Youth Cleared in Killing Dad, Admits Holdup

Youth Cleared in Killing Dad, Admits Holdup Confessed Bandit Confesses He and Pal Robbed Two Bus Drivers in Pennsauken Township CAUGHT BY POLICE AFTER AUTO CHASE Boy Who Jury Cleared in Father's Death, Had Promised to Be 'Good' REINO A. THOMPSON Arrested yesterday, Thompson, 19, of 805 Linden street, and Henry N. Mallett, 21, of 119 North Ninth street, both of Camden, admitted holding up two bus drivers at Haddonfield road and Park avenue, Pennsauken township, on August 5. Last April Thompson was exonerated of blame in the killing of his father. A Camden youth who was cleared by the grand jury in the killing of his father was one of two who confessed yesterday to holding up two bus drivers at Haddonfield road and Park avenue, Pennsauken township, on August 5. He is Reino A. Thompson, 19, of 805 Linden street. His companion is Henry N. Mallett, 21, of 119 North Ninth street, Camden. Thompson was arrested near Maple Shade after their car was driven into a ditch. Mallett escaped but was arrested at his home. Police say both youths also admitted they were on their way to hold up another bus driver when Merchantville police became suspicious, and chased them. The bus drivers, Leon Garringer, of 4725 Poplar avenue, Pennsauken township and Fred Crowder, of 6308 Shelbourne street, Philadelphia, were seated in Garringer's bus at the end of the route at 11 p. m., August 5, A coupe drove up beside them. One of the occupants drew a pistol and took $20 from Crowder and $15 from Garringer. Three hours later a coupe was found abandoned at Cedar and Cooper avenues, Pennsauken. It had been stolen from Warren F. Marshall, of Paulsboro. Policemen Halt Car At 2.25 a. m., yesterday, Policemen Edward J. Hare and Herbert A. Davidson, Jr., of Merchantville, became suspicious of an automobile, which they had stopped at Maple and Westminister avenues. Mallett produced his driver's license, but said a friend had lent them his car and that he had no registration card. The car is believed to have been stolen. The police ordered Mallett and Thompson, who was a passenger, to drive to the police station at Maple avenue and Centre street. Instead of stopping at the station, the car turned from Centre street into Park avenue, where a pistol was dropped. The police gave chase. The suspects continued on toward Maple Shade. Near Haddonfield road, a second pistol was thrown from the car. The police were gaining on the speeding car when it was turned into a ditch at Park avenue and Forked Landing road. Both occupants fled from the car. Thompson was caught a few hundred feet away but the other youth disappeared. Marshall's driver's license stolen the night of the bus holdup, was found in the car. Both Admit Holdup Under questioning by Merchantville police, Thompson confessed his part in the bus holdup and named Mallett as his accomplice. Mallett was arrested yesterday afternoon at his home by Camden City Detective Sylvester McGrath. Mallett also confessed. The youths told the police they were on their way to Moorestown pike and the East End Hotel, Pennsauken township, terminus of another bus line, where they planned another holdup. Tags on the car ditched yesterday were stolen from the automobile of Fred Musick, 111 North Twenty-second street, Camden. The youths were held by Merchantville police for a hearing today on charges of carrying concealed deadly weapons. They will be turned over later to Pennsauken authorities on the holdup charge. Thompson was arrested on April 9 for the killing of his father, Frederick, 45. The son and his mother testified the father had attacked them while drunk. The youth punched his father, who fell and struck his head on a curbstone, dying of a fractured skull. In thanking the grand jury for his release Thompson declared: "I'm going to lead a good life and help my mother and family."