The Washington times., 1937-06-21

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Martin ]. Walsh, S6-year-old
leader Of Washington's ill-famed
"Blackface" gang Of hold-up men,
died on foreign" soil yesterday as
bullets from g Baltimore police
mans gun ripped through the
chest Of the man whose recent
escape from Lorton Penitentiary
with Walter Forbush, "a, inspired
q feverish interstate police search.
As Walsh died, his co-partner
In crime was taken prisoner, and
the pairs alleged "moll," 19-year-
old Leila v. Smith, submitted to
questioning here concerning the
Lorton break.
o.. Pair Fall Into Trap
The holdup early yesterday Of
the Little Tavern" in the 1900
block Connecticut Ave. N. W., in
which ISL was obtained at gun
point, indirectly led to capture Of
the men.
Discovery by the Baltimore
police Of Senator Pat Harrison'S
stolen car on a parking lot in the
heart Of that city resulted in q
Gordon being thrown around the
lot to await the pairs return from
q nearby Sheshining parlor.
AS the pair approached the car,
Walsh met Patrolman Martin
Kleinsmith's command to surren-
der by attempting to reach for
his own gun. Kleinsmith fired
once, Walsh falling with bullet
in his leg. ForbuSh took to his
heels, and Walsh reached again
for his gun. Kleinsmith fired two
more shots, killing him almost in.
stantly.
Meanwhile, Forbush, followed
by detectives, ran into q grocery
store at 116 North Green St.,
shouting to the proprietor that he
was being chased by a gang and
pleading to be allowed exit through
the rear. -t-..
Razor FrightenS Him
The. storekeeper, Joseph Serio,
whose morning shave had been in
teIrupted by ForbuSh'S S entrance,
hrandished his razor and demand
ed that he go, out the way he
came in. The young bandit ran
back into the arms Of oncoming
policemen and was hurried to q
Baltimore cell to await removal to
this city. Since he is a fugitive
from justice, extradition proceed.
ingS will not be necessary, police
pointed out.
Washington police stiIl were
run1nnaging through q wooded sec.
ton off University Drive, in Cot.
tagc City, Md, where, according
to Forbush, he and Walsh had
lived since their escape from LOr.
ton. An improviSed target range
and the remnants Of many quickly
taken meals were found.
The car, which ForbuSh Is said
to have admitted was used in the
little Tavern" holdup, was
stolen from in front of Senator
HarTiSon's home at 2260 Cattle.
dral Ave. N. W., April 10.
"Outside" Help Denied
The Smith girl, taken from her
home in the 400 block I st. s. W.,
is said to have denied aiding in
the Lorton break. Forbush has
told his captorS the girl knows
nothing of "our recent work"
Walsh and Forbush made their
escape April 20 in a car the latter
was repairing in the prison yard.
Forbush denied Outside" help was
obtained in the getaway, explain
ing that "the opportunity was
there and we took it,"
Walsh followed in death the
man from whom he took the reins
Of the, once powerful "Blackface
Gang"-Morris c. Beck. The lat
ter was shot to death by Detective
Sergt. Earl Baker as he fled from
the scene of q holdup of the Blue
Bell Cafe, ch Bladensburg Road,
a year ago last october. Baker
was awarded q hero medal for
the Staying.
The gang took its name from
their custom Of Smearing burnt
cork on their faces to make iden'
LITIGATION difficult, and for several
years, police estimate, garnered
thousands Of dollars in shake.
downs Of local gambling clicheS.
Smoke Screen Found
Examination Of Senator Harri.
sons car revealed the installation
of an ingenious srnoke-Screen de.
vice, police said.
Inspector Bernard w. Thompson
revealed that his men had been
chasing ForbuSh and Walsh for
some time Saturday and early
Sunday. A tip that they were using
the Senator's automobile, he said,
led to the pursuit.
Police said they hoped to pin
at least half dozen washington
crimes on the pair, working on evi.
dence uncovered at the search of
the Cottage City Jungle" hideout.
The picture Of penitence, For.
bush today attributed his plight to
early association with hardened
criminals at Lorton, where he was
sent first for stealing a car he
said he needed "to make my girl
think I was a big shot,"