Evening star., 1952-02-05
Two Youths, H.,
Held in Simkins
Safe Robbery
Boys Are Believed
Members of Teen-Aqe
Sofecruckers Gang
BULLETIN

youths were charged with house.
breaking today in the $4,000
safe robbery at the home Of
Roger w. (Whitetop) SimkinS
last Friday. One also was
charged in the $4,000 safe rob-
berry on December Z from the
home of William T. Whitehead.
Detectives said today they have
uncovered a gang of teen-ags
safecrackers carefully trained by
la Fagin-like leader.
Inspector E. E. Scott, chief OF
detectives. put forth the theory
as police held two 17-year -old
youths for questioning in the
$4,000 safe robbery Friday night
at the home of Roger w. (White-
Itop) Simkins. Washington mum.
berS man.
The inspector said f1ngerprintS
definitely link one Of the youths
with the December z safe robbery
at the home of William T. White
head, another gambling figure
here, when $4,000 was taken.
Police said one Of the colored
youths admitted casing" the
Simkins home for more than q
week and admitted using an au-
|tomobile which police have con-
Injected with the robbery.
Leader Not Identified.
The inspector did not identity
the leader of the gang. However.
they are holding Samuel w.
James, 80, colored, of the 1900
block Of East Capitol street, un-
der $4,000 bond on a robbery
charge in the Simkins case.
James had been under $500 bond
on another Safe-cracking charge.
His two brothers, Stance and Oil
yer, are serving prison terms for
Ia $4,000 safe job January %.
I1949.
Police are looking for another
II or 18-year-old youth, and said
that still another might be in
volved.
Police released q Western Union
messenger, II. whose coat figured in
the Simkins robbery after it was
learned that he had lent it to
one Of the other youths. Detec.
ltjyes are seeking a third teen
aaar for questioning.
d!p Father Reports Theft.
| The break in the case came
when the messengers father
called to report that his sons
coat had been stolen. Detectives
doubted the youths story, and
questioned him for several hours
before he admitted lending his
coat to a friend.
The coat was discovered in q
wooded area near Twenty fourth
and M street NE, where the
empty safe from the Simkins'
home at 1928 Twelfth street NE.
was found. Police also revealed
they had found a note which they
said was handed to the Sirnkins'
maid when the bandit gang forced
its way into the home.
Inspector Scott W. I'D not re-
veal the contents Of. :ae note.
Youths Kept Separated.
One Of the youths held has q
police record. Detectives kept
them in separate witness rooms
lat police headquarters rather
than transfer them to the receiv-
ing home because Of the record Of
the one 1T-year-old.
Police said they were told by
one Of the youths that he had
used James auto, but they would
not elaborate.
James is being held under $15.-
900 bond on a charge Of robbery
In connection with the case. His
wife, Dolores, 10. is being held on
the same charge under $1,000
bond.
The automobile was traced to
James through a license plate
which dropped from the car near
the scene of the holdup.
Three or four" colored men
forced their way into the SIM
Ikins' home Friday night after one
of them posed as a Western Union
messenger. The bandits bound q
maid and the two young Simkins
children. and carted away the
2ffl.anllr1d safe