Howie learned to like guns even pictures of them in magazines. Howie bought stolen guns that were not traceable from crooks. The brand names, serial numbers, and model numbers were melted off of each gun with welding machines. The guns were still functional and useable. Howie then sold them to crooks to help them commit crimes. The crooks threw them in a river after the jobs were done.
Guns, guns, guns! Revolver pistols, semiautomatic pistols, long barrels, short barrels, wood grips, plastic grips, runner grips, pearl grips, metal grips, holsters, belts, shoulder holster rigs, silencers, cartridges in assorted calibers, shot guns, mostly with walnut stocks, pumps and break actions, single barrels, double barrels, small, medium, and large gauge guns, shells, gun cases, rifles mostly with walnut stocks, bullets, different calibers, scopes and accuracy sights, gun cases, Thompson .45 ACP semiautomatic machine guns with cases, straight and round magazines. There were many different brands, sizes, and models. Guns, guns, guns!
*****************************The White Lilly******************************
Chapter 6. Crime Everywhere
Charlotte crime was an epidemic. This was a complex police problem. Small and large businesses were being frequently robbed, sometimes in bright daylight. A series of high profile bank robberies occurred. People were injured, terrorized, and put into hysterics about the rough nature of the foul brutes who committed these acts. There were large chain grocery stores in the city. Several masked men with guns robbed each of them in succession in a neatly planned out and executed manner. Several car lots had automobiles stolen at night. They were broken into, trick started, driven away to vanish completely without any hint of who had done this. Furniture stores, department stores, beauty parlors, restaurants, factories, and a string of building construction companies were attacked and robbed of large sums of money. Someone was robbing gun stores stealing guns, new used, ammunition, holsters, belts, cases. Local crooks were pulling jobs and seemed to have too many guns. Some men had two pistols in shoulder holsters, two pistols in holsters in a waist belt, and a rifle or a shotgun. Somebody was stealing the guns, selling them to crooks; the crooks have attempted more jobs, and did better since they were better armed. It was a crime wave. The police could not figure this out. The Police Chief Harland (Harry) Marsh finally got in contact with Ellis McCain private detective to help.