Atlanta Daily World

Robber-Suspect Trapped In Clothing Store Here

BY GEORGE COLEMAN

A 25-year-old robber-suspect was cornered and trapped in a Decatur Street clothing store yesterday with a cash box containing $150 in his hands after he reportedly beat up the 62-year-old white proprietress when she showed him a pair of shoes, investigating officers said Saturday.

Detective Lieut. R. F. Jordan identified the arrested man as Clarence Grey, 25, of 210 Chestnut Street at Northside Drive. He was being held on suspicion of robbery, and a police report listed the fray as robbery by force.

The white woman, identified as Mrs. Harry Lupion, 62, of 335 Fifth Street, N. E., was reportedly struck with fists and threatened with a knife in the presence of Ervin Smith, 13-year-old helper, of 342 Decatur Street, S. E., Apt. 358.

Mrs. Lupion told police that Grey came into Harry's Clothing Store at 126 Decatur Street, S. E. about 11:40 a. m. Saturday and asked to look at a pair of shoes.

While she was showing him the shoes, he struck her in the eye with his fists, knocking her to the floor. Mrs. Lupion said. He then opened a knife and threatened to slash her throat if she screamed, she added.

The woman told police the man then went to the cash drawer, located underneath a counter, and when he was unable to open it, tore the entire drawer from its fixtures.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Lupion ran to the front door screaming, and Albert Strouse came from 128 Decatur (next door). The suspect reportedly ran to the rear of the building with the busted cash drawer still in his hands, and Strouse held him there with the aid of a huge stick until police arrived.

Police Lieut. C. R. Fleming, hearing the commotion, dashed into the store, and Grey broke loose from Strouse and ran up a rear set of steps, with coins falling from his pockets, and hurled the cash box with the money still in it, through a closed window to the street. When Fleming finally placed him under arrest, he quoted Grey as saying he planned to leap from the second story window but discovered it was too high. Police listed the woman's loss as a broken window pane, and the busted cash box. The $150 was recovered, police said.