNTED
Two Reported Ready to Shoot to
KILL Surrender Without
Struggle,

A band of colored safe robbers who
have been preying on business houses
for the last eight weeks were captured
early today by squad of IL headouar-
ters detectives, armed with saved
off shotguns and high-powered riot
weapons.
Four of the six prisoners, one of
them a woman, freely confessed four
safe robberies, which they said netted
them more than sl10O, according to
Inspector Bernard w Thompson, who
led the detective squad.
Although two of the robbers were
armed and underworld sources had
warned police they we're prepared to
shoot to kill, they surrendered without
struggle. A quantity of safe-break-
ing equipment and evidence from loot
ed stores were found in the hiding
place Of the robbers, Thompson said
Harbor police began dragging the
Potomac River of Hams Point this
afternoon in quest of safe stolen
from the Garden T Shoppe. 1885 Co.
lumnia road. The robbers said they
threw the safe into the river after
obtaining $500.
The robbers, according to Thomp-
son, said they. obtained $500 from a
safe in the Nunnally Confectionery
Co. store at 1908 street. and $500
from a safe in the Yale Laundry
Offices at 437 New York avenue.
fourth safe, stolen from the 1900
block of U street. was abandoned in
an alley in the 1900 block of r street
when they became frightened while
attempting to pry it open. the robbers
told police.
Arrest of the gang followed weeks Of
painstaking investigation by Lieut..
John Fowler and Detective Sergts. W.
V. Christian, Joseph w. Shimon and
Harry Britton.
On several occasions. the robbers
almost walked into traps laid by the
detectives Last night Christian tele-
phoned police headquarters that he
had located the hiding place of the
gang In the 200 block of N street.
Inspector Thompson unlocked the
arsenal at police headquarters and
armed Capt Ira B. Keck, assistant
chief Of detectives Lieut.. Fowler and
Detective Sergts. Shimon. Br1tton,
Hugh Robey, Jacob Wolfe. Michael J.
Mahaney. T. NJ McVerry. Howard
Ogle and Paul Ambrose and rushed to
the scene
Two Seized Near House.
Two Of the robbers were found out
side the house. spotted by Christian.
One Of the men was armed with two
guns After arresting the pair, the
detectives rushed into the house and
arrested the man and woman who
| lived there.
| A short time later the detectives
| learned that two other members of
| the gang were in an automobile In the
| 200 block of Morgan street, After the
| detectives surrounded the automobile
its occupants surrendered.
The robbers also told police that
about two weeks ago they held up
colored numbers game runner in
| the 1900 block of Florida avenue
Police had no report Of this robbery.
Lieut.. Fowler said the methods en-
| ployed by the robbers we're crude.
| They attack q safe with pinch bars
and sledge hammers, and II they
could not break it open Immediately
they carried it away. Fowler said
| All the men wore gloves when they
were operating, however, Fowler said,
| A series of week end housebreakin2s
in residential neighborhoods continue
to harass detectives. Reports Of q
robberies awaited Thompson after he
rounded up the safe robbers.
The home of DR.. Daniel Borden.
| police surgeon. at 1910 Woodland
drive. was among those entered by
robbers. The robbery was discovered
by DR.. Benjamin S. Bean, who was
looking after Dr. Bordens home while
the latter was on vacation No idea
Of the value of the articles stolen
can be obtained until DR.. Borden
returns, police were told Before they
left the. house the robbers dined ON
canned goods and imported wine.
Frank Van Horn, Sc, of the 900
block of New York avenue was cut
with razor by colored bandit,
who robbed him OF slS on Connect
cut avenue near the Zoo early yes
terday.