Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-01
HELD F0R GRAND JURY
Policeman Responsible for
VIM. WAeellsr's Death.
CoRoNER'si VERDICT
MAN SHOT W1IF ATTEMPTING
TO- ESCAPE.
Testimony of Witnesses Heard Today
Officer Makes Statement in
His Own Behalf.
VERDICT

Policeman John L. H. Sawyer, who shot
and killed William Wheeler, colored, in
Georgetown, one week ago while the latter
was trying to escape from him, as publish
ed in The Star at the time, was held for
the grand jury at an inquest held today at
the sixth precinct station.
Assistant District Attorney Bingham was
present for the government, while the In
terests Of the District were looked after by
Mr.. Sinclair, an assistant to the corpora
ton counsel. Attorney Creed M. Fulton
represented Policeman Sawyer, and Attor-
ney Calvin Chase was present for relatives
of the deceased.
The hearing took place in the sitting
room of the police station, and number
of friends Of the policeman, including
number Of members of the force, were in
attendance. The Jurors deliberated only a
few minutes before they reached verdict,
reciting the cause of death and concluding:
I'VE hold ]. L. H. Sawyer for the action of
the grand jury"
nounced Mr.. Fulton left for the court house
to make application for the release Of his
client on bail.
Desk Sergeant's Statement.
NJ. E. Fender, desk sergeant at the
Georgetown police station told the jury he
had filled the position mentioned for about
three years. He was on duty in the station
the morning the shooting occurred.
what are your duties in the matter of
transferring prisoners?" the coroner asked.
Mr.. Pender answered that he turned over
the keys to the officers and assisted only
yHnr, tod to n he a
prisoner was dangerous character or was
held for serious offense he would so in
form the officer in charge of the van On
the morning Wheeler was killed there were
three prisoners to be sent to court. They
were charged with minor offenseS. Witness
said it had been the custom of the officer
in charge Of the van to look over the list
of prisoners and see the nature of the
charges against him. He had never known
of prisoners being handcuffed The desk
sergeant said he had assisted in taking
prisoners from the station to the van only
Policeman Sawyer was in charge of the
van on the morning in question, and wit
ness gave him the cell keys. The officer
had hold of twof1 prisoners and the third
walked behind him. Witness was engaged
at the telephone and did not see just which
prisoner was in the rear. When the officer
left the station witness was taking tele
phone call. The first intimation he had
ing outside the station was when he heard
somebody say: "a prisoner is getting
away" 90
1t was about ITO o'clock, and daylight.
toned Policeman Edwards gave him the
information that prisoner had been shot.
Heard Report Of Pistol.
Policeman Sawyer had turned the corner
Of 33d street when witness reached the
fore he went to the door. Sergt. Schneider
called the patrol wagon.
did you see Sergt. Schneider previous to
the shooting?' the coroner asked
II think mott
The wounded man was taken to the hos
pital, and his body was subsequently re-
turned to the station.
WAS Mr.. Sawyer arrested?'
HE was held there"
did you enter any charge upon the blot
teri"
Il did not; the lieutenant attended to
that?'
do you know who made the arrest?"
II think 1t was sergt. Schneider
Witness was questioned concerning the
papers he handed to Policeman Sawyer
He said he considered 1t part of his duty
to call the attention of the officer to any
prisoner charged with q serious offense
The officer in charge Of the van has
could not say it was his duty to do So
When Sawyer returned to the station he
was nervous and excited, the witness
stated. He said he could go no further
with the van, and that he would have to
lie down. Sawyer said he had not the
slightest intention Of shooting the pris-
oner.
Result Of Autopsy.
DR.. L. w. Glazebrook, deputy coroner.
told the jury the result Of the autopsy.
The body of Wheeler was shabbily dressed
and his face and front of his clothing were
smeared with blood. Witness found bull
let wound in the back of the coat fourteen
inches below the collar. There was a hole
in the mans skin corresponding with that
in the coat. The bullet passed through
the tenth rib and the outer covering of
the heart 1t also passed through the fifth
rib and lodged beneath the skin covering
the chest. Particles Of the bone entered
the lung.
The cone end Of the bullet was slightly
fattened, and this condition could hardly
have resulted from contact with the side
walk 1t is not probable that the bullet
struck any object before striking the mans
back. The wound appeared to have been
straight shot, the bullet being found only
one inch higher than the point of entrance.
Sergeant Schneider Testifes.
sergt Henry Schneider testified that he
was on duty the morning of March Is. He
arrived upon the scene Immediately after
the shooting occurred. He did not hear the
report of the shot on account OF the noise
made by car. A small boy informed him
that a policeman had shot an escaping
prisoner. Witness found the wounded man
on the sidewalk on 33d street about ninety-
five or one hundred feet south Of street.
When witness reached the scene the man
was lying on his Back with his hands at his
side. It was the ppinfoh Of witness that the
man was dead, bit he (witness) directed
that the body be taken to the Georgetown
University Hospital. The doctor there pro-
nounced life extinct.
DID you arrest isaEyer9" the sergeant
II told the desk sergeant to detain him."
He said the lieutenant ordered the off,
GERS arrest and directed that he be taken
to the Emergency Mospital.
hospital. 1ss'~lh
What was the condition Of Mr.. sawyer?"
a Juror asked. fwor q
"7e seemed o,lbe insane" the sergeant
responded, land IT took four men to hold
him down. All this tiIne he was protesting
that he had no idea DE- shooting the man
nor did he intend to shoot him.
Story Of Eyewitness.
William H Lowder, 1704 SD street, tes-
titled that he was standing at the corner
of 32d and. @ streets the morning of the