The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-03
GT.SCR|VENER'
LION HEARTED.
Policeman, Wounded and With
Empty Gun, Attacked
D. Crazed Criminal.
NERVES OF TRIPLE STEEL
Hit Twice After Final lunge,
He ThrottIed Man in
Death Grip.

Local police annals are said to
hold no parallel to the act of brav-
cry, pluck and endurance for which
Detective Scrivener was today
awarded the gold medal. He proved
himself almost a supeman-all
nerve and no nerves. Not only does
every member of the Metropolitan
Police Department sing his praises,
but the desperate he captured paid
him a high tribute by saying: "That
man Scrivener's nerve completely
unnerved me-"
KEPT ESCAPE SECRET.
A few years ago Thurman Brown,
a negro, was convicted of having par
ticipated in a series of holdups and
robberies. He was sent to the At
lanta penitentiary for twenty years.
Last summer he made his escape from
the Federal prison in Georgia. Prison
officials kept the escape a secret, but
Attorney General Palmer finally veri-
fed a newspaper report that Brown
had liberated himself.
Early in August Brown was seen
in Anacostia, and when an attempt
was made to arrest him he fled to the
woods, where all trace of him was
lost For a time 1t was thought he
had left the vicinity of Washington.
Reports received by the police that
he was in Washington stirred all the
commanding officers to urge their
men to exert their utmost efforts to
apprehend Brown, lest he should start
on another carnival of crime.
"GO AND GET HIM.
On August II Inspector Grant re-
ceived trustworthy information that
Brown was still in Washington. He
summoned Detective Sergts. Edward
Kelley and Scrivener into his office
and said: "This man is still in Wash
ington. Go and get him. Don't come
back without him."
While walking near Third and ]
streets northwest the two detectives
saw and recognized Brown and start
ed toward him. Brown dashed into q
grocery store. closely followed by the
detectives. Inside the store he drew
his revolver and opened fire on them.
The detectives fired over his head.
He continued running and plunged
through the rear door. Running
fence. hating twice to fire at the
pursuing detectives. Scrivener was
close at his heels and cleared the
fence a few steps behind the des-
perado.
Brown ran to Fifth street and New
York avenue where motor truck
was standing at the curb. Pressing
his revolver against the drivers
head, Brown commanded him to speed
away from Detective Scrivener who
continued the chase. The driver i'm
mediately obeyed.
COMMANDEERED AUTOMOBILE.
The quick witted detective jumped
into small unoccupied passenger
automobile and followed the truck.
The chase led to Ninth street and
New York avenue, up Ninth to NJ.
through NJ to Seventh, up Seventh to
y, through N to Sixth and up Sixth
TO o street.
throughout the chase, the negro
continued firing back at the oncom-
ing detective. Near Sixth and o
streets Brown fired shot which
shattered the glass windshield of the
automobile, scattering the detectives
face with broken glass. The bullet
struck Schivener's right arm, knock
ing his hand off the steering gear.
tneTeDy CAUSING the utl'tllNc " iost
control Of the car. which Immediately
crashed into a tree.
Evidently believing he had sue
cessfuIly disposed of the detective,
Brown jumped from the truck and
ran into an alley, revolver In hand.
Scrivener, however, although suffer
ing from the bullet wound, cuts about
nl. face and a general shake-up from
The collision with the tree, lcaped
rom the automobile and followed
he negro. The detective had fired
I'll the ammunition he had, and re-
placed his empty revolver in his
pocket Notwithstanding this fact,
and the presence of the armed negro
Sefore him, Scrivencr pressed on.
sTNTO THE JAWS OF DEATH"
As Scrivener advanced Brown
topped still In his tracks, took d.
liberatc aim at him and shouted. Il
I'm not going TO run any further. you
I'm going to kill you" But
IN the face OF the wcll-nimed revolver
and the sanguinary threat from tho
black desperado. Scrivcner continued
10 press forward. Brown pulled tho
trigger Of his revolver twice wni;o
the detective was only a few feet
from him.
The Hrst bullet struck srrivepcr's
watch. urnr his Tight nip. inc WHICH.
aiven him by his mother. detected hc
bullet and the detective received only
n painful bruise.. The revolver failed
20 explode when the negro pressed the
srfGGer the second time and he wa
preparing 60 WELD the heavy weapon
ms a biudRcon when Scrtvener clos"d
IN upon md grnppicd with him.
Although weakened by loss OF blood
and suffering from the bullet wound
md cuts, Scrivcner wrestled, tusselod
and fought with the burly desperate
disarmed him and finally overpow ,rnd
him, pinioning him to the ground, a
policeman appeared upon the scene
shortly after Scrivcncr had reduced
tho negro to submission. Brown VIVA
taken to tho Second precinct, and Hup-
reoucntly returned to the Atlanta
nenitontiary, Scrivcner was remov ii
10 tho Emergency Hospital and 80
NAMED thore several days. after
which he resumed his duties ut he
detective bureau,
In transmitting n report OF SrlV-
erer'n heroic conduct TO Major
tcouJ-"-d on rage :. ColumnAaD