Evening star., 1948-03-03
Brothers Admit
7 Taxi KiIIinqs,
Barrett Says
Confessions Signed
After Five Hours
Of Police GriIIinq

Two brothers seized in a re-
lentleSs drive by an aroused
police force have admitted the
brutal Staying of two Washing
ton taxicab drivers, supt. Robert
u. Barrett said today.
Apparently clearing up two Of
three weekend murders, the ar
rests were made less than three
hours after police strength was
doubled last night in an all-out
campaign.
Charged on two counts of murder
each were George Alfred Garner, IS,
of the first block of Hanover street
NV, and Lawrence Joseph Gar
ner, %, of the 21oo block of L street
NV, colored.
Written confessions obtained in
five hours of questioning branded
Lawrence Garner as the trigger
man" in the Friday night Staying Of
James Hardy, 80, colored, CAT G
street NE. and Howard Jones, 81,
colored, AIT Irving street NV.
TIcdS were 1ShVitu.
In each case the taxi drivers
were robbed, beaten and shot and
dumped out of the cabs.
Arraigned before United States
Commissioner Needham C. Turnags
today, the brothers were held with
out bond for action of the coroner.
Detective 1t Edgar E. Scott of the
Homicide Squad said it would be
about 10 days before the police in
vestigation was completed and an
inquest held.
Dressed sportily, the Garners
stood impassively before Commis-
sioner Turnage. saying nothing
when he offered them chance to
talk.
About 200 spectators stood out
side the Office at Seventh and E
streets NV, during the hearing
and saw the brothers led away
handcuffed between two marshals.
When photographers attempted to
snap them, they ducked.
Crime Among Most Vicious.
Calling the crimes among the
most vicious in Washington history,
Supt. Barrett said he had learned
Mr.. Hardy pleaded in vain for the
robbers to spare him, appealing in
the name of his four children,
He said George Garner admitted
in his confession that he had beaten
Mr.. Jones over the head with q
whisky bottle.
| Noting that some of the men Of
the homicide and robbery squads
had worked almost without sleep
since Friday night. Nal Barrett
praised them for "one of the incest
pieces of police work ever done
around here :"
|. Commissioner John Russell Young.
/ ill at home, telephoned congratula-
tions to Maj. Barrett and COM
mended the entire department for
the speedy police work,
Linked With Other Cases.
Two other cab drivers, one OF
whom was savagely beaten, identi-
fed the Garners as the men who
robbed him at the point of a gun.
One of the drivers, Chester A.
Jackson. "A, colored, 1905 Warder
street NV, was assaulted in an
alley at the rear of 81 M street S.W,
on January 30. His skull was frac-
tured and he was robbed of SIS and
his change carrier.
Chester Lee. colored. 420 Twenty
first street NE, identified the BROTH
ers as the pair who took $l2, his
change carrier and cab in the 14OO
block of Third street NV. on Feb
ruary 26. The cab later was re-
covered.
Investigators have good lead
on the murder of Meyer Meyrovitch.
80. shot to death Monday night in
his store at 80 o street NV, Maj.
Barrett said. He refused to say
whether the Garners had thrown
any light on the case, but said they
still were being questioned about 1t.
Annual Leave to Be Restored.
Mai. Barrett indicated he would
rescind today his order canceling
annual leaves except in emergency
cases and doubling the force be-
tween 6 pm. and midnight. More
than 200 policemen were working
double duty last night when the
Garner brothers we're brought in.
More men will be detailed on the
night shift than before the emer-
gency order was given, Maj. Barrett
said.
George Garner was arrested first
at the Hanover street house.
Searching his room, detectives found
wrist watch which he admitted
taking from Mr.. Jones.
He was hurried to headquarters
while large detail remained at the
home in anticipation of visit from
the brother. Their patience was re-
(See MURDER, Page ABB