Evening star., 1946-04-12
Letters Offering Tips
On Robberies Here
Read at Hearing


heard evidence today indicating
that Jail officials were notified
by police of the activities OF
Catharine Davis with a ring in
side the Jail about a month be-
fore the girl aided in the escape
of five inmates from the institu-
ton on November "a.
Detective Sergt. Irving Lubore of
the Metropolitan police department
testified that police had intercepted
letters written by an inmate who
was the brains" of a safecracking
gang operating in the District The
name of the 17-year- old Davis girl,
whose husband was an inmate in the
prison, was mentioned in one letter
as the person the gang should get
in touch with"
Sergt. Lubore said the letters were
turned over to Chief of Detectives
Robert j. Barrett, who testified yes
terday that he turned the informa-
ton over to Jail Supt. Claude O.
Botkin and Welfare Director Ray
L. Huff.
Not Tied to Escape.
The inmate who wrote the letters,
Edwin F. Tate, was not one of the
prisoners who escaped about a
month later. and apparently had no
connection with the escape plot,
Sergt. Lubore said.
The letter mentioning the Davis
girl was written last October 16 and
fell into police hands shortly after
ward. Sergt. Lubore said the let
tiers evidently were smuggled out
of the Jail by guard (not named)
and were delivered to a Mrs. Betty
Mack, friend of Tate's.
Mrs. Mack, according to the wit
ness, was supposed to deliver the
letter to Tommy English, a former
inmate, who was at liberty on bail
awaiting trial on a pandering charge,
Sergt. Lubore said.
The letters read to the committee
today contained instructions for
burglarizing the Peoples Drug Store
at Seventh street and Pennsylvania
avenue Sc, the Bootery Shoe Store,
1015 Connecticut avenue, and the
Bacas Bros Restaurant, 1922 Eighth
street Sc
According to Sergt. Lubore, the
Davis girl was to get a job as a
waitress in the Peoples Drug Store
and leave the door open on q desig-
mated night so the gang could slip
in and crack the stores safe.
Robbery Plans Thwarted.
Sergt. Lubore said, however, that
interception of the letters by police
stymied the gangs plan to rob any
of these stores.
Tate's letter mentioning the Davis
girl was dated October 16, 1945,
and read as follows:
MY dear friend Tommy:
THAT Davis girl visited her hus-
band. She said you have not got
in touch with her. Her name is
Catharine Davis. Her maiden name
is Bennett. She lives at 724 Ninth
street Sc.
Here is something good. A res
taurant at Eighth street and Poto-
mac avenue Sc. The place is open
every night, "a hours a day, except
Saturday night. 1t closes at u pm
that night. Clean up and get out
about 1::30 or am. Sunday morn
ing. 1t opens again Sunday night.
This is right across from the Navy
Yard. They cash checks and bank
every two weeks. The name of the
place is Bacas Bros Restaurant
It's very good from the I'd to the
18th of each month"
Guard Named by Barrett.
Inspector Barrett testified yester-
day that subsequent investigation
showed that letters were smuggled
out for Tate by Lawrence Howard
a guard, who later was dismissed
but criminal charge against him
was nolle pressed.
Mrs. Catherine Davis, whose
22-year-old husband, Earl Davis.
is a trusty in the jail, was ar
rested after the November "a
jail break as the person who had
Smuggled in hackSaw blades used
in cutting through a window bar.
She pleaded guilty and testified
for the Government in the trial
Of Sam Rubin, another trusty,
to whom she allegedly gave the
blades. He was found not guilty.
by a District Court jury. She
was sentenced to eight months
to two years, but was released
on probation.
The hearings were adjourned late
this morning until $50 am. Mon
day, due to memorial addresses in
the House on the first anniversary
of President Roosevelt's death, and
the debate on extension of the
Selective Service Act.
Sergt. Lubore said Tate was ir
Jail awaiting trial on safe-crackine
charges. When arrested, Tate wa.
on parole from a 40-year sentence
on similar charges, Sergt. Lubort
said.
He added that the parole subse.
quently has been revoked and Tate
is now serving at Lorton. Inspector
Barrett testified yesterday that three
months after Jail authorities were
tipped off to Tate's activities ht
visited the Jail and found Tatt
among group of trusted" prison.
ers, those who are given free run
of the Jail.
The only other witness today wa,
Lewis B. 10th. one of the Metro.
politan policemen who took turn.
at guarding Medley and Mcfarland
The witness testified that he played
cards with Medley on two occasions
In the letter read by Sergt. Lubore