Evening star., 1950-04-14
Inquiry Hears
0f4th Man in
Warning Ho|dup
Fifth May Have Been
Involved, Grand Jury
Evidence Indicates

ENIuSHCS tHQtCOC6S
Evidence that fourth and pos
sibly a fifth man participated in
the Emmitt Warning holdup is be-
ing investigated by the District
grand jury. it was learned today.
Earlier accounts of the Janu-
airy robbery at the reputed gam
bler's home listed three bandits.
Two men accused of taking part
in the robbery are now in custody
in Pennsylvania.
Police insisted today they know
of only three men in the case al
though they conceded the possibil-
ity that someone might have set
up or fingered" the job for the
trio.
Shr0uded in Mystery.
But Assistant United States At
torney John w. Fihelly, who be-
gan presenting the Warning case
to the grand jury yesterday, said
there was evidence that some one
remained outside the house as a
lookout.
The prosecutor said this indi-
vidual would not be the finger
man" because the person who set
up the job would stay as far
from the scene as possible. He
listed the "fingerman" as the
possible fifth man involved in the
holdup.
From the beginning, the" holdup
has been shrouded in mystery.
Even the size of the loot was a
matter for guesswork. but police,
in issuing wanted circular for
three men. said the bandits got
$22, 400 in cash and a diamond
ring.
Mr.. Fihelly mentioned the pos
sibility of additional participants
while he was explaining why the
District grand jury took up the
case in view Of the fact that two
of the accused have prior commit
ments in Pennsylvania.
One of the accused. Sidney
Stromberg. is being held without
bail in Pottsville. Pa, charged
with the gangland killing of Har-
old (Red) Rowe. a Reading pa
doorman. in August, 1948.
A second man, Malcolm Epstein,
40. is being held in Pittsburgh on
charges of staging 19 robberies in
that area.
Mr.. Fihelly said that if the men
were indicted here, arrangements
could be made with Pennsylvania
authorities to bring them here for
prosecution. Then they could be
returned to Pennsylvania to serve
out their terms there before serv-
ing terms in case of conviction in
the Warning holdup.
Mr.. Fihelly pointed out that ar
rangements have been made be-
fore to try men here who have
been sentenced in other jurisdic-
tions. He noted that that had
been done in the Kann's payroll
case and with one of the men,
bers of the Tri-State gang.
Warning Gives Testimony.
The prosecutor went on to point
out police are looking for a third
man in the Warning holdup. who
could be prosecuted here, if
caught. 1t was then he mem
toned that fourth and possibly
a fifth man also might be involved.
Warning himself went before
the grand jury in response to a
subpoena yesterday. He said
afterward that he was still under
oath and couldn't talk.
Normally. a grand jury requests
a witness to give his occupation
as well as his name and address.
When q House District subcom-
mittee investigating crime asked
Warning about his occupation, he
declined to answer on grounds he
might incriminate himself. War
ring had been called before the
subcommittee in connection with
the police controversy growing
out of the transfer Of Capt. An
thony Richitt.
1t is also normal procedure that
before a grand jury returns an
indictment in a robbery case, it
must satisfy itself as to the
ownership of the property. Since
grand jury proceedings are secret,
there was no way of finding out
how far the grand jury went in
questioning Warning about the
$4,000 which police say the
bandits took from q wall safe In
his home.