Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Police Pressing
WideHuntf for
Jewel Bandits
z Who Got S100, 600
In Loot Here Believed
From Out of Town

quest Tor TWO 0anQlCS VINO COok
100000 in jewels from a FASH
ionable store in the Ring Build
ing here yesterday spread over
the Eastern Seaboard last night.
Convinced that the men were
from out of town. detectives
were to take several of the wit
nesses to other cities today to
scan rogues' gallery pictures in
police files in the hope of making
some Identification.
The men. each carrying a pis-
toll. scooped the gems from two
cases and looted the safe at
Bartz & King Jewelry Co.,
Eighteenth and M streets NV,
about 9:45 am
They trussed up the stores
two owners and three employees
with picture wire and then
strolled out as if they were GUS
toners on legitimate business.
The robbery. biggest Washington
haul in police memory. came on
the seventh anniversary of the
company and required only 10
minutes.
Worked With Precision.
Police 1t. Ernest P. Jefferson
said the men worked with pre-
cision. appeared to know what
they wanted and seemed to have
the job thoroughly "cased."
They spurned watches and all
types of jewelry except that set
with gems. agreed to a request
not to take items left for repair
and also left behind a silver urn
filled with coin contributions for
the Salvation Army.
Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray, who returned from leave to
confer with detectives and the
victims, said last night the
holdup had all the marks of an
out-of-town job.
One reason. he pointed out,
was the thoroughness and APP
parently professional way it was
done. Another was the use of
picture wire in tying UP the VIC
tims-"an ear-mark of an OUT
of-town job" Chief Murray said,
and typical of Northern meth
DDS. ...,.
Brooklyn Accent"
One of the five victims said
one bandit spoke with q
Brooklyn accent"
When the pair walked into the
store. one of the men said this
is it, as he walked up to Lambert
King, So, of 1872 Van Wrinkle
drive, Falls Church. and Harry
E. Bartz, 40. of 90g8 Mohawk
lane, Bethesda, the owners.
The owners and three en-
ployes, Rembert L. Star, As, of
4545 Connecticut avenue NV,
a jewelry repairman; Elba L.
Newborn. 35. colored. of 1910
Sherman avenue NV, a maid,
and Earl G. Thomas, 80, of 1888
Riggs place NV, a clerk. were
ordered into rear room.
One of the bandits stood
guard. The other opened a blue
zippered airline overnight bag
and began scooping loot from the
showcases and the open safe.
Tied With Piano Wire.
When he finished, the other
man asked lis there any place
we can lock you up?" Getting
negative answer, the men cut
lengths of picture wire from a
small roll they brought with
them and tied up each of the
five.
After the pair strolled out, Mr..
Bartz, hands still tied behind
him, walked across the arcade
to the office of an optician, Jo-
seph r. Harrison, and asked him
to call police. .
Police threw a Gordon around
the area Immediately and sent
men to transportation terminals.
They sent out detailed reports
OF the robbery to other police
departments in an attempt to
link the method of operation
with any on file in other cities.
These descriptions also went
over the Eastern seaboard:
No. Between 35 and SO
years old; five feet. eight inches
tall; l78 pounds; wearing heavy
horn-rimmed glasses, a light tan
topcoat and brown felt hat.
No. between IS and 10, 1876
pounds. five-eight; round face,
fair complexion and wearing a
blue checkered overcoat and
brown hat.