Evening star., 1938-12-12

Search for
Bandit
List of HoId-Ups
Of Liquor Stores
Increased to 8

detectives pressed tnelr Searcn To-
day for the shotgun bandit, wanted
in connection with eight liquor store
hold-ups in the past fortnight, and
at the same time began patrolling
downtown department stores to be
on the lookout for petty thieves
ready to victimize shoppers during
the Christmas rush.
A rogues' gallery picture, believed
to be that of the nonchalant thug
who last used his saWed-of shotgun
in liquor store at 1910 Fourteenth
street NV, and escaped with more
than $500 Saturday night, had been
partially identified by two of the
bandits victims.
Police said they are watching the
suspects known hangouts and are
running down several tips as to his
whereabouts. The man, who oper-
ates alone, walks into the shops, pulls
the saWed-off gun from the folds
of his coat and walks out with the
cash of his victim.
At Oils this morning 16 plain
clothes men were stationed in down.
town department stores to watch for
shop-lifters and pick-pockets The
officers have been studying rogues'
gallery photographs of old offenders
in preparation for their new tours
of duty during the holiday shopping
season.
Hold-ups Reported.
Meanwhile, a number of hold-ups
and petty thefts were reported to
police last night or early today.
Two colored robbers, one armed
with blue steel revolver, forced the
proprietor of a filling station at l22
G street NV. to hand over between
$50 and $40 from the cash register
early today. The victim. Thomas
T. Boyles, %, told police the men
fed on foot.
A short time earlier, two bandits.
answering to the general description
of Mr.. Boyles' assailants. held up a
Capital Transit bus driver. Martin
F. Meek. at Georgia avenue and V
street NV, and escaped with 81 and
his change carrier containing ap-
proximately S5.
Despite warning against leaving
valuables locked in parked cars, is
sued Saturday by Inspector Bernard
w. Thompson, chief of detectives,
two other automobiles were jimmied
last night and clothing valued at
more than $40 stolen.
The victims were Gus ]. Mesolo-
gitas of Baltimore, who parked his
car in the 700 block of N street NV,
and Lewis Donofrio of Pittsburgh,
who lost billfold in the theft from
his machine parked in the 1900 block
of Belmont street NV. A colored
boy repeatedly attempted to sell the
billfold at filling station nearby
shortly before the theft was discov-
cred by Mr.. Donofrii.
Two travellers waiting at the bus
terminal yesterday struck up friend
ships with strangers who turned out
to be thieves.
Dallas D. Kelly, 40, of Shinnston.
w. Wa, told police a man he met
at the station invited him to have
drink and en- route to a nearby
hotel slugged him with a blackjack
and robbed him of S21. The robbery
occurred in an alley at the rear of
the 900 block of Fourteenth street
NV.
The other victim was Thomas
Wright, 81, of Yonkers. N. Y, who
cashed an s18 check for a &C. w.
Spencer" who represented himself
as restaurant proprietor of Miami,
Fla. Mr.. Wright said Spencer
offered him a job pending their
arrival in the Florida city and asked
his prospective employe to cash a
check for him. Mr.. Wright said
he obliged his new-found bene-
factor. who Immediately lodged
through a sidedoor of the terminal
and disappeared.
Among the victims Of purse
snatchings reported during the week
end was Mary Banks, %. colored. OF
the 100 block of U street NV.
who lost a thumbnail when hel
pocketbook was snatched from hel
hand by two men as she waited
for a bus at Thirty fifth street anc
Reservoir road NV. The victim
said she had the purse strap tied tc
her thumb and when the bag, con-
f tanning S., was pulled from her the
: thumbnail went with it.
t Two young colored boys grabbed
Selma Thomas pocketbook as she
walked in the 900 block of N stree
r NV Miss Thomas, who lives neal
| the scene of the theft, said the purse
, contained $115 in change, a checl
S and personal effects.