Evening star., 1940-03-06
Grocery Ho|dup
Ends 48-Hour
Crime Truce
Two Nights Pass
CoImIy for Police;
PorIey Called

PorIey Called
Law enforcement officers, sum-
moned to a special conference Sat-
urday to discuss the crime situation
here, took note today of the passage
OF the second "crimeless night" since
a detail of l25 extra police took up
their after-dark vigil on District
streets.
No armed robbery had been re-
ported for over 48 hours when the
morning police shift came on duty.
The truce was broken late in the
morning-hours after the heavy
night patrol had gone home-when
a colored man obtained about $40 in
a grocery store holdup.
Victim of the robbery was EVELYN
Dortman, who was on duty in the
Triangle Market, 1926 New Jersey
avenue NV. when the man came
IN, holding his hand in his pocket
as II he had a gun. He pushed her
aside and cleaned out the cash
register.
Hazen Calls Farley.
The stoppage of robberies at night
while the extra uniformed men are
on duty was expected to furnish a
principal topic for discussion at the
Saturday conference, which was
called by Commissioner Melvin c.
Hazen yesterday.
Invited to the meeting, to be held
at the District Building at 10 am,
were United States Attorney David
A. Pine-who announced today that
ne would attend - Corporation
Counsel Elwood Seal and police off,
GERS OF the rank of captain or above.
NO agenda has been set for the
conference. Commissioner Hazen
SAID he would invite suggestions from
all, as to possibilities of putting
stop to the recent wave of lawless-
ness.
Would Investigate Sources.
Among the proposals to be con-
sldered will be one from Commits
sioner Hazen himself to take a
survey of all District penal institu-
tlons to determine where the
criminals come from. If a sufficient
number were found to have come
into the District from outside, he
said he would recommend that some
thing should be done to strengthen
the law"
Two possibilities present them
selves In this connection, he said.
If there are too many vagrants from
other States and cities here, he ex-
planned, it might be possible to get
new legislation to prevent dement's
going to any one unless he had been
a resident of Washington for at
least three years. Another DOS
Eibility would be some kind of legis-
1ation to send such criminal va
grants back home. -. -.
The total crime haul last night was
S5 cents-which represented the pro-
ceeds OF the only two thefts reported.
That sum was obtained from Eliza
beth Connor Of 1912 North Capitol
street by boy who snatched her
purse at North Capitol street and
Rhode Island avenue about pm.
Claudette Williams, %, colored, of
S29 T street NV, had her purse
containing no money - snatched
about 1890 pm. at Georgia avenue
and Howard place NV. The thief, a
tall colored man, struck her before
taking the pocketbook, and she was
treated later at Garfield Hospital for
q fractured jaw.
Drive Follows Staying.
The 125 extra police were put on
the streets after a series of holdups.
burglaries and safe crackings which
climaxed with the murder of Her
man Sirkis, Northeast liquor dealer,
by two bandits.
The extra detail went out Monday
night and the following morning DO
lice reported that for the first time
in two months there had been no
armed robberies. The passage OF the
second night without a holdup set
something Of a record, as far as
any one could remember.
Solution of two crimes was an
nounced. Two colored men were
here at the fourth precinct after be-
Ing identified by Rolia Pryor, 407
Third street S.W., as the pair who
strong-armed $40 from her SATURDAY.
night. A 25-year-old colored man
was held after being identified by
two girls, 16 and Is years old, who
said he had grabbed at them Mon
day in the 200 block of Eleventh
street S.W.
Biggest Lineup in Months.
Other attempts to apprehend the
thugs responsible for recent crimes
were less successful, however. y
Sixty-two persons who have been
victimized by criminals recently
gathered at police headquarters last
night to view Sc suspects picked up
off the streets by police. 1t was the
biggest lineup held for many months.
None of the suspects was identified
and police prepared to release all
but q few. Eight new suspects were
brought in during the night and will
be placed in a lineup later.