Evening star., 1921-07-11
HUSBAND RELATES
HOW HE SHOT MAN
William A. Goetz Declares
Byrd Tried to Kill
Him First.

Detailed description of an alleged
attempt on his life by Alfred J. Byrd
and the subsequent fatal shooting of
the latter was given today by Will
liam A. Goetz in his Office in the Kel-
logg building.
A warrant for the arrest of Goetz.
made out after Byrd's death, is ready
in the hands Of Sheriff Robert Wells
of Prince Georges county, Md. 1t may
be served this afternoon.
Byrd was killed Saturday night at
the home of Goetz in Maryland Park.
Md. According to Goetz he had been
named correspondent in a divorce suit
filed in Nashville. Tenn. June 81.
Goetz is thirty-nine years old. He
is an expert on income tax laws. ana
is the author of several books on that
subject.
Declares He Was Threatened.
Il was asleep in my home at Mary
land Park" he said. when my daugh-
ter told me that there was man at
the front door. l threw on a bathrobe
and went downstairs. The man was
keeping up an incessant rapping on
the door. probably with the butt of
his revolver. The noise was so loud
that 1t could not have been his
knuckles. Although his hat was
pulled well down over his eyes and
he was in crouching position, l
knew it was Byrd.
What do you want?' ! asked.
"Open the door. l want in he re-
piled.
Now you clear out and get away
from here. l don't want to talk with
you" l said.
He raised the gun to the glass of
the door. within a few inches Of my
face. and tried out with a loud oath:
Open the door. You open the door.
shoots Through Door.
AT this juncture. Miss Pauline
Mincy. my niece. who has been caring
She started toward the door. but l
pushed her back to a corner of the
back hall beneath a picture. incident
ally. which was later hit by a bullet
from Byrd's revolver. 1t passed a
few inches from her head. showering
broken glass and plaster on her.
Il went into the parlor. Byrd be-
window from the porch the minute
he saw me. The shots passed within
few inches of my face.
Il crept to the parlor center table
and got my revolver. Shielding my
self from the fire as we'll as could.
the window shade. which was drawn
up about six inches from the bottom
OF the window. and fired once. That
shot struck him. l knew there was
no further need Of shooting.
Named ns Co-RespOndent.
This man had made threats against
me. saying he would get me- which
were heard by several persons known
to me 1t is clear in my mind that he
expected to get me- Saturday night.
l was not surprised. I had expected
just such a thing
I had filed a petition for divorce
IN Nashville on June 81. The decree
IS expected today. since my wife did
not answer the bill" He said that
Byrd was named as correspondent.
Goetz said he did not know where
his wife was at present. declaring he
had reason to believe she was in
Nashville.
States Attorney ]. Wilson Ryon Of
Prince Georges county said today
that there were no new developments
in the case. save that search was
being made for Mrs Maud Goetz, and
that a conference to decide upon fu-
ture action was to be. held with Of
hcials at o'clock today. An inquest
will be held as soon as possible
I'VE know where to find Goetz when
we want him." declared Sheriff Rob-
ert Wells today. He is expected to
serve the warrant late this afternoon,
after the conference.
GoetZ was at one time in charge of
the internal revenue agency at Nash
Vile, Tenn, where he had supervision
of several southern states He en-
listed at the time Of the war and was
placed In the instruction division Of
the Army. where he served until Feb
ruary. 1919. At that time he resumed
his practice as expert accountant.
specializing on the income tax law.
and is now general counsel for the
American Taxpayers Association
The automobile which made the
trip to the Goetz home Saturday
night was the property of Harry L.
Morningstar. 9o5 F street southwest.
who was on the stand at Pennsyl-
yania avenue and 10th street when
Byrd hired him. Although 1t was at
trip with Byrd. Morningstar told In
spector Clifford L. Grant, chief Of de-
tectives. that Byrd's companion was
a man. Morningstar described the
trip in detail.
At Byrd's suggestion, the chauf-
feur said, he stopped at a cafe on
9Th street between D and e streets
and got a second man. He had seen
no pistol.
Morningstar said he brought the
man who entered the machine back
to tho city after he heard the first
shot fired. He left him at 7th and E
streets. He said the man did not tell
his name. but could be found at the
New York Dancing Academy II
wanted.