Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-21
COMPANION is BURNED
Freedoms Face Injured By Flash
of Revolver.
TWO MEN ARE UNDER ARREST
Hawkins Admits That He and Two
Companions Had Trouble With
Plain Clothes Men.

In revolver duel with negroes last
night Policeman Hilton Of the fourth
precinct was wounded and his COM
panion. Policeman P. B. Breedon, was
burned about the eyes.
The shooting took place shortly after
IL o'clock, near Sd street and Maine
avenue. The negroes scattered and the
entire available force Of the precinct was
sent after them on draSnet search.
Up to a late hour last night two men
George Garner. Two women gave in
formation leading to the arrest of
Hawkins. They said he had run into a
house near the scene of the fight shortly
after it had occurred.
The police surrounded the premises and
finally got the man out. A revolver was
found on him. After a vigorous examina-
ton Hawkins made a statement. which
the police say they construe as q con-
fession that he did the shooting.
Hilton's wound Is painful. The bullet
entered the right leg directly above the
knee At the Emergency Hospital it was
not considered dangerous.
P. B. Breedon was so close to the re-
volver when it was fired that the gun
fash burned him painfully. After receiv-
ing temporary treatment he returned to
duty.
The policemen were detailed to special
duty in plain clothes last night. They
passed a trio Of negroes standing On the
to have been Hawkins. stepped in front
of the policemen, and with an oath ac-
cused Breedon Of having mistreated him
earlier in the evening.
The policeman saw the men were drunk
and advised them to keep quiet and keep
out Of the police station. The negroes
seem in an ugly mood and ready to
fight.
Negroes Open Fire.
With no thought of further trouble the
policemen started up the street, when one
Of the negroes jumped in front Of them
and the other two took positions on
either side of them. The man in front
drew a revolver and fired point blank at
Breedon, shooting several times.
Then he turned the weapon upon Hill
ton. At the first shot Hilton cried out that
he was wounded and attempted to draw
his revolver to defend himself. In the
meantime Breedon succeeded in getting
his revolver from his pocket and opened
fire.
The negroes made a dash for an open
door of a negro shanty Immediately in
the rear Of them, succeeded in getting out
OF revolver range before either policeman
could shoot effectively, and disappeared
o\el 4ed IoHSc iedV1AS i1ito d sloHe
yard.
Breedon. after sending in a call for
the patrol wagon and making his com
paniOn as comfortable as possible on
the sidewalk. started on a hunt for
their assailants. He succeeded In find
ing Garner hiding behind a quantity Of
boards within a hundred yards of the
scene Of the attack.
With the arrival Of the patrol wagon,
the reserves of the precinct were turned
out. Under guidance Of Lieut.. Fathers
and Sergeants Coucher and Yates. they
proceeded on a systematic hunt, which
eventually resulted In the arrest of the
second man, Eli Hawkins.
Hawkins Admits Trouble.
Hawkins was found hiding in the stone
yard behind a big pile of granite with the
revolver in his possession. He at first
denied knowing anything OF the shooting.
Later he acknowledged that he and two
companions had had trouble with two
plain clothes policemen.
At a late hour last night the reserves of
the precinct were still on a hunt for the
third man. He will probably be arrested
before morning.
The first report OF the shooting was to
the effect that Hilton had been killed. and
his companion seriously wounded. The re-
port created excitement in the neighbor-
hood
A lookout was sent around to the
police stations shortly before midnight
last night 1t describes the assailant
as very black. Weighing 165 pounds,
smooth face. we'll dressed in a long black
Overcoat, black derby and turn down
collar
The police suggest that the man may
be wounded. and started an inquiry
among the hospitals.