Evening star., 1939-09-22

.Ho|dups Net
Robbers $3.50
Cafe Loses $500:
Hotel Clerk Forced
To Hand Over $40

Hold-up men obtained about $500
IN two armed robberies in Wash
tngton early today.
Two young men entered the
Royale Restaurant, 1886 Columbia
road NV, shortly before it was
scheduled to close at 2 am, ordered
drinks and sat down in separate
booths, one near the front door,
the other close to a cash register
at the rear end Of the bar.
When Bartender William E. Fits
went to lock the front door the man
sitting nearby thrust pistol in
his back and said: This is a stick
up. Keep quiet and open the cash
registers" Eight customers were in
the restaurant at the time, but the
robbers worked so smoothly few
realized what was going on, ac-
cording to j. Commings, one of the
owners, who was in the stockroom
and unaware of the proceedings.
Revolver Flashed.
Fits and the hold-up man, at the
front cash register, blocked the
path of Waitress Pearl Bowman
behind the bar.
Get out Of my way" she said,
elbowing past them.
Flashing his revolver where Miss
Bowman could see it, the robber
ordered her to remain silent where
she stood Then the bartender was
told to open the rear cash register
for the second hold-up man. About
$500 was taken from the two regis
tiers, Mr.. Commings said.
AS the robbers fled down Columbia
road, Sergt. Charles L. Van Meter
of precinct 13 alighted from his car
across the street, Mr.. Commings
added. Advised of the holdup by
shuts from the restaurant, Sergt.
Van Meter chased the fleeing pair,
but they eluded him in the dark
ness.
Hotel Clerk Robbed.
-Four hours later-at 5:45 am
young man drew revolver on
Elmer Y. Weaver, night clerk on
duty at the D. c. Hotel, BIG K
street NV, forced the clerk to hand
over the $40 cash on hand and
ran eastward along K street, Mr..
Weaver reported to police.
Other thefts reported to WASH
ington police today involved loot
and cash totaling $500.
A pickpocket robbed Henry Al
vers, 1910 Rhode Island avenue
NV, of $248 in crowded elevator
of downtown Office building. Tho
victim told detectives his billfold was
taken from his hip pocket. He said
he made sure his wallet was there
when he got on the elevator, but
missed 1t shortly after he got of.
While several guests were dining
on the first floor of a home at 1419
Ames place NE. a sneak thief
rifled their purses in a rear room
of the second floor. The burglary,
reported early today, netted a total
of $35.
Victims and Losses.
Victims and their losses included
Chapman Slye of the Ames place
address, 50; Mary Hines, 1892 N,
street NV, So; Margaret Cum
ningham, 3035 Dent place NV.
four silver dollars; Helen Shoe
maker, 1904 r street NV, IS, and
Frances Hollarn, 1908 w street
NV, 50.
George Whitney, 1909 Twelfth
street NV, reported today that an
acquaintance of his, Lavon Chanlot,
now registered at the Fort Pitt Hotel
IN Pittsburgh, was the victim of the
theft Of an accordian at the Grey
hound Bus Terminal here yesterday.
The instrument, set in rhinestones,
was valued at $1,000.
Pearl M. White, 163 Adams street
NV. told police a man jumped on
the running board of her car while
she was driving on First street NV.
near the city post Office and fled
with her purse containing $1.4O.
A manila envelope filled with
$41.57 in cash, 800 in express checks
and $643 in small personal checks
was reported stolen from the cashier
window Of downtown hotel. The
theft was revealed by bookkeeper,
Doris MacDoughall.