Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-27
DETECTVE'SST0RY
OF KILLING SCORED
Victim Not Alone In Stolen
Auto, His Brother.in.
Asserts
C0RTELY0U PROBING CASE

Edward Fitzgibben. of 3Os7 North
Twenty. third street. vehemently denied
today that his brother. in law. Robert
II. Burns, was alone in a stolen auto.
mobile yesterday when overtaken and
shot to death BY Raymond Murray, a
City Hall detective.
II know that my brother in law was
unable to operate a machine" Fitzgib.
ben said today, land I have learned
from several persons that there were
several men in the car when It was
chased by the detective"
Director Cortelyou Is today probing
hand to hand struggle between Burns
and the detective at Lehigh avenue
near Chalmers street.
According to Detective Murray.
Burns was alone In the car when he
spotted him at Twenty first street and
Allegheny avenue as the man wanted
for stealing an automobile.
Detective Murray was given a hear
ing this morning before Magistrate
Coward in Central Station. He was
held without boil to await the action
Of the Coroner. He. was turned over
to Captain Souder.
Murray commandeered another car
and gave chase. He saw that another
man was accompanying Burns in an.
other car. He put on speed, and getting
the other machines and brought them
to a stop.
Leaving his motor, Murray went to
Burns and told him to get out of his
car, that he was under arrest.
For what?" asked Burns.
An instant later Burns and his com .
panion sprang out of the car and started
to run, but Murray sprang to his feet
and seized Burns. Thercupon the
! other suspect turned and with his
companion fell upon Murray and beat
and kicked him. A crowd assembled,
but no one offered assistance to the de :
tective, who hesitated to draw his
pistol.
1t was not until he had been knocked
down several times that the detective
did draw his pistol, and then. lie said
later, with no intention of using it, but
simply to intimidate the men. But
again they jumped upon him. and in
striking Burns in the region of the
heart. At that, Burns companion ran
up Lehigh Avenue. followed by several
men. He succeeded, however, In making
his escape. Patrolmen of the Twenty
second street and Hunting Park avenue
station took charge of the automobiles,
while Murray went to the station house
and by phone surrendered to Lieutenant
Belshaw, chief Of the murder squad.
The other man escaped, but police
say they know who he is and expect
to make an arrest.
James McMullen, law partner of
Howard B. Beitler. and father of the
girl whose automobile was stolen and
recovered by the detective, called on
Captain S0uder today to say that he
and Mr.. Better would be glad to do
anything in their power for Detective
Murray. Mr.. McMullen said if bail
were fixed for the detectives release
lie would be glad to enter security.
Assistant Superintendent of Police
Kenny and Captain of Detectives Sou.
der both signed the following state.
ment:
- A personal investigation has been
made and We find that Murray Is not
to blame for the unfortunate shooting
Of Robert Burns. Murray had noti.
fled Burns before the shooting that he
and his companions were under arrest.
Burns would not submit to arrest and
grappled with Murray, then threw
Murray to the ground.
Murray drew his revolver and shot
three times in the air. One of the
shots struck Burns. We are fully con
vinced after examining several witnesses
that the bullet would not have struck
Burns IL his companion had not tried
to snatch the gun, causing it to ex-
plode.' Lieutenant Lestrange, Of the
automobile squad. praised Murray as
one Of the best men in the service. He
said he believed 1t was nm unfortunate
accident.