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^ o\ Sarasota Herald-Tribune Wed., Nov. 5. 1975—3-B• 17One Bank Robbery Suspect Cleared In TampaRIKEionalIt Trike.Spew)vcI rive dal, it's :le forup hills, It’s evenfsBy JON DIETZ Horald-Tribune ReporterTAMPA — The number of persons accused of the Oct. 27 robbery of the Ellis National Rank in Clearwater decreased by one Monday when Federal Magistrate Paul Game Jr. exonerated Janies G. Peterson. 22. of any connection with the holdup which netted two motorcycle bandits $55,000 in cash andtraveler’s checks.Judge Game also dismissed a charge of possession of a sawed-off shotgun a g a i n s ! Peterson, who was arrested with three other suspects four days after the robbery-.The others — James Baldwin. 26, Elizabeth Tramp?. 23, and J. Leroy Harris, 23, all of Tampa — still face bank robbery charges. Miss Tramps also faces a charge of possession of a sawed-off shotgun.FBI agent Jerry Sellers said more federal charges against Baldwin and Miss Tramps are pending, and possible against Harris. It is Harris, according to federal prosecutor William James, who is cooperating with authorities and supplying information about the operations of the motorcycle bandits, whom authorities believe robbed five central Florida banks (one twice) in six robberies since June of this year.Miss Tramps, Baldwin and Peterson were present with their attorneys Monday in Judge Game’s courtroom on the second floor of the federal building in Tampa. Harris was not present, nor was- hisfurniture Draperies Floor Covenn|st9 S. Indiana RoridanpjTHE SS STATCNDAMS * WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO 5E0RGFS, GRENADAattorney. No explanation was given for his absence.The four have been held at the Tampa city jail since their arrest Saturday morning.Judge Game originally intended the Monday hearing only to reconsider requests ftom the defendant s attorneys on lowering bail. However, by mutual agreement. the defendanls were granted an evidentiary hearing.Prosecutor James called FBI agent Michael Lunsford to testify as to the extent of Harris’, Miss Tramps’ and Baldwin’s involvement in the Clearwater bank robbery.Lunsford said physical evidence found at the scene led to Harris’ arrest Friday night and Saturday morning.Harris, Lundsford said, implicated Baldwin and Miss Tramps in the robbery. The FBI secured a search warrant and raided Miss Tramps’ house at 5807 Osceola Place.Lunsford said Miss Tramps and Peterson were asleep inside. After awakening the two, agents searched the bedroom and discovered a suitcase under their bed. Inside was a .16 gauge sawed-off shotgun, Lunsford testified.Other items found in the house included two pistols, wigs, gloves, motorcycle helmets and money order boxes. The two were arrested.James, however, did not file a charge of bank robbery against Peterson. Peterson was charged only with possession of a sawed-off shotgun. This charge was dropped Monday when Judge Game ruled there was no evidence establishing Peterson as the owner of theweapon.Miss Tramps told F BI agents the suitcase containing the shotgun belonged to her, and Judge Game let the possession of a firearm charge against her stand.Lunsford said agents also recovered $32,000 in traveler's checks, and some cash.Harris, Lunsford testified, told him Miss Tramps drove »he getaway car during at least two robberies Ordinarily, the bandits used a stolen motorcyle in the holdups, then abandoned it and fled In another vehicle.Harris said he and Baldwin were responsible for the Oct. 27 break-in at the Ellis National Bank in Clearwater. Harris, according to Lunsford, smashed out a window, grabbed deposit bags which a Brinks armored car had just dropped off, and then fled on a stolen Kawasaki 900 motorcycle driven by Baldwdn.The motorcycle was abandoned in an Orange Grove where Baldwin and Harris met Miss Tramps. She drove the two to her residence, according to Harris’ account.Harris told agents Miss Tramps drove the getaway car during the Oct. 13 robbery at the Palmer Bank i n Bradenton. Harris and Baldwin again fled on a Kawasaki 900. which was found abandoned behind a restaurant.Harris also implicated Baldwin and Miss Tramps in the June robbery of the Ellis National Bank in Clearwater, the first time that bank was hit. Lunsford said.Miss Tramps, Lunsford said, was paid more than $2,000 by Baldwin and Harris for driving the getaway cars in the robberies.There was no testimony presented connecting Baldwin, Miss Tramps or Harris to the recent Sarasota robberies at the Palmer Bank in Gulf Gate or the Ellis Commercial Bank on Fruitville Road.In both those robberies, however, gunmen wearingaiming Dack? Jmaybe you need aCA^Psupportwigs and false beards escaped on a motorcycle.The FBI said. “We believe all six robberies were committed by the same people.” As of Monday, however, Miss Tramps. Baldwin and Harris each faced only one count of bank robbery.Miss Tramps’ defense attorneys — Barry Cohen and Robert Tropp — argued before Judge Game that the state wrongly charged Miss Tramps with bank robbery — the Ellis National Bank, they stated, was not robbed; it was burglarized.Said Cohen: “The element of fear does not exist in this case, your honor. No one washelp up. A window was broken and money was taken. The charge can only be larceny — not robbery.”James countered by saying there were two employes in the bank at the time Harris entered, and they both “ran for their lives.Judge Game said he would concur “at this time ' with | James The charge was not dismissed.At the close of the hearing, Judge Game increased the amount of bail on Baldwin 1o $100,000. against the objections of his attorney. — Robert Carlton.Judge Game refused to lower bond on Miss Tramps.interestedin knowingmore aboutlistedoptions?AZURE REALTY, INC.REALTORS■a EAST VENICE AVE • VENICE. 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Newspaper Details
Sarasota Herald Tribune
Sarasota, Florida, US
Wed, Nov 05, 1975
Page 39
Full Page
Clipped by
Ed C.
CO, USA 06 Jun 2021
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