Evening star., 1944-07-24
Three Indicted Here
On Seven Charges in
Stripping Of 50 Cars

Three colored men accused of
stripping more than 50 cars during
the past month in the Southeast
section were indicted today by q
District grand Jury on grand larceny
and auto accessories theft charges.
Seven indictments were returned
against the men, one Of whom Is still
at large. They are John @. Craig,
Al; Ernest L. Burnett, 81, and his
brother Leroy, who is still being
sought by police.
In all, 81 indictments were handed
up to Chief Justice Edward c.
Eicher in District Court.
Assistant United States Attorney
Sylvan Schwartz, who presented
the cases to the grand jury, said
the men stripped autos of tires,
wheels, tubes and batteries and sold
them to various gasoline station at
tendants In the city. The de-
PENDANTS had no trouble disposing
of the loot, which netted them
hundreds of dollars, it was said.
Tires Sold for S12.50.
The prosecutor said that tires
were sold for $3.50 each while
tubes brought them So and 81 each.
Police surveillance following the
series of thefts resulted in two of
the mems arrest, the grand jury
was told. The men were nabbed
while in the act of stripping an
automobile of its tires and battery,
he said.
Two true bills charging embezzle-
ment were returned against Helen
F.. Leavitt, %, accused of thefts
totaling $4,000 from two department
stores, where she was employed as
q cashier.
According to testimony before the
grand jury. the woman obtained a
job at The Hecht Co. last November
10 and vanished later that day with
$500 in receipts.
Several months later it is charged,
the defendant secured a job with
s. Kann & Sons Co. After working
a few hours, she disappeared with
$4,000 Of the companys funds, the
indictment asserts.
Sought Third Job.
The woman was arrested after
she attempted to secure Job at
another department store last May.
Store officials, who had been warned
to be on the lookout for her, notified
police She has been in Washington
several years, coming here from New
York City.
William G. Vlahos, %, was
charged in another indictment with
the robbery of Lamont Smith. night
clerk of the Grand Hotel, COG F
street NV, during the May 8
blackout.
Police said Mr.. Smith has iden-
titled Vlahos as the man who held
gun on him while companion
slugged him into unconsciousness
The men fed after taking So from
a counter drawer, police said. Via
hos was arrested later, but the sec
ond man Is still at large.
Other Writs Returned.
Accused Of gaining entrance into
The Hecht Co. by smashing a win
dow and taking clothing valued at
$50, Eugene v. Penland, 80, was
indicted on HOUSEKEEPING charge.
Police said he was busily engaged
In removing the clothing from sew
eral window dummy models when
they arrived on the scene early on
the morning of July 16.
Marylin M. Dowdy, %, of the
1900 block E street Sc, was in
dicted on bigamy and perjury
charges. The defendant is accused
OF marrying a civilian while still
legally wed to sailor.
Logan Theodore McCloud. Is. was
indicted on charges of impersonat-
ing a Naval officer. McCloud is
accused of donning a commanders
uniform and on the strength of the
impersonation cashing worthless
checks totaling $50 at the Raleigh