Evening star., 1922-01-21
SHOTS FLY THICK
AS POLICE CHASE
AUTO WITH WHISKY
Running Battle Through Busy
Streets Ends as Pursued
Car Strikes Coal Wagon.
ONE FUGITIVE CAUGHT,
WHILE OTHER ESCAPES
Detectives, Acting on Word From
Alexandra, Await Men as
They Enter City.

A chase through the crowded streets
of the city. when an automobile full
Of detectives pursued a machine from
Virginia. containing two men and
several gallons of corn liquor, and
exchanged shots with them as they
went, ended a little after noon today
when the suspected bootlegger car
crashed into a coal truck at 5th and
o streets northwest, demolishing the
fugitive machine and damaging the
obstructing truck.
One of the men escaped after the
wreck The other one. who gave his
name at police headquarters as Donald
Kane, was arrested when he left the
whisky car and tried to escape into
the lexington railroad yards.
The chase was spectacular from the
very beginning and numerous shots
were fired by the pursuers and the
pursued as they dashed through the
busy city streets.
1t was shortly after II o'clock when
Inspector Grant, at headquarters, re-
spending to warning from Alex
andria. dispatched an automobile load
of detectives to the Long bridge to
watch for the car.
Attempt to Halt Fails.
AS the police car got on the bridge
the detectives noticed the suspected
car coming toward them from Vir-
ed to jam the approaching machine.
but it squeezed through with a
broken mudguard. The police car
turned as quickly as possible and
with Chauffeur Robey, one Of the
most experienced drivers in the
IL = lo1
police headquarters car nosed in a
scant length behind the fleeing liquor
car. rushing through traffic up 14th
street to M, leaving a wrecked auto
mobile behind at the intersection of
H street. Both cars were making
forty miles an hour or more.
The liquor car turned east into M
street and sped toward New York
avenue At the intersection Of New
York avenue and Florida avenue. Dom
aid Kane jumped from the car and De-
tectiye Jett went in pursuit Of him. The
whisky car however, hfgh-powered
1921 model, turned again and went
then continued out o street to 5th.
where a large steam wreckin1 apparatus,
with a derrick surmounting 1t. and a
coal truck barred the way. A collision
resulted In almost the complete wreck
age Of the coal truck, and demolition Of
the liquor car
The driver Of the car. whom the po-
lice believe they can identify. az its
only other occupant, jumped out Of
the wreckage and ran through Freed.
mans court. disappearing among the
sheds and shanties Of the alleyway.
Many Jars Of whisky.
In the rear Of the liquor car were
many quart jars of corn whisky. and
crowds of neighborhood spectators
focked to the scene of the wreck.
the police only with difficulty pre-
venting a wholesale raid on the liquor
approaching Washington, Detectives
Sweeney and Thompson had jumped
out to hold up the approaching ma
chine.
Instead Of slowing up, the alleged
bootleg driver maintained his course
and knocked spring from the police
car when his machine swerved into
it. With one broken spring the police
car took up the chase.
Out On Suspended Sentence.
Kane. who was arrested after the
chase today, is on probation. with a
suspended seven-year sentence hang
ing over him, growing out of an as
sault upon Policemen Coffren and Reed
Of the sixth precinct several months
ago. Justice Mccoy placed him on
probation with the understanding that
he would keep out Of trouble.
The situation today evidenced the
need for more efficient equipment in
automobiles for police headquarters.
Inspector Grant said. The detectives
car was pitted against one of the fast
est cars used by bootleggers.