The New York herald., 1922-01-06
NEGRO UNDER ARREST
KILLS 2 DETECTIVES
AT DOOR OF STATION
Seized for Shooting Police
man, He Suddenly Turns
Pistol on Captors.
MAKES QUICK ESCAPE
Another Black Man Found
in Search Is Accused of
Murder of Janitor.
FOLLOWS $500 ROBBERY
Men of w. 135th st. Precinct
Give Blood to Wounded Com
rade, but in Vain.
FOLLOWS $500 ROBBERY

Sergeant Michael J. Golden, on desk
duty In the West 135th street police
station, heard four shots last night at
$3.50 o'clock, apparently fired almost
at the door of the station. With Capt.
William j. McGrath and the reserves
he rushed into the street, and fifty
feet from the station, in front of 218
West 1S5th street, they found De-
tective William A. Miller dead on the
sidewalk, bullet wound in his mouth,
and Detective Francis ]. Buckley
leaning against the steps Of the house,
shot through the abdomen and so Sc
riously wounded that lie died in Har-
lem Hospital early this morning.
Capt. McGrath and Capt. Haupt. in
command of the detectives Of the
Sixth district, said afterward that Mil
ler had been killed and Buckley shot
by a negro named Luther Body, who
had been arrested by them for the
shooting .of Patrolman John Rhoades
several weeks ago and was being
taken to the police station. Several
persons who witnessed the shooting
told the police that the three men were
walking abreast, the two white men
and the negro. and that the negro was
not handcuffed.
May he One of Jnnitor's Murdercrs
The police believe that there may be
some connection between the shooting OF
Miller and Buckley and the murder of
Charles johnson. o negro janitor of fSi
West 140th street. who was shot and
killed at o'clock by two negro bandits.
Johnson was walking In the street near
his home with Jacob Belkin OF 81 First
avenue. owner of the West 14oth street
apartment house, who had $500 in his
pocket. which ne had just collected from
his tenants.
Belkin obeyed when the two negroes
ordered him to hold up his hands. but
johnson put up a fight and was shot.
The two negroes escaped after the
shooting. After Miller had been killed
and Buckley shot Detectives Boyle,
Giery. Teed and Mullahey, searching
for Body, went to the home of his
sweetheart. Katherine Smoot. SO West
1891 street. The woman said she had
not seen Body. but the detectives
searched the house. In the basement
they found a negro who said he was
Willie Caine, no address, who an
swered the description of the bandit
who had shot johnson. He was locked
up. charged with homicide. The police
say they found loaded revolver in his
pocket.
Victims Arc Taken by Surprise.
The witnesses who saw the shooting
OF Miller and Buckley said that when
the two detectives and their prisoner
got about so feet from the green lights
of the station house the negro suddenly
stepped back. drew pistol from under
meath his left armpit and began firms.
His first shot struck Detective Miller
In the mouth and Miller fell to the
sidewalk dead. The next shot appar-
emily missed Buckley. but the negro
| fined twice more before the detective
could draw his gun. Both OF these
weakening him 40 that he could not get
his revolver from his pocket. He man
aged to stagger TO the steps of the
house at ZIG. where he collapsed and
| was aided by two citizens who had run
up when they heard the shooting.
Detectives Miller and Buckley left the
police station about 8 o'clock to make
their usual rounds, taking with them
description of the negro who had
shot and killed the negro janitor. But
especially they were after Body. who
was believed by the police 10 have shot
Patrolman Rhoades and for whom the
| detectives had been searching for some
time. After leaving the station house
they went to Public School No. 30. al
135th street and Lenox avenue. where
Body has reported at intervals to Parole
| officer Charles &. Addison. Body had
been paroled from Blackwell's Island.
Miller and Buckley made arrange
ments with Allison TO signal them when
Body came i'm and the negro entered the
place at s :15 o'clock. Allison gave the
signal and the detectives placed Body
under arrest, leaving tho school house
with him at 8 go o'clock. They walked
west toward the station house Body
had disarmed the suspicious OF the de-
tectlves by the readiness with which
he submitted to arrest. They did not
search him and they did not handcuff
him. although ordinarily they would
have done so. as the man has been rec
ognixed for some time as a dangerous
character.
The trio started for the station house
with Miller walking at the negro's right
and Buckley at his left and a step or
two behind him, the formation that Mil.
Ter and Buckley usually used when they
handled a prisoner together. From tho
evidence of witnesses IL Is established
that Buckley saw tho negro when he
slipped his hand under his coat and
pulled out a gun. but was not able to
get to him before he shot Miller In the
mouth. Then the negro turned and shot
Buckley. escaping into Seventh avenue
before the policemen could get him. Sew
Continued on Page Four.