Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-10
MANFREDO CASE IS
aired IN HEARING
BY POLICE BOARD
Patrolman Pierce's Testimony is
Favorable to Officer Accused
of Neglect of Duty
NOW UNDER AMUSEMENT

Iehley ON November IL, was on trla'
before the Board of Police Commas
sioners Yesterday. After listening TO all
the testimony the commissioners took the
matter under advisement. A stenographer
took down all the testimony.
The accused officer made a fight TO
vindcate his running from the murder
house after his partner had been numbered
and another officer wounded That he
and Patrolman Pierce both ran from the
room after the shooting began was brought
out clearly Both declared that Lemuei
Price was shooting so fast aud straight
that II would have been fatal To stay when
thcv could not get out their revolVers
quickly enough to put UP hight.
Patrolman Harry Pierce. who was shot
twice, in the right shoulder, declared that
If Manfrcdo had not run he would have
been killed Just like Zcblcy. Pierce,
sneakinr al himself, testified that after
the shot NJ Zeblcv he made one lunge AT the
shooter and that the first shot at hum
Pierce blinded hIm IN the bargain, nc
,-os that close to the Negro. Then he
turned and ran along behind Manfredo.
Nsnfredo SAID not guilty when asked
10 plead 10 the charge.
The first witness. Patrolman Harry c.
Pierce. told Of the call, Pierce said he
called Nanfrcdo INTO the house after
Zehlcv had grabbed Lemucl Price. Lem
ucl shot Zcbley down. Pierce went on,
and then turned on me like US if he was
shooting a repeater. He shot me right
after he shot Zchlcy. didn't have .
chance Manfredo was ahead Of me. He
ran into the front room. lie was gone
out Of the house by the front way when
was shot the second time. That happened
IN he front room.
Pierce qualified his statement TO the
attorney general by saying that Man
fredo went on ont lie was asked u ne
didn't say ran out
Did you get any help from Man
frcdoa" the witness was asked.
Not thing replied Pierce.
One mistake | thought Nantrcdo
rnadc was IN gong So lar away from the
house after hc went ont tho front door. .
Was there anything N tho way q
Nanircdo drawing his gum
No Nanfrcdo would have been shot
the Same as u~ if he had not gone out, 4
continued the witness
Commissioner Mcgcar wanted 70 know
II there was any way for Alanfrcdo to
shoot Lcmucl Price.
Il believe hc would have been shot
before he could get his GUN out, replied
Pierce
Zcblcv told Patrolman Norman Brown
70 remain with the hoy prisoner who was
in the wagon near the house, according
Ia Pierce. The latter told how he stag
gered out of the Price house with two bull
lct wounds in hrs right shoulder. Brown
was still on the wagon
Did he know YOU were shot7 Pierce
was asked.
Yes. said the officer
Browns conduct on this occasion mas
also been questioned by the police and
= now under Investigation. Pierce
testimony AZ TO Brown corrnb0ratcs
Browns statement that he was told 70
stuck with the prisoner.
Did YOU attempt 70 draw your gun.
Commissioner Smith asked Pierce.
No. ! thought of II but knew i was
no uSe. ! was working for 81 partition
where / thought | could get at my pistol,
but first / made i grab al Lcmucl after
he had shot Z~hiey. and when he shot me
TUNED and made for the partition
Pierce said Manfredo told hun at the
Delaware Hospital that he ,Mantredol
got excited during the shooting and did
not know what TO do. He told me he
was thinking OF quitting and told him
not 70, that any man might have got
excited at such time.
Sergeant Fox related what Manfredo
told him the day after the murder. Man
fredo said to Fox that he and Pierce came
out Of the front door, according to Fox.
ManfredO characterized tins rs rncOr-
rect. "He Pierce) did not 20 out the
front door with me said the accused Of
ficer. Sergeant Fox than said Msnfredo
todd him he followed Lemuel Price to the
HiIles u Jones plant, where nc lost sight
Of him.
A statement BY Patrolman Norman
Brown was also read Brown said he did
not hear the shooting at all but that as
soon as q man told HIM about IT he hand
cuffed the prisoner TO the patrol screen
inside with the idea that he might be of
assistance at the Price house Before ne
could get started another man told him
1t was too late Tor him TO help any at the
house.
Captain David Wardle testified: 81
have never been able to comprehend how
Manfred0 allowed Zebley and Pierce to
he shot and then LET Lemuel escape. am
firmly convinced that his actions were the
result OF fear.
"Manfredo was agItated when he came
mp with Captain Wardle, according TO
the captain.
Chief Black told of ms going TO the
murder scene and said the first officer he
me latter was unable to give clear state
uent about the direction the Negroes
had taken.
The accused officer declared that Lem
uel had scarcely left the house when ne
fMaufredo) was after him and was pre-
vented from shooting at HIM by fences and
other men Lemuel ran out the back
door while Manfredo went out the front
way Manfredo insisted that he and
Piercs ran together through the tame
door s,iser the shooting began.
Il did all IN my power to get that man
i.emuel declared Manfrcdo.
Don't you think YOU could have got
nut your gum asked Commissioner
Megear
NO, sir, he was shooting too fast I
cot the gun out after leaving the room,
replied the officer.
Francis Fallers, heater boy at Har-
lans, called by Manfredo, testified that
he saw Nanfredo on Sixth street in front
Of the Price house drawing his gun, then
ran after Lemuei Later the witness said
he came up with Nanfredo again and that
the officer was AL in" from running.
Thomas +. Taylor, 2300 Jessup street,
another Of Manfredo's witnesses, said
hc saw Manfredo come out Of the Price
house, turn into the alley with his holster
ia his hand trying to get his gun out, and
chased the Negro This witness en-
phatically declared that he saw Manfredo