Evening star., 1945-01-08
Police Delay
Arraignnnent
Of Shelton
Officers Making
Further Probe of
Bank HoIdup Attempt

NtAuSt tVDS VI
Bonk HoIdup Attemp'
The arraighment of J. Paul Shel
ton, AZ, former automobile sales
man, of 1885 North Powhatal
street, Arlington, before Judge Hugl
Reid in Arlington County Court OF
charges of attempted robbery o
the East Falls Church branch o
the Falls Church Bank, was post.
poned for "a hours today, pending
further investigation by count!
police.
The FBI dispatched four agent,
to assist Arlington County police il
the investigation.
The arraignment and a bono
hearing were postponed after a con
ference between county officials ant
T. Edward O'Connel and r. Brook,
Howard, Shelton's attorneys. Mr.
Howard was brought into the cas-.
this morning.
Meanwhile, county police and FB.
agents said they would make hand
writing tests todayof Sheltons sig.
Nature to see If 1t is the same a
that found on two slips of papel
discovered near car abandoned BY
the heldup man after the attempted
robbery.
FBI agents said the slips were re
ceipts for payments made to {
Baltimore finance company. Th'
FBI said the receipts, one for $685.
and the other for $39.38, were issuee
to y. Shelton" by the Universe
Finance Co., 1918 North Charles
street, Baltimore.
Shelton Arrested Saturday.
Shelton was arrested Saturday
night at Tenth street and Lee boule-
ward while driving with his wife
and another woman, and was
charged with the robbery attempt
after being questioned by police. His
wife and the other woman, whom
police did not identify, were released
after questioning.
According to police, Shelton for
merly was employed with an Arl-
ington motor company, and now is
employed with a Baltimore defense
plant. Police said he had been ar
rested in the county in connection
with tire theft, and also was ac-
quilted last year In District Court
of a charge of passing bad checks
District police said he was ar
rested II times in 1899 on charges
ranging from parking abreast to
obtaining permit by misrepresen-
tation and petty larceny of a driving
permit. District police said the
charges included two of speeding
and operating after suspension OF
his permit. They said his driving
permit was revoked on August 81,
1899.
Fails to Identify Him.
Police revealed that Grace Wad-
lington, 14-year-old Arlington school
girl who was forced to serve as the
unwilling shield for the escaping
bandit after his attempt to rob the
bank had been foiled by A. H.
Barbor, its 78-year-old manager,
could not positively identify Shelton
as her abductor Saturday night.
Mr.. Barbor also was unable to
identify Shelton, positively, police
said.
In a lineup yesterday, police said
bystanders who had witnessed the
attempted robbery were unable to
identify Shelton as the bandit.
Shelton's Attorney Raps Police.
This looks like another case
where they couldn't find any one to
blame and have put the blame on
Shelton" Mr.. O'Connen said. Shell
ton denied Saturday night that he
had any connection with the case.
Explaining the reasons for the
handwriting tests, FBI agents said
they were routine checks lust to
determine if the name j. Shelton
might be in Shelton's handwriting. :"
Agents said it is not customary for
receipt to be signed by the person
making the payment.
In Baltimore, officials of the
finance company said the payments
were for a loan on 1914 Ford coupe,
made to "J. Shelton" on November
20. They said Shelton had given
four changes of address since his
loan had been made.
SheltOn's Record Borrowed.
A spokesman for the Glenn l..
Martin Co said Paul Shelton is
employed by the company in. the
toolroom of the Middle River plant
near Baltimore, but that the rec
ordS had been borrowed" and his
age or address were not available
This Shelton. the spokesman said,
was absent Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. He was employed on the
second shift, which reports at 4 pm.
Arlington police said black
coupe, said to have been used by
the bandit when he abandoned his
auto following the attempted hold
up, has not been recovered. They
said lookouts have been broadcast
and a search for the auto is con-
tinuing.
Police described the coupe as dull
black, with a clock on the right
dashboard reading 10 o'clock" They
said the car may contain the tan
overcoat and shell-rim glasses worn
by the bandit.
Grace, who remained nervous to-
day after her experience with the
bandit, was forced to serve as shield
when the man, wearing a mask
backed out of the bank. She was
later released on Garrison street
near Wisconsin avenue NV, afte,
being driven through back roads and
crossing into the District by Chain
Bridge.
During the ride she said the ban
dit told her to keep quiet and he
would not harm her, and when he let
her out of his car he gave her SIC
and told her to "go take a taxi
home.'
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