Evening star., 1940-03-18
Police Batter
Bandit Suspect
In Street Battle
u. S. Worker Arrested
Near Robbery Scene;
$238 Hotel. Robbery

patrolmen who sought to question
him in connection with two hold
ups staged early this morning.
Two couples reported that they
were held up in Northwest neigh
borhood shortly after am. The
police radio broadcast a lookout for
the holdup man and a pair of
patrolmen spotted man they took
to answer the description, walking
in the 1900 block of Kalorama road
NV. When they sought to arrest
the man, they reported, he put up
a fight.
A wild battle ensued-in the
course OF which residents of the
neighborhood became alarmed and
called for more police-and the sus-
pect was subdued.
Taken to Hospital.
He was taken to Freedmen's Hos
pital for treatment of injuries and
later identified himself as Carl w.
Burget, Is, of the 1900 block of
Massachusetts, avenue NV, a typist
IN the Procurement Division of the
Treasury Department. He said he
was from Indiana-home State of
Representative Schultz, who on Sat-
urday said District police were
"sissies" and urged creation of a
"strong-arm squad" to rough up
criminals.
The arrest came as more rob-
berries were added to the list of un-
solved crimes here. The latest hold
ups included the robbery of the New
Colonial Hotel, Fifteenth and M
streets NV, and of a dry cleaning
establishment within 200 yards Of
an intersection where a policeman
was directing traffic.
Couple Held Up.
The search which climaxed with
the arrest of the Government
worker began about 2:10 m. today,
when John F. Killea, 1442 Somerset
place NV, and Alice Gupton,
Valley Vista Apartments, reported
that they had been stopped by a
bandit in front of the Valley Vista,
at 2032 Belmont road NV.
They fought the man off ard fled
into the apartment. About 10
minutes later James Schoenly, 81
Bates street NV, and June Cleare,
1861 Mintwood place NV, reported
being robbed by the same man in
front of the latter address-just a
short distance from the scene of the
other crime. The robber obtained
only 13 cents. S
It was not long after this that
Policemen r. j. Wagner and B. D.
Crooke spotted q man who answered
the description-and the battle was
on. A cap pistol was found in the
mans possession.
The robbery Of the dry cleaning
establishment, which is located at
1852 M street NV, occurred about
$3.50 am. today. A well-dressed
white man entered the place, drew
a gun and demanded cash from
Mrs. Mary West, 40, of 5000 Laurel
street NV, an employe.
She handed over between $40 and
$50 and the robber fled from the
place. Mrs. West, who had been
robbed in the same store last sum-
mer, fell over in q faint and was
found unconscious a few minutes
later by woman customer.
The customer rushed to the street
and called to Policeman R. H. Taylor
of the third precinct, who was
directing traffic nearby. Mr.. Taylor
revived Mrs. West, and learned for
the first time of the holdup.
The hotel robbery occurred at
11:10 pm, when two men who had
been lettering in the lobby ap-
preached Victor F. Piper, %, of 5617
New Hampshire avenue NE, the
night clerk.
The pair inquired about a guest
they said was registered at the
hotel and Mr.. Piper turned to ask
the telephone operator, Mrs. Pauline
Allen. 14l9 Chaplin street NV. if
she knew the man.
When he faced the pair again,
he saw they had guns leveled at
him. They ordered him to open
the cash drawer. Scooping up $238,
the two fled from the building and
escaped in a taxi cab.
Meanwhile, Maj. Ernest w. Brown,
superintendent of police, rejected
the suggestion advanced by Repre-
sentative Schultz that the District
create a Strong-arm squad to intimi-
date thugs and turned his attention
to another proposal from Capitol
Hill that Federal building guards be
used to combat criminals here.
$50 Special Policemen.
Representative Bolles, Republican,
of Wisconsin advanced the proposal
that the $50 special policemen who
guard Federal buildings be used for
duty with the metropolitan force.
He issued a statement in which he
commented on the suggestions made
by Representative Schultz, who asked
for creation of the strong farm squad.
The statement said Mr.. Bolles
agreed with his colleagues state
ment that something should, and
must be done"
What of the United States special
police?" he asked. "It is not neces-
sary that additional funds be ex-
pended for hiring and training
more policemen. At our hands lies
an efficient force of over $50 trained
men who are vested with complete
powers identical with those of the
Metropolitan Police.
These men, commonly known as
the Federal Building Guard, have
been pressed into service before,
with excellent results"
Maj Brown said he would have
to look into the qualifications of
these men before making any COM
ment. He pointed out that a con-
gressional act would be necessary
before they could be incorporated in
the District force.
"Of course" the major said, there
is lot of difference between guard
ing building inside and patroling
a beat outside"
The suggestion OF Representative