The Washington herald., 1918-06-26

INSPECTOR Is
SHOT IN TRAIN
]. c. Shelhorse Victim Near
Alexandria Of Negro
Alleged Bootlegger.
FINDS WHISKY FIRST
Scufle Over Suitcase Con-
tanning Liquor Ends
Near Station.
FINDS WHISKY FIRST

Near Stduon.
Alexandria, Va, June 81. c.
SheIhorsS "a years old, a Virginia
prohibition inspector, was fatally
shot shortly after Z o'clock tonight
while endeavoring to take into Gus
tody, with two other prohibition IN
spectors, James A Davis, oolored.
81 years old. an alleged boouegger.
whose home Ia In Monroe, Va
The shooting took place Q few min
utes before Southern Railway train
No. 81 entered Alexandra, Davis.
after shooting Shelhorse, jumped
short distance when he was cap
tured-
Dies Soon After shooting.
Shelhorse was shot through the left
side Of the throat with a 3S-caliber
bullet, which came through the upper
side Of the back part of his head.
The dying man was taken into the
baggage room when the train stopped
in Alexandria, which was only a min
ute or so after the shooting. He was
rushed to the Alexandria Hospital
and DIR. N. d. Delaney was sum
moned. The physician pronounced
his case hopeless and SheIhorss ex-
?ired at SIS o'clock.
Prohibition inspectors Shelhorse
and w. c. Han. Danvfae a, afrt
A. L Bricker, an assistant prohi-
bition Inspector, Of Washington,
boarded the train at Union Sta
ton. IN Washington. armed with a
warrant to search the train for con-
traband whisky after the train cross
ed the Highway Bridge.
Hall says that he saw Davis when
he entered the railway station and
that he carried a suit case and a
hand satchel which he suspected con-
tanned whisky.
scunIe for Gun.
After the train had crossed to the
Virginia side OF the river Hall says
he started through the train and
found Davis grip. Hall further
says that when Davis saw him he
bolted toward the baggage car,
whereupon he grabbed Davis after
which the man pulled a gun. Hall
showed the gun away. Then fol-
lowed q scuffle for the possession. of
the weapon between Hall and the
negro, during which time the gun
was discharged once. During the
scuffle for the weapon he had his
hand badly lacerated. Finally Hall
says he got Davis on the floor of
the car and succeeded in getting
possession Of the pistol. Inspector
Bricker came up then, he says, and
Hall Rrfnlrar -
another fight followed, during which
the negro got the pistol from
Bricker and fired again.
Jumps From Car.
At this stage Hall says SheIhorse
put in his appearance and the negro
fired at him and then Jumped from
the car just as the train entered
Hall says that he was struck over
the head with q bottle used for soft
drinks during the scufrle and that
Brtcker also was hit and cut on the
head. Passengers in the coach did
this, the detectives declare.
Davis was Immediately pursued af-
ter he Jumped from the train by a
soldier named Alfred F. woldert, of
Camp Wadsworth, 8. c.. and Hall
and Bricker. The fugitive was not
quick enough to escape, and after a
short run the soldier called upon him
at the point Of O pistol to halt, and
Davis surrendered without q struggle.
BE was then turned over to Police
Sergts. Wilkinson and Scott and
brought to the police station.
AT police headquarters, when search
ed. Davis had s1,26L72 in his posses
sion. He stated that he had saved
the money as the result of working as
q laborer. The suit case and hand
satchel, alleged to have been Davis
property, contained forty-fve pints of
liquor.
Anxious About Victim.
Davis, when asked why he shot
Shelhorse, declared he didn't know
the latter was an officer, but thought
It was some one trying to rob him Of
his money. He appeared very anxious
about the extent Of his victims in
juries. Davis denied that he had
whisky.
The body of shelhorse was removed
to Wheatley's mortuary chapel, where
II IL expected an inquest will be held
tomorrow by DR.. T. NJ. Jones, coroner.
Shelhorse lived in Lynchburg, Va,
and was employed as prohibition in
spector under Rev. J. Sidney Peters.
He had been doing prohibition work
around Alexandria for several months
past He II survived by his wife and
several children The body will be
taken to Lynchburg for burial.