Evening star., 1948-07-02
RobberYSuspect
Taken in Chase
Downtown
Former Army Officer
Foiled. .in Attempt
To Flee in Heurse

Police today are holding a robbery
suspect who they said pulled the
trigger Of his pistol at them twice
with no result and then tried to fee
In a hearse with a dozen pursuers
at his heels.
They identified the alleged robber
as Joseph Harlan Sullivan, 80, of the
1900 block Hillside road Sc, for
mer Army lieutenant. He is being
held for investigation and will be
charged with robbery today, police
said.
Sullivan was caught late yesterday
in the vicinity of Eleventh and l.
streets NV, after two policemen
fired three shots at his legs in an
effort to stop his flight from the
Mutual Credit Co., Inc, 901 Tenth
street NV
Police said man answering his
description entered the credit Office
as the downtown rush hour started,
and brandished a .32-caliber pistol
at Herbert Becker, 36, manager, and
his wife Rena.
Says He's Sorry.
He told Mrs. Becker to give him
the contents of the cash drawer,
about $96. and then quickly patted
Mrs. Becker's hand. Mrs. Becker
told police the man had never been
in the place before, but apparently
he knew of two previous holdups
there, for he said:
I'm terribly sorry, but just re-
membered you have been held up
before. I wouldn't have come if I
had thought of this. Nobody is
going to hurt you"
He then ran out, and Mr.. Becker
gave chase.
The bandit ran down K street to
Tenth street NV, with several per-
sons chasing him, although he still
waved the gun. On noticing the
crowd, Policeman John B. Kline, 27,
of No. 2 precinct, who was directing
traffic at Ninth street and New York
avenue NV, Joined the pursuit.
firing two shots between the legs
of the fleeing man.
The bandit pulled the trigger of
his own gun twice, but Policeman
Kline said it missed fire both times.
Mounts Seat of Hearse.
A hearse owned by Birch's Funeral
Home had stopped for a traffic light
at Tenth and K streets NV, and
the next thing the startled driver,
Homer j. Scorey, 1876 G street NV,
knew, the bandit was sitting on the
front seat with him.
He told Mr. Scorey to start up,
but this didn't work. Mr.. Storey
told police he was frightened when
he saw the gun. with the result the
bandit sWore at him and left the
hearse to try and get taxi.
The first cabbie to come along,
Atwood Blunt, 80, of 500 Third street
NV, was alert, and with the rob-
ber as a passenger he deliberately
edged the taxi into heavy traffic at
Twelfth and L streets NV. So the
harried bandit jumped out of the
barely moving vehicle.
Meanwhile, Policeman Jesse
johnson, %, colored. of No. pre-
cinct, had entered the pursuit, and
also fired shot at the bandit.
The quarry sped up Eleventh
street to an alleyway near L street
NV, meanwhile pointing his gun
over his shoulder at the policeman.
The officer cried he would shoot if
the robber did not drop the gun,
and prepared to fire as he closed in.
Stops and Drops Pistol.
At this point the bandit stopped
and dropped his pistol and was
captured by Policeman johnson as
additional police and spectators ar
rived.
Shortly before Policeman Kline
had jumped on the running board
of a Cadillac sedan driven by a
woman and chased the cab. He
caught up as Policeman johnson
completed the capture
According to police, an additional
clip Of ammunition was taken from
the suspects pocket, and he was
wearing a shoulder holster.
Police said they found the stolen
money on the suspect at the station,
Immediately after the holdup, Mrs.
Becker had described the bandit as
"a handsome, sunburned 6-footer OF
the society type with an educated,
cultured voice."
The credit company was robbed of
1925 on April %, and in September.
1945. lost about $3.50 to another gun
man, Mrs. Becker explained.
Policeman johnson has been on
the force over five years. He has
five concentrations. Policeman Kline
has been on the force less than
one year.
Concert Tickets on Sale