Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-01-15

Seized in Baltimore After
Two Pals Are Arrested
in Gun Battle.

~ SNu So kkIVa
Baltimore police today arrested
three colored bandit suspects. who
allegedly escaped last night when
their two companions were captured
after q running gun battle with Wash
ington police. who blamed the five-
man gang for 10 recent hold ups here
and in Baltimore.
The three men, who. police said,
Ned in hail of bullets from their
wrecked automobile at the Peace
Cross in Bladensburg, were traced to
their homes In Northeast Baltimore
on information supplied local ofiicers
by one Of those arrested last night.
They gave their names as John
johnson, Roosevelt Carter and Clar.
ence Trusty. None Of them was
wounded, as Washington police be-
lieved, but one was said to be covered
with mud as II he had fallen down
In fleeing from their wrecked car.
After communicating with Baltimore
police. Assistant Detective Chief Ira
keck said he believed two Of the gang
were still at large johnson and
Trusty. he said, had admitted being
members of the same mob" but de-
MED being in Washington with Carter
last night.
Crashes Into Parked Car.
me bandit car. closely pursued by
police after allegedly figuring in two
hold-ups here last night, crashed into
parked machine when it failed to
make the turn into Defense highway
at the Peace Cross.
Harry Towson, rs. and Andrew Saw
age. Is, both colored. of Baltimore.
were captured by Detective Seret.
Robert J. Barrett and Precinct De-
tectlve Dewey Guest as they dandlv
climbed out of the wreckage. The
other three fed into the woods as the
omcers opened FIRE Seret. Barrett
said one Of the men fell as if wound.
ed. but scrambled to his feet and es.
capped
Inspector Bernard w. THOMPSON.
chief Of detectives. said Tovson and
Savage admitted the gang had staged
about 40 hold-ups here and in Balti-
more during recent months. He said
1t was the same gang which eluded
pursuing police in a smoke screen
after shooting bystander in a LIQUOR
store to climax q series of six hold ups
here on December 4.
Learning the names OF the three
fugitives, Inspector Thompson led a
squad Of local detectives and Baltimore
police to their reputed hangouts in
Baltimore early today. but failed to
md them. He returned home about
dawn. Baltimore police continued the
vigil there.
Five Baltimore officers, led by Sergt.
Pred Sullivan. rounded up the three
fugitives in Baltimore about 9 am.
today. They found johnson and
Carter in one house and Trusty in
another
The three captives were questioned
by Baltimore police. who indicated they
would confer with Washington author
tiles during the day to determine
whether they should be returned here
Immediately or first be prosecuted in
Baltimore for hold-ups they allegedly
had committed there.
The two men in custody here are
expected to be paraded before victims
Of recent hold-ups in Q lineup at
police headquarters Monday night.
Others Face Lne-Up.
Also scheduled for the lineup are
Ellis Tippett, 20, and his brother,
Ellsworth, II, OF Ardmore, Nd, who
were captured in Woodbridge, Va.
inn Thursday night and allegedly ad-
mitted holding up seven grocery stores
! and filling stations in quick success
sion here Wednesday night after rob-
bling one of the filling stations Monday
night.
Detectives planned to escort the
young bandits back to the seven places
and question them about details Of the
hold-ups. during the day.
Meanwhile Inspector Thompson said
he would recommend that Margaret
OBrien. 14year-old Ardmore school,
girl. who accompanied the Tippett
brothers because Of plans to marry
Ellis. be released.
The colored bandit gang began its
foray here last night at 10 O'Clock,
when. Edward B. Smith. proprietor of
liquor store at 500 Eleventh street
s.W.. said. he was held up and robbed
OF $50 by four colored men who escaped
IN gray sedan, with another driving,
Another Store Held Up.
Ten minutes later three Of the
bandits allegedly entered another liq-
uor store At 600 street Sc. and held
up Morris Helm and took $50.
Sergt. Barrett and Detective Guest
heard the police radio description Of
the bandit car and spotted 1t at Fiji
tenth street and Tennessee avenue
NE. They chased it At high speed
out Bladensburg road. firing several
shots at the fleeing car after getting
clear of traffic.
The detectives said they we're ham
dicapped in trying to capture the
three bandits who fled after their car
was wrecked because they had to give
most Of their attention to the two
who were captured.