Evening star., 1940-02-29
Dozen Suspects
Are Seized in
Drive on Crime
List includes Man Who
May Be Linked to
Sirkis SIoying


Sirkis SIoying
More than q dozen suspicious
characters-arrested last night in .
police drive on criminals here-will
be lined up at police headquarters
tonight for inspection by victims Of
recent robberies, assaults and other
depredations.
Included in last nights haul was
one man suspected Of connection
with the holdup murder of Herman
Sirkis, proprietor of a liquor store
at 1921 Deane avenue NE, who was
shot to death Monday night.
Homicide squad detectives said
the suspect "looks good" and said
three colored boys who saw the two
men who robbed Mr.. Sirkis had
been ordered to appear at tonight's
lineup.
In all, 18 men were arrested dur
ing the night, one or two Of whom
were wanted on specific charges.
The others are being held merely
on suspicion and will be released II
not identified as criminals.
Cab Driver Slugged.
| The arrests brought no marked
cessation Of activities on the part
OF thugs and bandits here last
night. A cab driver was in Gar
field Hospital with a skull injury
after being slugged by two colored
men who robbed him of $3.50.
Two colored men who apparently
had not heard of Police Supt. Ernest
w. Browns crime drive held up a
filling station last night within four
blocks OF the building that houses
the second and thirteenth precinct
stations-where police have concen-
trated extra patrolmen. Another
robber smashed open a parking
meter in the heart of the downtown
section during the after dinner rush.
Later, members of another gang
riding In a stolen car-attempted to
run over motorcycle policeman who
ordered them to halt.
Last nights arrests came after a
conference in Maj. Browns Office
yesterday afternoon, in the course of
which police in uniform Ito act as a
crime deterrent" were ordered into
northwest areas where recent rob-
berries have occurred.
Beaten Unconscious.
The cab driver who was slugged
Is Lester T. McKillips of 800 Four
teenth place NE. He was beaten by
two colored men who hailed his cab
at Fifteenth street and New York
avenue NV. last night and ordered
him to drive TO Ninth and r
streets NV. =.
There they attacked him and beat
him unconscious. driving the cab
to the 2300 block Of Eleventh street
NV. About 10:45 oclock-nearly
an hour and a half later-Mr. Nc
Killips regained consciousness and
made his way to Garfield Hospital,
where he remained under treatment
today.
The filling station holdup occurred
at 1719 Vermont avenue N.W-a few
blocks from the heavily garrisoned
police station on U street, between
Ninth and Tenth.
| Cecil Shreve, %, night attendant
at the station, said two colored men
entered the station, one holding a
knife and the other a revolver, and
forced him to surrender about $50.
Escape in Stolen Car.
They escaped in a stolen car.
Some time later 1t. Joseph Shimon
of the pickup squad arrested two
men who were changing license
plates on an automobile. Mr..
Shreve viewed the two and said he
believed they were the holdupmen.
Motor Cycle Policeman Richard T..
Meyer Of the Traffic Bureau outma-
neuvered three young colored auto
thieves who attempted to run him
down last night at South Capitol
and M streets.
Mr.. Meyer had spotted the trio,
riding in a stolen car, mad had given
chase. They attempted to pin his
machine to the curb when he ordered
them to halt, but he ran up on the
sidewalk. At South Capitol and M
streets the stolen car was wrecked
and the three thieves escaped on
foot.
Three young robbers obtained SO
from James F. Raeny of 518 Powha-
tan place NV. when they held up
the bus he was driving in Forest
Glen, Md. Two of the youths par.
ticipated in the holdup, he reported,
while the third drove the car in
which they escaped.
Parking Meter Found.
The parking meter that was
smashed was located on Tenth
street between G and F streets NV.
A policeman discovered it had been
looted of its pile of nickels at $50
pm.
Burglars entered the apartment of
Mary Southcomb, at Ais Wisconsin
avenue NV, and stole 5000 last
night. Theft OF purse containing
SOS and two diamond rings was
reported by Estelle Wiltshire of 524
Thirteenth street NE, who said the
money was stolen from the beauty
shop she operates at 1924 H street
NV.
Police undertook drastic measures
to combat the activities of criminals
responsible for purse-snatchings, as
saults. safe-crackings, etc., following