Evening star., 1954-12-23
Andrews Base
Bank Bandit
Seized in Texas
Border Petrol
Check Captures
Eurl Kill Smith
By Herman r. Schoden

BY Herman Z. Schoden
Earl Kill Smith. IS. described
as the ringleader in last sum-
mer's $124.6ss robbery Of an An-
dreWs Air Force Base bank. was
seized late yesterday headed for
the Mexican border with roll
ing arsenal OF guns, the FBI an
nounced today.
Captured by alert border patrol
operatives Is miles north OF La
redo, Tex, Smith admitted being
in the big airbase stickup, and
an earlier attempt on an Abing-
ton tPa.) bank, the FBI said.
Smith is the second of bold
trio accused in the robbery now
behind bars. The other, Clar-
ence Duke McGann, "a. colored.
of New York, was captured in a
chance arrest speeding away
from the Andrews job. and now
is serving 90 years.
Stopped for Check.
The arrest Of Smith, 25-year-
old New York Negro. was even
stranger. He was stopped for a
routine check at the border pa
troll station after having galli-
wanted around the country ur-
touched for weeks.
The patrolmen were so thor
ough in their search that first
one, then another, and finally
1--WE guns and six boxes of am
munition were discovered among
Smiths luggage. That looked
suspicious enough for further
investigation. Going through
FBI flyers. the officers ran across
picture and a description OF
Smith, called the FBI, and that
did it.
Though Smith has no known
convictions, the FBI listed him
as extremely dangerous-"will
kill without provocation."
Hearing Today.
The FBI said Smith talked
freely to its agents, who planned
to take him today before the
United States commissioner at
Laredo to determine whether he
will be removed to Baltimore
for trial.
Smith admitted pulling the
morning holdup Of the air base
branch Of the First National
Bank Of Southern Maryland,
and named as his accomplices
McGann and a third man still
at large, Henry John Foster, %,
colored, of New York. Smith has
been named in warrants in the
Abingdon attempt, and the AM
drews robbery, and both Smith
and Foster have been indicted
in Baltimore for the latter Of
fense.
Making a getaway from An
drews, the three bandits were
stopped for speeding. While
McGann accompanied a patrol
man into the Upper Marlboro
station, the other two decided
to let McGann take the rap
alone, and tore away in the car.
Fled to New York.
Taking up the story from
there, Smith told the FBI he
and Foster went to New York
and split the loot, believed the
largest ever taken from a Mary
land bank.
Smith either exhibited an
amazing gullibility, or trust in
his colleague. or else fabricated
the story of the split-up. the
FBI said.
81 took about SAL 900 and Fos-
ter took about $4,000" he said
with a straight face. Foster
took the larger share with the
promise Of saving half of 1t for
McGanrl."
After the payoff, the men split
up, and Smith said he has not
seen Foster since. Smith, who is
6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs
100 pounds, nevertheless was
listed by the FBI as suffering
from tuberculosis, and had a COLI
lapsed right lung at the time Of
the Andrews holdup.
Took LeisureIy Tour.
He said he began a leisurely
tour of the country, buying a
1851 Cadillac in Chicago, then
moving out to Los Angeles where
he bought a 1853 model Of the
same car. After that, he re-
placed the Cadillac with an
Oldsmobile.
AL was not serene. He halted
his peregrinations long enough
for tonsilectomy and gem
eral physical checkup. then
headed for San Antonio.
The FBI described Smith as q
tsee ANDREWS. Page A-2o