Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-07
Bandits Get $4,000
At Bank in Alexandra
Polite Pair
Force Man
IntoCoee

Two calm, ell-mannered ban
dts held up the Monroe street
branch of the Burke & Herbert
Bank g. Trust Co. in Alexan-
dria today, making of with be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000.
They fed in a green station
wagon stolen in Washington yes
terday, but abandoned the ma
chine in Alexandria and diSap-
peared. The FBI took charge
Of the case Immediately.
1t probably was as polite as
any bank holdup ever staged.
Two employees and no Gus
toners were in the bank at 306
East Monroe street, near the
giant Potomac railroad yards,
when the two unmasked white
men entered at $40 am.
Asks to Change Bill
William F. Smith, the man.
ager, said he alone was in the
main part of the bank. One of
the men walked up to the teller's
cage he occupied and asked for
ten ones for a $40 bill.
AS he reached for the money,
Mr.. Smith said he saw the bandit
draw a nickel-plated revolver.
About then the second man drew
similar weapon. One bandit,
who did all the talking, told the
manager to leave the cage and
sit at a desk.
Then the two, equipped with
canvas Treasury-type bags, rap
idly rif1ed the two cages. They
took everything but 81 bills and
change.
Their mission accomplished,
Mr.. Smith was told to lie face
down in the front enclosure with
his head to the wall.
Hears Dishes Rattle
From the rear room came the
sound Of dishes rafting. Mr..
Smith explained that Mrs. Betty
r. Griffith, teller, was there
washing coffee cups.
"As I lay there heard foot
steps which indicated one man
was leaving" the manager said.
Beside me I heard the other
man breathe. I guess it was all
over in less than five minutes,
but it seemed like two hours"
Then Mrs. Griffith walked
from the rear room. The one
bandit still in the bank said,
Good morning" Mrs. Griffith
replied, Good morning, sir"
And then the bandit was gone.
Mr.. Smith said he slowly got
up and called the police.
Il always thought what a hero
I'd be if this ever happened to
me-" he said. But when / saw
the pistols ! just backed up"
Vehicle Soon Found
The bandits got into the sta
ton wagon parked in a lot across
the street and headed toward
Washington. The car was found
abandoned a short time later in
parking lot in the 100 block of
, Cliff street.
The station wagon was parked
in the lot about five blocks from
the bank. A janitor in a Cliff
street building told police the
two men walked toward Com
monwealth avenue. A woman
watching them from an upper
window believed they entered a
black Buick and drove away.
In the police lookout, one of
the men was described as IS to
40 years old. 5 feet IL inches tall,
weighing ITO pounds and wearing
a light hat and soiled light suit.
He was carrying a small satchel.
The other was of the same
general description, wearing a
dark, peaked "bebop" cap and a
dark suit.
Stolen In District
The getaway car was recog-
nized by Detective Sergt. c. I.
Smith from its description as one
stolen yesterday from near -Four.
teenth and e streets NV. Il
had Thompson's Transfer writ
ten on the side, and is owned by
Robert H. Hetzer Of 1918 North
Calvert street, Arlington.
Police thought it possible the
bandits transferred from the sta
ton wagon to a coral and gray
two-door 1855 Chevrolet which
was stolen about the same time
a block from where the station
wagon was taken yesterday.