Evening star., 1952-08-26
Drinks
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ObIuuN ,
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Drinks. He didn't case the job, +"
but knowing habits of the ar
mored truck crew, accomplished
the larceny in this manner, he
told police:
Parking his truck in front Of
the hotel about II am. yesterday,
he walked through the building
and stood in the shadow of rear
hallway to watch for the Drinks
truck.
When he saw the guards enter
the hotel, he quickly stepped to
the armored vehicle, and within
80 seconds had entered, grabbed
up the money and stepped out
again.
Lost for Five Minutes.
Calmly, he re-entered the hotel.
expecting to return Immediately
to his truck. But carrying the
money in a brown paper bag, he
lost his way and wandered for five
minutes through the building.
Finally on the third floor he
asked maid for directions to the
front door, climbed into his truck
and headed for Maryland. En-
route he threw the key away on
Massachusetts avenue. but he did
not remember where. After bury
ing the money he resumed his
bread route, drove the truck to
the bakery and went home.
1t took only an instant for one
iof the guards. returning to the
armored car, to determine that
some one had slipped in with q
key.
When the guards leave the We
hicle. they remove a screw from
the inside handle. and turn the
handle so that it cannot be
tripped by stick inserted through
gun slot.
GuardS Notice Change.
The guard noticed that the
loose screw had fallen to the floor
Further examination revealed that
IA package of 1000 81 bills had
been moved onto one of the seats.
Looking into the three feeder
bags" in which money is placed,
the guard discovered that the $685.
900 was missing.
Richard Vernon Simkins, SO,
|of 2031 Hamlin street NE, in
charge of the truck crew, imme-
|diately notified his Office of the
theft.
Other members of the crew are
Thomas Walter Knott, 33, of GA
I street Sc; George Henry
Rudinger. 20, of AZ Sycamore
street. Takoma Park, Md, and
Paul Charles Kavacs, %. of 256
Eighteenth street NE.
On hand when the solution of
the case was announced this morn
ing were Otto Plank. vice presi-
dent of Drinks, and MIR. Reid
They flew in from Chicago last
night to assist in the case.
Cooperation of FBI Stressed.
Inspector jeremiah Flaherty, as
sistant chief of detectives, and
r. B. Hood, special FBI agent in
charge Of the Washington field
Office, also attended the press con-
ference. Inspector Flaherty re-
counted details Of the case. and
emphasized that the FBI and
Washington police had co-operated
closely throughout.
It was nearly two hours before
police learned of the robbery and
another two-and-one-half hours
before they located the truck and
crew to begin the intensive in
Ivestigation.
Melvin A. Goodspeed, Washing
ton manager of Drinks and COM
pany employe for % years, ex-
planned that he followed regula-
tions in first notifying headquar-
tiers in Chicago.
The delay in reporting the theft
was extended when Mr.. Goodspeed
ordered the guards to check back
on their route to determine
whether they had failed to pick up
the missing money from q bank.
The Drinks manager then no.
titled the FBI, which Immediately
put 10 agents to searching the
Wardman Park area for clues.
After local police were finally
alerted, Inspector Flaherty or
Iganized two squads of 10 men each.
one under 1t. Albert E. Hit of the
General Assignment Squad and
the other headed by 1t. Ernest T.
jefferson. acting head of the Rob-
berry Squad.
Crew Questioned Nine Hours.
At 4:30 pm. the FBI and de-
Itectives began questioning men,
bers of the truck crew, who had
been ordered by Mr.. Goodspeed to
continue the days rounds.
The gruelling session lasted for
more than nine hours, with break
only for a sandwich-and-coffee
snack at 10 pm. Finally, at 1:15
ia m, the guards were permitted to
leave headquarters.
BY then it was learned police
had picked up two "hot" suspects
about II PM, and were turning
their question barrage on them.
Police learned the guards had
made their morning rounds and
had backed the armored vehicle
off Woodley road to a ramp near
the hotel garage, not far from
the swimming pool entrance.
Left Truck There Each Day
It was customary for. them to
leave the truck there each day
for lunch in the hotel employees
cafeteria. The guards thought
the money was safe because the