Evening star., 1948-03-04
PoIiceFoIIowinq
Good Lead in
Grocer's KiIIinq
Force Spurred On
By Arrests Made
In Toxi Sloyines

Oh TWO ICCClI ululu luCAo, poAASS WA
eentrated today on finding the
slayer of Meyer Meyrovitch, SO, who
was shot to death Monday night in
his grocery at 80 o street NV.
Capt. Robert s. Bryant, acting
chief of detectives, spoke optimis-
tically of good lead" in the
Meyrovitch case-the same lead
mentioned yesterday shortly after
the announcement that George and
Lawrence Garner had admitted kill
ing two taxicab drivers last Friday
night.
He refused to say whether the
search is centering here or else
where, but revealed that two or
three persons would be taken from
the morning lineup for routine
questioning.
The father Of three motherless
children, Mr.. Meyrovitch's body was
found on the floor of his little store.
His generosity had won him many
friends in the neighborhood.
Police held to the theory he was
shot by a robber who became
frightened and fled, leaving $40 In
change in the cash register and
failing to search the grocer, whose
pockets contained $1,587 in cash
and $404 in Government checks.
AL detectives and plainclothesmer
have been alerted for 24-hour duty
until the murder Is solved.
Exultant over quick solution o1
the taxicab murders and the con-
gratulations that poured in during
the day, Police Supt. Robert j. Bar
rett held press conference last
night to fill in details of the case.
Earlier in the day, at a Mayfowel
Hotel luncheon proclaiming success
of the Police Boys Club financia.
campaign, Maj. Barrett said he was
enjoying one Of the happiest days
of my life
To express appreciation for the
arrests, about 40 taxicab drivers ap-
peared at the hack inspectors office
and paid membership dues into the
Police Boys Club.
Maj. Barrett and Capt. Robert v
Murray. chief of the Robbery Squad
told of the coincidence wherein the
case-breaking tip was obtained twice
on the same afternoon in unre-
lated incidents.
Tip Led to Brothers.
Each led direct 10 the home OF
George Garner, 25, colored, first
block of Hanover street NV, who
yesterday was charged with murder
along with his brother, Lawrence
Garner. %, Of the 2100 block of I
street NV.
They are charged with Staying
two colored cab drivers, James
Hardy, 80, of CAT G street NE.
and Howard Jones, 81, Of AIT Irving
street NV ~
The first tip was received by
Detective Sergts. Ernst Winter and
Randolph Dunn Of the robbery
squad. The tipster led them to a
colored man who informed them
that man known only as George
had been carrying gun. The
informant also, remembered that
two years ago this George" had
been arrested for viciously knitting
a dog.
Such man might we'll be involved
in cold -blooded murders such as the
taxicab slayings, the informant
reasoned.
The detectives ran through the
files until they came on such a case
The defendant, George Garner, hao
been sentenced to six months tol
stabbing the dog and for threaten
ing q woman.
Victims Watch Found.
Police went to the Hanover stree
home, arrested George, and while
there found a watch belonging tc
Mr.. Jones. At police headquarters
he signed a confession duplicating
himself and his brother in botf
murders, police said.
Within short time after this til
was received, in another office De.
tective Sergts. Edwin Crandall anc
Dan Kennedy of the Robbery Squae
were visited by another person who
told them almost the same story ol
Georges brutality to the dog. The
tipster was unaware the same in
formation had been given by a per.
son unknown to him.
At the Garner place, Sergts
Crandall and Kennedy learned
George Garner already had been ar
rested. Then they returned to their
informant and learned where Law
renee lived, thereby completing the
arrests.
Seven other persons were credited
with supplying valuable informa-
ton and helping to identify the
Garner brothers.
Three of them saw the brothers
pushing Mr.. Hardy's cab near New
Jersey avenue and I streets Sc.
after the cab driver had been beaten
with fists and a brick before being
shot. The cab would not run, even
with the help of a push from RED
coupe that happened along.
According to the confessions, the
brothers abandoned the cab at New
Jersey avenue and M street Sc.
and within Is minutes after the
first robbery hailed the second VIC
tim, Mr.. Jones.
Maj. Barrett said that near Sec
ond and Canal streets Sc, the
brothers pulled a gun on the driver
and George beat him on the head
with a whisky bottle. Lawrence
Garner asked his brother if he
should shoot the man, Maj. Bar
rett said.
Capt. Murray said George replied
Eyes" and then Lawrence shot Mr..
Jones in the back of the head.
Another of the persons who as
sisted police was a cab driver friend
of Mr.. Jones. He saw Mr.. Jones
cab driven in the vicinity of Con-
nectict avenue and M street NV
by strange man. He followed
closely and had a good lok at the
driver. Yesterday he identified one
of the Garners as that man.
Police also gave credit to another
one of Mr.. Jones friends who saw
the cab with stranger in it and tc
two persons who said they heard
George say he was in trouble and
had to leave town.
Other bits of evidence used te
s,;aoo tho roca fanothar