South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-04
IDtcrnatlonaI News Service

international News Service;
WASHINGTON, April flames
King. night watchman at the Creel
bureau of public information, was
shot and killed early today by an
unknown man who escaped. His
body was found just inside the doO~
of the main entrance to the CreeI
committee offices on jackson place
The police believe that he was
slain wher he discovered thieves
trying 20 freak into the building 90
set at the records of the committee
which contain many vital secrets
about the war.
Work OF German Agents?
That the slain watchman made Il
desperate effort to get his as
sgilants was indicated by the presi
cuce OF his pistol "a few feet away
ercm where his body was found.
Examination showed that he had
fressed the trigger several times.
uut that the cartridges were defec-
tive and had failed TO explode. All
of the washington detectives and
special squad of secret service op-
eratives were hurried 20 the scene
end "a dragnet was set out for the
Uatchman's assailants Attaches of
the Creel committee declared that
taey believed that the murder wes
tie work of German agents ami
tiat hey had been surprised i'm the
building while trying 20 steal rec
,rds and had shot their way 10
safety when discovered.
The scene of the shooting was
only half a block from the white
house. where company of soldiers
was ON duty and less than a stones
raroU from the state. war and navy
luilding
FIND Heavy stone.
Police believe King was shot aft
er he had discovered the intruder
or ntruders i'm the main hall OF the
Iuilding. Near his body was found
"a heavy stone and the police believe
that whoever entered the building
carried il with them 20 slug the
vatchman and not re forced 20 give
an alarm by nring "a pistol
THAT King tried hard 90 xiii the
irtruders was shown 10y the fact
mat four of the six bullets i'm his
revolver were nicked by the ham,
mer which had struck them after
the trigger had been pulled. but had
rot exploded Only one shot init the
,,atchman. passing directly throush
bis body from the right TO the left
side and penetrating his heart
some time ago IL was reported %
the police that an attempt was
made 10 burglarize the Creel COM
r,ittee Office. hut investigation re-
veaIed no grounds for the report
Charxomau Lena Miller. Cclored.
told the police that King had let
her into the building about half past
Eve She went into the basement
while he went 90 one of the adloin-
frr buildings occupied bN the com
u{ttes 20 let other cleaners 10 10
,,-orl, there. She heard him return 80
10 Jackson place sne said. and
.bc~t1y afterNard heard a shot She
saws that SHE ran upstairs ana saw
r-lDr stareer across the hal and tai
dead. She insisted that she dld u'l
zee anyone shoot him and told the
roIice she believed ne had NiiieI
himself.
The police. however discounted
-he suicide theory as they insisted
not single chamber in King re-
vclver had been discharged IheN
also said the course or the ouiial
r.ade IL almost impossible for IL 10
have been self DISCHARGED. even
rhoug' other facts fitted In with
suicide theory.
The Miller woman and ali OF the
ether cleaners were taken hy the
oIicc 20 headquarters for question
irE