Evening star., 1947-06-02
Z Ex-Gangsiers Held
After Shooting Fray
I0n Downtown Street


world gangs were held by police
today in connection with one being
fired upon on a downtown street.
The assailant was identified as
John Kendrick, 81, of the 1406 block
Belmont street NV, who has a long
criminal record climaxed by par
ticipation In the notorious affairs
Of the old Tri-State gang In 1924.
Police said he fired at Tommy
English, 80, as he left his home in
the 500 block of Tenth street NV.
about II o'clock last night. They
identified English as member of
the old "Blackface gang" that op-
Grated with disguises of burnt cork
Kendrick was held for investiga-
tion and English was booked as a
United States witness. Police said
English had been free on bond in
three separate cases of violating the
Harrison Narcotics Act, housebreak-
ing and as a fugitive from Mont
gomery County.
Fled When Gun damned.
In their version of last night S
shooting, police said Kendrick fired
once. When he missed and his gun
| jammed, he fed in his car. Side
swiping truck at Eleventh and M
streets NV, he hurried on to Thir-
teenth and M streets, where he left
his car. A short time later police in
a scout car spotted him at Four
teenth and Swami streets NV. and
picked him up.
Police said Kendrick and English
worked together about two years ago
but recently had been feuding. Not
so long ago the men were called in
by the police and advised to take
it easy"
Before he was sent to Alcatraz in
1884 by special act of Congress
Kendrick was a slippery member OF
the Tri-State gang that terrorized
this area for three years.
Indicted In Murder.
He was arrested that year In
Knoxville, Tenn, and indicted in the
murder Of q mail truck driver at
Richmond. Later that charge was
nolle pressed when he was returned
to Washington to stand trial fol-
shooting a mail clerk during a rob-
berry at Union Station on December
5, 1888.
| That charge also was dropped, but
Kendrick was convicted of assault
with intent to kill in connection with
the shooting of Policeman Thomas
D. Bacon, May 10, 1882. Sentenced
to serve 10 years, he escaped from
Lorton Reformatory, and 1t was after
he was coptured that Congress sent
him to THE Rock"
The Richmond holdup and killing
disposed Of two other members OF
the Tri-State gang, a taugh organ
ization that had specialized in mai
robberies, but branched out occa-
sionally to other lucrative fields.
Two Of Gang Executed.
Sentenced to die for the Richmond
Staying, Walter Legenza and Robert
Mais shot their way out Of thu
Richmond jail. Later they were
captured and executed. Another
Tri-Stater, Arthur Dutch" Misunas
turned States evidence against
these two and nearly paid for II
with his life in prison when other
inmates attacked him.
Samuel c. Berlin and John (Slim)
Dunn, two other members of the
gang, were convicted in November
1884, of robbing the Heurich Brew.
cry of 81, 800 in October, 1888. They
were sent to Alcatraz for 3-to-6-yeal
sentences.
Hendricks long criminal career
began before 1918 when he was
sentenced to five years In st. Mary's
Industrial School, Loeb Haven, Md.
as a juvenile delinquent. In 1915
he was sentenced to Is months ir
the Maryland State Prison for as
sault and robbery at Baltimore.
In 1929 he was sentenced at Cam
den, N. j., to a year for carrying q
concealed weapon and the follow
ing year was sentenced to 2h years
at Trenton, N. j., for the same Of
fense. He broke Jail in Trenton
and, when he was released from
Alcatraz, was returned there tc
complete his term.
English's record goes back to
1929, and includes sentences for
housebreaking, safe robbery and
other offenses. He was one of the
members of the Blackface Gang ar
rested holding up restaurant on
Bladensburg road NE. in 1885. De-
tective Sergt. Earl Baker walked
into the restaurant during the rob-
berry and one Of the bandits was
killed.