Evening star., 1946-04-15
$500 Offered
orCaptureof
TwoinMurder
CoIIohon Says Rise
In Crime Like Thot
Of Other Cities

Police Supt. Harvey G. Callahan
today offered a 5000 reward for the
capture of two robbers, one of whom
ruthlessly killed a grocery clerk
Saturday night, and said he planned
to confer as soon as possible with
the Commissioners about the in
crease of crime in the District.
There is no crime wave here"
Maj. Callahan said, "but there is an
increase such as all major cities are
experiencing at this time"
Maj. Callahan did not indicate
whether he would ask for a larger
police force or for an additional
number of special cruisers on the
streets. Testifying before a con-
gressional committee investigating
the Jail last week. the police super
lntendent spoke of inef1cency in the
department and said steps now are
being taken to improve the force.
Father of Three Victim.
One of the matters he planned
to discuss with the Commissioners
was the cold-blooded murder Satur-
day night of John Hall Knight, "a,
a former serviceman, who was shot
without warning as he left a gro
Gerry store at 1901 First street NV.
Police are hunting two young COL
ored men, one of whom sent a As
caliber bullet crashing into Mr.
Knights heart. Mr.. knight left a
27-year-old widow and three sons,
the Oldest IL years.
Maj. Callahan said the question
of a reward for the capture of the
slayer and his accomplice probably
would be discussed with the Com
missioners, and there was a possi-
bility the 5000 offer would be in
creased.
! Although the police had rounded
up nearly score of suspects yes
terday, Chief of Detectives Robert
j. Barrett said this morning all
had been released.
Criminals Described.
A witness to the Staying, William
c. Davis, manager of the store,
aided in the search by examining
police photographs. Mr.. Davis also
gave police description of the men.
The murderer was described as
about % years old, feet 9 inches
tall, 160 pounds, medium build.
wearing tan topcoat and light felt
hat. His partner was described as
6 feet tall, l80 pounds, thin NOUS
tache, wearing light suit coat with
gray dots and a dark hat.
! At the Knight home in the 200
block of Indiana avenue NV
a store converted into a tWo-room
apartment-Mrs. Knight prepares
to assume alone the responsibility
/ OF rearing the three boys.
The widow said she probably
would resume waitress work, which
she took up when her husband was
in the Army. She was given as
surance by her oldest son, John Lee,
that he would work at whatever he
could to help.
Mrs. Knight said she would at
tempt to keep all the boys in school.
The other two are Paul Randolph, 8,
and Edward, 7.
Leaders Ask Action.
Coming after a series of jail
| breaks and accentuated by number
or armed robberies, the murder
drew comment from civic leaders
who called for tighter police work.
| Among them was Wilbur Finch.
| president of the Federation Of
Citizens Associa tions, who said the
Commissioners should advise Con-
gress if it were true more police
men were needed
| In addition to Mr.. Knights
Staying three holdups and a death
by stabbing of a colored man oc-
CURED over the week end, police
reported today.
The colored man, still unidenti-
fed, was found dead from a stab
wound in the left breast in an alley
IN the 600 block of o street NV. by
Policeman George C. Prather late
Saturday night. Police described
the man, whom they believe was
murdered, as about 36 years old, S
feet II inches tall, weighing $50
pounds and wearing a khaki shirt,
trousers and jacket.
Cab Driver Beaten.
A taxicab driver, Robert w.
Caruthers, 30, of 1923 Ninth street
NV, was beaten and robbed of his
cab and $l4 early Sunday morning
by two men. Mr. Caruthers told
police the men asked to be taken
from the Greyhound bus station to
Stevens road Sc. but before reach
ing the destination they beat him
on the head. The two men forced
him into the rear Of the cab, where
he succeeded in breaking away,
police said. The cab was located by
the police in Southeast Washington
yesterday.
A streetcar operator, John c.
Brady, IS, of 246 Thirty-fifth street
NE, was assaulted and robbed of
So last night by three steen-age COL
ored boys during an argument about
transfers near Foote street and
Kenilworth avenue NE. All three
have been apprehended, police said,
giving the age of one as Is years
and the other two as is.
Mr.. Brady was admitted to Cas-
ualty suffering from cuts and bruises
about the head.
Anthony Marucci, go, of 6O4 z
street NE, was knocked down by
two colored men at Third and H
streets NV. early today and robbed
of his wallet and $40, police re-
rorfoI