Evening star., 1946-01-09

SneII0n AQmllS fllgnI
From u. ). Marshal as
LIST Of Charges Grows
j. Paul Shelton, %, former
Arlington automobile salesman
wanted for investigation ir
scores of crimes, today admitted
to New York police and Federal
Bureau of Investigation agents
that he escaped from the office
of the United States marshal in
Richmond October Is, according
to the Associated Press.
Previously Shelton, already identi-
fed by the FBI through fingerprints
steadfastly refused to answer ques-
Iions.
Shelton was recaptured by New
York detectives Monday, after more
than two months of freedom, on two
charges of forgery under the alias
of ALFRED H. Bennett"
List of Charges Grows.
Meanwhile, the list of crimes at
tributed to Shelton continued to
grow as police departments through
out the country compiled dossieI
on the Arlington man, comparing
his description and exploits with un-
solved crimes in their jurisdictions
New York authorities say Shelton,
who slipped out of the office of the
United States marshal in Rich
mond while facing charges of vio-
lating the National Automobile
Theft Act, Is wanted for forgery
robbery, theft of rs auto
mobiles and their sale in five
Southern States and New Jersey
cashing bad checks and duplicating
postal meters.
New York Felony Court Magistrate
Raphael P. Koenig. in fixing bail al
$75 900, asserted the soft-spoker
Shelton was probably very skill
full criminal" who avoided giving
the police any information, and ht
is probably mixed up in the stoler
car racket"
Gave Name as Bennett.
When seized in the Unity STAMP
Co.. by New York police, Shelter
gave his name as Albert H. Ben.
nett of Atlanta, Ga. officials of tht
firm became suspicious and callee
police when he ordered number o.
Motor Vehicle Bureau rubber
stamps. Shelton was unarmed ane
carried S700 when arrested.
The FBI, in a circular which
termed him dangerous" and al
ways armed said his name was
Shelton j. Wheeler.
1t could not be ascertained i'm.
mediately whether the United
States marshal in Richmond woule
demand removal of Shelton to fac,
the auto theft charges, or whethel
he would remain in New York OF
two forgery charges. One charg'
Is based on his possession of twt
stamps similar to those used by thu
State in making automobile regis
tration cards. The second alleget
the forging and cashing of $7,00'
in checks in New York recently.
Attorney Cites Atlanta Job.
Louis Kay, attorney for Shelton
said his client has been a salesman
for the West Realty Corp. of At
lanta, Ga, for the past year. Polio,
and District Attorney Frank S
Hagan, however, said day-long ques
tioning of the prisoner yesterda,
brought only stubborn refusal on hi
part to answer questions.
This account was given by New
York authorities of the evidenc
they hold against Shelton:
Coming to New York recently, h
engaged two rooms at the West Sid
Hotel, registering as two differen
persons and giving Georgia as hi
home State in one instance an,
Massachusetts, in the other In tn
Massachusetts" room, police sa,
they found automobile license plate
from North and South Caroline
Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky ant
New Jersey. IL sets of ignition keys
10 skeleton keys and rubber dat
stamps
Bank Books in Five Names.
In the Georgia room, the
found bank books made out unde
five different names, 100 blank Sc
lective service cards with the i'm
print of Draft Board No. l, Allan
ia, Ca; $50 Post Office money orde
blanks; Cancelled money orders an
mail which had been directed t
guests at other hotels.
Shelton was being held in Rich
mond in default of $4,000 bond O
an auto theft charge when he mad
his successful break. He had bee
brought to the marshal's Office fror
the Federal Reformatory at Peters
burg, Va, where he was held on an
other theft charge, preferred imme
diately after an Alexandria jur
acquitted him on bank robbery an
kidnapping charges. He was accuse
after a masked bandit unsuccess
fully attempted to hold up tn
East Falls Church (Va) Bank an
kidnapped 14-year-old Grace Wac
lington as a shield to make h
escape.
He also faces perjury indictment
charging him with making falls
statements in securing a duplicat
automobile title certificate in tn
District. Et
FBI Lost Trail.
After his escape from Depui
Marshal Harold Hammer in tf
Richmond Post Office Buildin
Shelton's trail was lost temporari
by the FBI.
4 The FBI picked up the scel
briefly last month when Shelte
notified his Arlington draft boal
that he had changed his addres
but gave no new one. The trs
was lost again until Christina
when he wired his wife some flowe
from a Southern State. Police a
, not sure how long Shelton has be,
, masquerading In New York as A
fred Bennett.
They do know that on January