Evening star., 1938-12-19

IS Suspects Here
Safe Is Cracked
And Two Grocers Are
Holdup Victims
Hold-up men and safecrackers
robbed Washington business men of
more than $500 this morning, despite
an intensive police drive against pre-
holiday crime that brought the ar
rest of 65 robbery suspects In the
years biggest roundup yesterday.
A safe in the rear Office OF the
Chris F. West Co., Inc, a meat firm,
at 1900 Bladensburg road NE, was
punched" open and looted of ap-
proximately 5000 in cash and 500 in
checks. The burglary was discov-
cred this morning by Melvin Stewart,
an employe, and reported to police
by Theodore Ruderman, manager.
Police said the burglars had entered
by forcing open rear window.
Two Grocers Robbed.
Two grocers were held up and
robbed of $185 each, one as he left
home for his store and the other
just as he was opening his store for
business this morning.
George w. Estler, SO, operator of
a grocery store at 1919 Georgia ave-
nue. NV, told police he was held up
by two white men as he was taking
his car out of the garage at his
home, 1864 New Hampshire avenue
NV. The men took $l85 In cash
and, when he asked for return of
his personal papers and cards,
slugged him in the eye, Mr.. Estler
said
Bennie Lerner said he had Just
turned on the lights in his store at
$40 Florida avenue NV. when a
colored man stepped in, pointed a
pistol at him and warned that he
would shoot unless the lights were
turned of Immediately. The armed
bandit and companion ran away
after taking $185 in cash, he said.
Other Thefts.
Numerous other thefts, involving
loot OF more than $1,000, were re-
ported to police yesterday and last
night.
Meanwhile. William Lomax, Is
colored. HOO block OF Congress
street NE, was recovering In Emer-
gency Hospital from gunshot
wound in the chest, received when
ne was surprised while rif1ing a cash
register at one of the stands in the
Q street market last night, accord
ing to police
Police said Charles Knowles, 64,
OF 1923 Sixth street Sc, watch
man at the market, fired one shot
at the youth from a .22-caliber
rifle.
The IS suspects rounded up
yesterday. approximately two-thirds
OF them colored and said to have
drlfted to the Capital from North
and South Carolina, with no means
OF support. were being held for
investigation in connection with the
recent series OF robberies here. Police
said their f1ngerprints and pictures
would be checked to see if they had
criminal records and that they
would be paraded in lineup
before robbery victims later this
week.
Prisoner Partially Identified.
inspector Bernard w. Thomson.
chief OF detectives. said one of the
prisoners had been identified tenta-
lively as the "sawed-off shotgun
bandit who figured In a number of
hold-ups recently. He said the
suspect answered the bandits
description. One of the bandits
victims has seen the suspect and
said "he looks like the man. the
inspector added.
The suspects were rounded In
IN series of early Sunday morn
ing raids by detectives OF the pick
up and vice squads, in connection
with a drive ordered by Supt, of
Police Maj. Ernest w. Brown to
curb the outbreak of crime that
usually precedes the Christmas
holidays.
Inspector Thompson urged the
public to cooperate in the anti
crime drive by making certain that
doors are locked when the family
leaves home and that Christmas
packages and other articles are not
left unguarded in parked auto
mobiles. He pointed out that a dozen
or more Christmas shoppers auto
mobiles were robbed over the week
end.
Meanwhile, one third of the rep,,-
lar police day force was under
orders to work overtime to REIN
force night patrols this week AZ
. precautionary measure.
Those reporting burglaries and
other thefts yesterday and last
night, and the value Of goods re-
ported stolen from them, include:
William R. Cassidy, 4727 Reno road
NV, 1855; Thomas ]. Fleming,
New Colonial Hotel. $119; Mary
Freedman, 4829 Third street NV.
$l76; John Tilson, attendant at
filling station at 3939 Canal road.
800; James Taylor. employe at fill
ing station in the 800 block of Flori-
da avenue NV, $3.50.
j. !. Pad With Turkey
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