Evening star., 1918-04-04
NIGHT WATCHMAN
SHOT AND KILLED;
POLICE PUZZLED
81. w. King Victim of Tragedy
at Building of Committee
on Public Information.
CHARWOMAN SAYS SHE
HEARD REPORT OF PISTOL
Saw Watchman Fall, She States, But
Saw or Heard Nothing of
His Assailant.

Ills hSS6lldUt.
James William King, fifty-eight years
old, who was employed as night watch
man in the building of the committee
on public information, 10 Jackson place,
was shot through the body this morning
about 5:45 o'clock and instantly killed.
The homicide occurred in the hallway of
the building between the watchman's
desk and the front door, in sight Of the
White House and neighboring public
buildings, and presented mystery that
Inspector Grant, chief of detectives, and
many members of his command made an
early start to solve.
When detectives and policeman
reached the building. saw the body
lying on the floor. the head between
a chair and the desk and the dead
mans pistol on the floor nearby, they
were inclined to the belief that King
had committed suicide. but that belief
was quickly dispelled when it was
found that the Ave chambers of the
pistol contained cartridges that had
not been exploded. A paving stone
lay ,on the floor near the pistol. 1t
was of the kind with which the alley
in the rear of the building is paved
and suggested that the slayer carried
the stone from the alley.
Police this afternoon are looking for
william Clements. coiorsd. who was
employed as fireman In the ouiioing.
being anxious to ascertain II he was
about the building this morning and
knows anything Of the shooting. Glenn
ents whose homo Is said to be at 216
Massachusetts, avenue. 1t is stated. was
due to appear at the building at Z
o o'clock this morning. He failed to ap-
pear. however. and Detectives O'Brien
and Mullen visited his home. where
they learned he Was not there
charwoman Saw Him Fall.
Luevenia Mullen, 5 coI0fed charwom-
an. told the police she. saw King fall
to the fioor. and also saw the pistol
fan from his hand. She was in the
basement when she heard the report
of the pistol shot, she stated. having
gone there to change her clothing. The
report, she said. did not alarm her
because she thought it probably had
Il went upstairs from the basement
Just after 1 heard the noise" she told
0 star reporter, "and saw the watch
man fall. / also saw the pistol fall
from his hand. but saw nothing Of any
other person near him..
Luevenia further SAID she did not hear
any slamming OF door or noise of a
person passing through the hallway to
the rear. where, 1t was stated, q base
ment door was found unfastened.
Wife Frustrated by News.
Mrs. King was at her home. 700
10th street northeast. when she learn
ed something had happened to her hus-
band She hurried to the building and
made anxious inquiry. but it was not
until after she had been taken to the
office of Inspector Grant at police head
quarters that she was told her husband
was dead. Then she collapsed and had
to be taken to Emergency Hospital
Four colored persons were in the
buildings when the shot was fred. but
Luevenia Mullen is the only one who
says she heard the report Of the shot
and her statement that she saw the
wounded man stagger through the
glass door and fall suggested to the
police that King was shot while in the
vestibule or possibly on tho step. Po-
lice officials learned that the watchman
had made complaints about certain per-
sons employed in the building and had
gone SO Tar as to say something about
shooting some of them.
Hears About Complaints.
MAJ. Pullman. who participated in the
investigation. was told that King. who
had no supervision over the colored
help. had complained about them a
number of times and had registered an
objection to their being permitted te
carry keys to the outer doors.
In view Of the statements made
about the watchman and the position
of the bullet wound. police officials
said they thought the case presented
one of the watchman having been shot
in self-defense. Four Of the cartridges
In the pistol had been snapped. but
not discharged.
Caroline Clay. a charwoman, residing
at 1915 Swami street. was the first EN-
ploye to reach the building. She said
the watchman admitted her. said good
morning and she passed through the
hall and went to an upper floor. A
few minutes later Luevenia Mullen
$40 21st street. and Margaret Moss, sl7
21st street. appeared. the former enter.
ing the building in which the shoot
admitted to No. 8 by King. who ac-
companied her to the front door OF
that house.
Mr.. King said something abou,
weather turning COOL" said the Mose
woman, :as he let me in the building
Shooting Few Minutes Later.
It was only a few minutes after the
woman reached the building that the
shooting occurred. ]. F. Beach, a mes.
senger in the employ of the westerr
Union Telegraph Company. residing a,
1898 29th street. walked through La.
fayette, Square in front Of the buildins
in which the watchman was slain
reaching there about the time Lueyenis
Mullen appeared on the sidewalk ant
shouted for help. He was on his wa,
to the headquarters Of the committes
on public information with messages
he stated. but did not see any person
come from the building. It 10 possIbl,
that the slayer left the building by tn,
front door. however. without the mos
senger seeing him.
Beach heard the colored woman'l
story OF what she had seen In thu
building and hurried 20 the State. WA
And Navy Department. where h.
notified p. =. Potter. vatchman
Potter went to the scene Of the shoot
Ing. and Policeman cariin of the thirt
preetnct foliowed him . few minutei
later Lieut. Piemmons Of the thtrt
.man4f hurried there, while Dstecttv,
healQuerterg to appear. Later 1ikj
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