Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

years ago. The officer tried to arrest the
man, but the prisoner fed. To cover his
flight he pulled a gun and sent a bullet at
the officer whom he wounded. The officer
fired at the housebreaker, wounding him in
the side. Frank Freeman. as the prisoner
afterward gave his name, made his escape
at the time, but through his wound his
whereabouts became known later and he
was arrested.
On November 5. 1889. murder was COM
mitted In what was then known as 'Hells
Bottom" and a man by the name OF Bush
was wanted for the crime. Policemen Grin
pen got on his track and chased him into
the house at the corner of 18th and .
streets northwest. Bush stood at the top
OF the stairs and ordered the officer to
remain below. Crippen wanted to cap
ture the murderer and started up the steps.
Both fired and both men fell The
officer and the man were dead in a few
minutes.
X x
One of the most noted OF criminals in the
same section fellow named Williams
and revovers played an important part in
his capture. He was charged with killing
a policeman in Alexandria. Policemen Pier
son and Lewis of the fifth precinct found
him in the act of breaking into a house in
Southeast Washington and rushed upon
him to capture him. Williams was armed
and he reached for his gun. The police
men were too quick for him, however and
drew their pistols first Williams was
arrested
~ would have shot" he explained. but
1 knew that If 1 did shoot one policeman
the other would shoot me. So | gave in
Several years ago, a man wanted for rob-
berry located in Hillsdale by "A police
man of the Anacostia substation The rob-
Der would not submit TO arrest and started
to escape. when the officer drew his gun
and shot him. The arrest followed and the
bullet wound not serious.
Sergt. Mccormack once made an arrest
by the prompt use of his gun. James
Powell was wanted for the murder of Will
liam Patrick Lee at 18th and o streets north
| west. Mccormack located Powell and as he
was about to run the officer drew his gun.
| The man quickly decided to go to the sta
| ton house quietly.
| In an act of self-defense, Sergt. Curry
OF the sixth precinct shot and killed London
Shears, a colored preacher OF South WASH
| ington several years ago The policeman
| desired to arrest the man for q misde-
meanor; but the powerful Shears was too
| much for the officer. He broke away sew
\ eral times and was finally followed into
his home by the bluecoat There, the officer
| and Shears had a warm scrimmage. the
| preacher finally pinning the man in uniform
| on the floor.
| Selling a large stick that was at hand
| inc preacher ialseu IL as 'HouSn " sliAAe
| the officer in the head. Sergt. Curry was
alive to the situation. He snatched his gun
| and fired directly at the assailant. Shears
| fell to the floor and was a dead man in a
| few moments. The officer was exonerated
| before the coroner's jury and before the
| grand jury.
| Another incident involving the killing of a
| prisoner, which attracted much attention
| some years ago, occurred near the
| seventh precinct station house in George
| town. Policeman Sawyer, who was detailed
| in charge of the van load Of prisoners to
| be taken to the Police Court, ordered one Of
the prisoners to step into the van. Instead,
he broke away and ran.
| Policeman Sawyer drew revolver and
shot the fugitive, killing him and he was
acquitted by jury.
1t is interesting TO state, in this connec-
ton that the leading lawyers of the city
held that Sawyer would have been liable to
a Jail sentence had he allowed the prisoner
to escape under the circumstances.