Evening star., 1937-04-23
CONV|CTS
FLEE WITH GIRL
"BIackfaCe" Pair Reported
Seen Here-StoIen
Auto Wrecked.

Police today had information that
two former members Of the notorious
'blackface" robber gang, who smashed
their way out Of Lorton Reformatory
late yesterday in a stolen automobile,
had been seen in Washington last
night and left shortly afterward in
another car with a girl.
Col. William Lee Peak, Lorton su-
perintendent, was informed this morn
ing that the car in which the convicts
made their getaway had been found
abandoned and badly smashed up in
nearby Virginia.
Col. Peak was advised that the es-
capped pair, Martin j. Walsh, 36, and
Walter Forbush, %, were seen in the
400 block of I street southwest late
yesterday, few hours after their es-
cape. They were supposed to have
picked up the girl friend of one of
the convicts before leaving here.
The fleeing convicts were pursued
for 40 miles yesterday by the plucky
young wife of the deputy superintend-
ent at Lorton-Mrs. E. j. Welsh, 81.
Ta1CA4od6i oROllC al llCi Cdl dluO QIl~
armed, Mrs. Welsh followed the con-
victs at a speed which sometimes
reached 80 miles an hour as the fugi-
tive automobile careened along side
roads and country lanes.
Chase Follows Or Road.
The convicts outdistanced Mrs.
Welsh between Annandale and Alex
andria following a chase which led
over OK road to Fairfax and down
Little River pike to Annandale.
The two convicts We're working in
the reformatory garage under super
vision of William E. Sullender civilian
shop foreman, when they made their
dash for freedom, Lorton officials said.
Sullender had been called to the
telephone, and as soon as he was out
Of sight Forbush and Walsh leaped
into an automobile belonging to Lewis
F. Howden. guard, and drove it down
= side road toward the edge OF the
reservation at a point between two
guard towers.
A barricade lay across the road and
the convicts sent their car smashing
through it.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Welsh had seen
the convicts flee and jumped into an
automobile to follow them The
guards in one tower, it was said, did
not shoot at the convicts' car because
they thought Howden was driving it
and the guards in the other tower said
the car was too far away for effective
shooting.
Alarm Broadcast.
The alarm was broadcast to the ad-
Joining countryside and to Washing
ton and nearby cities. Descriptions Of
the convicts were put on the teletype
and radio. Forty armed guards or
ganized a search in the vicinity and
police were stationed on key bridges.
Capt. Paul Peglow stood by with his
bloodhounds.
Walsh and Forbush were sentenced
to Lorton in December, 1885, az MEM
bers Of a gang which .preyed on liquor
stores, restaurants and other business
places during the Fall Of 1895. The
"blackface" gang was named because
they smeared their faces with burnt
cork as q disguise.
Arrest and conviction Of members
OF the gang came after Policeman
Earl Baker surprised the hoodlums in
the act Of holding up cafe ut 1895
Bladensburg road northeast and shot
to death their reputed leader, Morris
Beck.
Lorton Reformatory has no retain
ing wall, although one is now under
construction. The ''moder institution
is run on an honor system. Yester-
days was the first escape during the
administration OF Col. Peak.
The convicts left evidence that they
had planned the break for freedom.
In Forbush's quarters guards found a
box Of letters and papers on which the
convict left a note saying, Please
send this box to my home in South
Boston, Va"
The box contained letters, Sunday
school lessons and Bible quotations tn
Forbush's hand, along with news
paper clippings concerning youthful
lawbreakers who went straight"
Mrs. Welsh told reporters today she
lost track OF the fleeing convicts after
they drove through red light in Fair
fax and she stopped for 1t because