Evening star., 1924-11-03
SLAYER T0MAKE
SELF-DEFENSEPLEA
Rosenburg Counsel Will Claim
He Killed. Clancy to
Save His Own Life.

While defense counsel today was
constructing u barrier of self-defense
to save from the gaIlows Harry +.
Rosenberg, who is held on charges
of numbering Ernest Clancy and
shooting Vernon S. Story in the eli
max of a feud on Fourth street be-
low K street Saturday afternoon, po-
lice today were Tightening their in
vestigation in an effort to make out
i complete wilful murder case.
1t became known today that Sergt.
Thompson of the Sixth precinct had
succeeded in getting an eyewitness
account of the shooting from Vernon
5. Story, the wounded man, who is in
d serious condition at Gallinger Hos
pital Official announcement was
made by Bertrand Emerson. jr., chief
counse! for the accused, that self
defense would be his argument.
Evidence Of Story.
the happenings of Saturday after
noon in the following fashion:
Clancy and he had gone to a house
to collect for a delivery of bootleg
liquor. They had left and were about
to enter their automobile. They
were unarmed. They had not been to
Rosenberg's residence, on the cor
ner of Fourth and X streets. Rosen-
berg appeared on the street
Clancy. NO" decided Story. Lets
get into the car and keep out of
trouble"
Clancy was standing n short dis
tance in front of the automobiles
right front wheel. Rosenberg fired
Clancy dropped. He fired again.
Story was struck in the abdomen and
in the elbow as he was entering the
automobile.
graphs are credited to Story by police
who are working on the case.
The fatal narratives continuance
is picked up at this juncture by Sergt.
Thompson, who arrived on the scene.
Rosenberg did it," Story told Sergt.
Thompson.
ColOred Chauffeur Vanishes.
Thompson, accompanied by Pre-
cinct Detectives Dowd and Flaherty.
rushed for Rosenberg's residence.
Policeman O'Meara, also with the
party, remained in charge of the
group at the automobile. During the
excitement, however, the colored
chauffeur disappeared.
ROSENBERG y nCuSP, Iowa
grabbed Rosenberg. Thompson asked
for the revolver. Rosenberg showed
him it on the kitchen table. There
were five empty cartridges in it.
II shot him." Rosenberg told
Thompson. All OF the above is
vouched for by Sergt. Thompson him
self.
Charged With Murder.
Rosenberg was taken to the sixth
precinct station and 4 charge OF murder
was entered on the books. He had COM
menced giving an account of the un-
derlying motives in the feuG be-
tween Clancy. Story and himself when
Attorney Emerson interTened and
silenced his client.
RoSenberg's story does not com
pletely jibe with that of Story. Mrs.
Rosenberg also supplies a contradic-
tory detail She claims that Story
ana Clancy came to the store looking
for Rosenberg. After they had left,
Rosenberg came out. Rosenberg
claims they were armed and seeking
him. His statement to Lieut.. Fred
Cornwell. supported by past encoun-
ters with Story and Clancy, supplies
the details. 1t is Rosenberg's con-
tention that he fired at armed men,
while in peril of his life, in an effort
to stave off threatened peril. He adds
that the colored chauffeur in the au-
tomobile scooped up the revolvers of
his aSsailants and disappeared with
them. Police are inclined to be du-
bious on this angle. Capt. Martin
Reilly of the sixth precinct, supervis-
ing the case, stated today. A search
for the coored chauffeur will be pros
ecuted with vigor, however, Capt.
Reilly said.
Claims SeIf-Defense.
Attorney Emerson today said that
"a careful investigation of the cir
cumstances surrounding the death of
Clancy indicates that Rosenberg
acted in the defense of his life"
Beyond this statement he would say
nothing.
The inquest tomorrow at the, Dis
trict morgue will be held to de-
termine the cause of the death Of
Clancy. 1t has taken on the appear
ance of a mere legal formality in
the light of developments in the case
An attempt, it is understood, to OBJ
tain the release on bond of Rosen-
berg will be fought by the District
attorneys office, from which Assist
ants Raymond Neudecker and John H.
Burnett are detailed on the case.
In police circles fear was expressed
today that the shooting might bring
about a small sized gang feud in the.
local underworld. For some time DO
lice have known of the distinct fac
tions in the Illicit liquor traffic, be-
tween bona fide purveying bootleg
gers and hi-jacking wholesalers, who
first sell liquor and then rob the pur-
chasers of the consignment. Meas