Evening star., 1941-10-28
7 Under Arrest
In Hyattsvi|Ie
$4,000 Ho|dup
Police Character
Charged, Others Held
As Accessories

A 27-year-old police character was
under arrest here today on charge
Of participating in the s52,6l6 holdup
Of the Prince Georges Bank and
Trust Co., at Hyattsville, September
25. and six other persons were held
as accessories after the crime.
Hilliard Sanders, alias George L.
Thompson. known in underworld
circles as -Four Roses was the man
charged with being one Of the three
who actually participated in the
robbry
Sanders was arrested Saturday in
Charlotte, N. c., according 10 an
made this morning
by Acting Supt of Police Edward J.
Kelly and S. K Mckee special agent
in charge of the local Federal Bu-
reau OF Investigation Office.
One man and two women we're
with him at the time Of the arrest
and are being held. The others ar
rested by Washington police are said
10 have blackmailed the holdup men
following the robbery.
The two other robbers who actu-
ally participated in the holdup Of
the messengers are not in custody. it
was stated, but are still being
hunted.
Long Criminal Record Charged.
A terse announcement put out by
the F. B. l. gave the facts of the ar
rest and said that Sanders had a
criminal record which dated back
nearly 10 years. including numerous
convictions for burglary, bootlegging.
auto theft, etc.
From police sources here, II was
learned that Detective Sergt. Robert
j Maghan of the fugitive squad had
been principally responsible for de-
veloping the clues which led to the
arrests.
1t was said that police had learned
that character known as -Four
Roses who had been broke befors
the robbery. had suddenly gone on
a spending spree early this month.
He had purchased an automobile for
81 500 cash-paying with $50, $40
and IS bills
The license numbers Of the pur-
chased car we're obtained and San
ders' identity was established. With
the cooperation of North Carolina
police and the F. B. l.. Sanders was
traced 10 Charlotte
Sergt. Maghan, Detective Sergts.
Harry Britton and Michael Ma
honey, with Arthur Hepburn, chief
Of the Prince Georges County police,
left Washington Friday for Char.
lotte After wait of "a hours. the
arrest of Sanders was effected.
F. B. I. Announcement.
The announcement made at P B.
7. headquarters here today said:
Sanders. native of Georgia. had
in his possession when arrested 81
280, which is believed to be part OF
the loot of s526l695 taken from the
two bank messengers during the
holdup.'
In Sanders possession at the time
i of his arrest was a sawed-off auto
matte shotgun Of the same typo
which was used in the holdup.
In the wake of the arrests in
Charlotte, the Washington police
moved in on number of UNDER
world characters who had been as.
soclating with the suspect.
One man was arrested when police
learned that he shook down" tf1s
holdup trio for several hundred dol
lars, on the threat that he would
turn them in to police Another of
those under arrest was alleged TO
have attempted to extort enough
money from the bandits to enable
him to start restaurant here.
Sanders was brought back to tbs
District on warrant issued In
Baltimore by United States Com
missioner James K Cullen. Word
of his arrest first leaked out this
morning when Attorney James J.
Laughlin sought writ of habeas
corpus from District Court Justice
David j. Pine for Sanders release.
The man was brought into court
and Assistant United States Attor-
ney Bernard Margolius told the
court he had no objection to grant,
ing the writ, which had been sought
on the grounds that Sanders was
being held without specific charge.
Jurist Is Puzzled.
Justice Pine granted the writ and
Mr.. Laughlin Immediately filed an
other writ Of habeas corpus befors
the 5ustice had left the bench.
Justice Pine was puzzled. pointing
out that as far as he could determine
Sanders was not under arrest at
that moment.
The courtroom rocked with laugh
ter as Mr.. Margolius said this was
correct and that as far as he was
concerned Sanders was free
man. At the time, Mr.. Margolius
had a warrant in his hand, charging
Sanders with bank robbery and all
exits were blocked by detectives and
F. B. I. agents.
Mr.. Laughlin then withdrew his
application for the second writ and
few seconds later Deputy Marshal
Michael Kearney arrested Sanders
in the court room on the robbery
warrant and the suspect was locked
up. Mr.. Laughlin said he would BE-
back later with the habeas corpus
writ.
Sanders has been IN custody Of
the United States marshal He
faced arraignment before United
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