Evening star., 1940-04-24
Confessed Killers
1ourCityGiving Police
Data on Their Ho|dups
Youths Who Admitted
Sirkis Robbery Murder
Tell Of Is Other Crimes

Two colored youths who have con-
fessed the holdup murder Of Her
man Sirkis, Northeast liquor store
proprietor, along with some Is other
robberies, have been using their ex-
cellent memories to pave their way
to prison, police revealed today.
The youths have pointed out the
victims of their robberies and
furnished details on the crimes
when the victims themselves could
not identify the suspects.
Capt. jeremiah Sullivan Of the
second precinct, jubilant over the
arrests in the Districts No. crime
OF recent date, told today how the
youths had built up the case against
themselves.
The two were arrested Satur-
day by two uniformed policemen,
Charles Burns and c. G. Edwards,
after a holdup and some subsequent
gun play. This robbery-in the 14o0
block of Ninth street N.W.-made
the first break that was to lead to
the confession of the murder.
Identify Their Victims.
Since then, the two have been
travelling from place to place with
police, pointing out the stores they
held up during the last three
months. Some of their victims hesi-
tated in identifying the robbers.
The youths then stepped forward
and identified the victims even
showing them in some cases the
exact spot where they were standing
when the robbery was committed.
Apparently, they were being help
full in this manner to keep the police
from pressing them too closely on
the Sirkis Staying. But homicide
squad detectives questioned them
at length and finally the two con-
fessed.
Mr.. Sirkis was killed on February
26 in his store in the 4800 block of
Deane avenue NE. He had chosen
to shoot it out with two colored
bandits who had robbed the store.
One Admits Firing Shot.
He was dropped by single bullet,
which pierced his h art One of the
two suspects now held admits firing
the shot-over his shoulder as he
hed-whlle the other admits being
present at the time, police said.
Their initial blunder occurred
during the holdup last Friday, when
three youths, in attempting to
frlghten Sam Wertleib, the pro-
prietor, said:
If you don't keep quiet, we'll do
What we did out in Deanwood."
A few hours later police cap-
tured one of the robbers after ex-
changing a number of shots. The
other two were rounded up subse-
quently and then started talking.
Ballistics Tests Made.
AT flrst they denied any knowledge
OF the Sirkis shooting, and police
were inclined to accept their story.
1t. John Fowler of the robbery
squad conducted ballistics tests on
the gun taken from them, however.
and then the homicide squad moved
In to question the trio.
From two Of them confessions
were obtained. The third denied
participation in the Staying, al
though admitting that he had been
in on the other robberies.
1t. Fowler said that the three had
admitted approximately Is robberies
in the last few months. which
brought them from $40 to S12O each.
Their total loot was around $1,000.
he said.
Ice Cream Store Robbed.
Police today were seeking another
bandit, who made attempts to rob
two Ice cream stores last night. One
attempt was successful, while the
other failed.
From a store at 1924 Fourteenth
street NV. a colored robber obtained
about Sc after threatening Anna
Chandler, the clerk. with a knife.
A few minutes later, he ATTEMPTED
to use the same tactics on Mrs.
Marie Dunbar, clerk in a store at
1923 Twenty fifth street NV.
| But Mrs. Dunbar slammed the
cash drawer shut and fed to the
rear OF the store. The bandit ran
leaving behind IS cents change from
purchase he had made upon enter
ing the store.
Carl Helberg, 25, attendant in a
f1lllng station at Vermont avenue
and K street NV, reported that a
bandit obtained $12 from him last,
night after threatening him with a
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