Evening star., 1950-01-16
New Detective Squad
Takes 5 Safe Robbery
Suspects on First Day

formed safe squad took five men
before United States Commission
er Cyril S. Lawrence today-the
results of busy Sunday.
| Cracking its first two cases in
one day, safe squad men partici-
pated in chase which netted
two would-be safe robbing sus-
poets and arrested three others
in connection with a safe theft
last November.
The five suspects were held under
$4,000 bond each and their cases
continued until January 25 by
Commissioner Lawrence.
In one case, Corpl. Percy Du-
vail and Sergt. James L. Sadtler
of the Accident Investigation Unit
we're cruising through the 400
block of L street NV. yesterday
when they saw an odd sight in
front of the Federal Beef Co.
Driver Flees in Car.
Two men were struggling to
hoist a safe into the back of an
auto. Spotting the police car, the
driver of another auto sped away,
leaving his two companions. These
two dropped the safe without
further ado and fled on foot, the
police reported.
The AIU men broadcast the
alarm to headquarters and took off
after the car. First on the scene
were three men from the new safe
squad, Detective Sergts. William
Friel and Irving Lubore and Pvt.
John w. Hayes.
The auto chase, which reached
a speed of 10 miles through the
city streets, ended at Fourth and
K streets NE. when the fugitive
auto crashed into a fence. The
driver fled but was captured at
Fourth street and Florida avenue
NE. by Pvts. Adam Arney and
Ray .Swank in a Ninth Precinct
squad car. The man identified
himself as James Nelson, colored,
42, of the 1900 block of Sixth
street NV.
Another Suspect Caught.
Later, man identified by po-
lice as one of the two who had
fed on foot was arrested by Pvt.
Tilmon B. O'Bryant of the Second
precinct in the 400 block of New
York avenue NV. He gave his
name as David James Wilson, COL
ored, 48, of the 600 block of Sec.
ond street NV.
Both men arrested in that case
were charged with housebreaking.
Police said the men had entered
the Federal Beef Co. through a
skylight, jimmied open the front
door and rolled the safe onto the
sidewalk.
Morris Cohn, owner of the busi-
ness, told police the 300-pound
safe was empty. He said, how
ever. that the men made off with
an undetermined amount of cash
from an unlocked cabinet.
Earlier yesterday, safe squad
detectives arrested three men in
connection with a safe robbery
November q at the Stagecoach
Restaurant, 1906 Good Hope
road Sc.
Safe Contained $3.50.
Police said the 150-pound safe
removed from the restaurant had
contained $3.50 in cash and s7OO
in checks. The thieves, accord
ing to police, also took $167 from
the cash register.
Arrested at am. and charged
with housebreaking were Cary w.
Holmes, Al, of the 4500 block of
Canal road NV; Charles M.
Thorn, "a, of the 1900 block of
U street Sc, and Richard j.
Elan, 81, of the 1500' block of
Good Hope road Sc.
At this mornings arraignment,
Sergt. Lubore said the three had
signed statements admitting TAX
ing the safe from the restaurant.
Later, he said they removed 1000
from it and dumped the safe in
the Potomac between Chain and
Key Bridges. Harbor police are
dragging the river for the safe.
Credited with breaking the case
were Sergts. Lubore, Friel, War
rem E. Scott and Frederick B.
Ashe. Pvts. Hayes. Norman Gray
and Herman A. Payne, all of the
safe squad, and Sergt. Samuel T.
Creech of the general assignment
squad.
Lets Be Thrifty in 1950-Buy
u. S. Savings Bonds"