Evening star., 1924-08-28
OFFICER MURDERED
HANC|NCUP0NREAR
OF SPEEDING AUTO
Policeman Raymond C. Leis-.
niger Found in Street With
Emptied Pistol.
MYSTERY OF WILD RIDE
BATTLES LOCAL FORCE
Fellow Patrolman Sees Car Whizz
BY at Furious Rate-Thinks
Occupants Colored.

occupants C0lOfeu.
Riding the rear bumper of a big
motor car occupied by four or five
passengers. as it whizZed through
Washington streets at Il 50-mile pace,
about o'clock this morning, Police
man Raymond G.. LeSinger of the
second precinct, residing at 1871 Mon
roe street northeast, was shot to
death through the heart. The mur-
der car and its occupants escaped.
Where the fatal shot was fired or
who fired it was unknown today. but
his body was found, face-down in the
middle of the street in front of 19
street northeast, by officers from No
and No. precincts. Nearby was
his revolver from which. police said
five shots had been fired.
Bullet Through Heart.
At the morgue. the autopsy re-
vealed that a bullet of undetermined
size, but badly battered. had entered
his left side. passed through the
heart and lodged in his breast. just
beneath the surface.
Why Policeman IeISinger had
leaped upon the bumper of the car
was a battling problem for police to-
Gay. The lights of the speeding au-
tomobile with its passengers were all
out. according to one eyewitness.
This. according to some authorities,
led to the conjecture that the officer
might have warned the driver to turn
on his lights and, meeting with re-
fusal. had boarded the ear from the
rear to force compliance, firing into
the air for effect
Such a theory, however. was aban-
dOnSd bV several far MIA
ible. and insufficient to cause single
policeman. lone-handed to leap
aboard such vehicle at that hour
in the morning.
Seen by Wagon Driver.
The first indication that the strange
and fatal ride had begun was wit
messed by the driver of bread
wagon. Robert Matters of 134 w
street northwest who was delivering
bread.
At about the same time Sergt. j. T..
Thompson, Policemen Richard Cox
and George f. Terrill of No, 6 ar
rived on the scene, discovering the
body. When first approaching it they
did not know the prostrate form. face
down, to be that of member of the
police force. Placing him in a pass
ing automobile, the police rushed to
Casualty Hospital, where he was pro-
nounced dead by DR.. Laurence l..
Cockerille.
Later the body was removed to the
morgue, where an autopsy was per-
formed and the fatal bullet recovered.
An inquest, it was understood today,
would await further developments by
police in attempts to catch the slay
ers.
Saw Car Whizz BY.
When last heard from by his sta
tion house Leisinger had reported at
2:51 o'clock from the box at Lincoln
road and r street. 1t was later learn
ed he had stopped at lunchroom in
the vicinity for a cup of coffee and
was about due to report again from
another box. Private La Dow had
just reported to the station at North
Capitol and New York avenue. when
he saw the car and Leisinger whizz by.
The big car when last seen had
turned off / into First street, and
was making furious speed. Its oc-
cupants. according to Policeman
La Dow, were four or five colored
perosns and possibly white girl
about 21 or % years old She was
wearing a pink dress.
Fate played several curious parts
in the circumstances surrounding the
death of the young policeman. His
life insurance policy for 900 in the
brotherhood of American Yeomen
had become effective only yesterday.
His little son Raymond, aged 9, on
the same day fell out of a swing in
the playground of the Burroughs
School. near the home, and broke his
right arm.
Maj. Daniel Sullivan, superintendent
of police, announced at noon that a
reward of 5000 would be paid for the
capture of the slayers or for infor
nation leading to their capture.
Leaves Two Children.
Sorrow descended over the COM
Portable home on Monroe street,
where Mr.. and Mrs. Leisinger and
their two children, Raymond, and
Isabel, aged IL, lived with Mrs.
Leisingers parents, Mr.. and Mrs. j.
A. Magruder.
All were grief-stricken, but bore up
bravely, and with pride in the knowl-
edge that the husband, father, and
eon-in-law had been killed in the
performance of duty. The widow and
children will continue to make their
home with her parents. with whom
they have lived since her marriage.
In a search for every possible clue
that might lead to further light on
the murder, police of No. 6 have re-
covered badly battered and
scratched bullet which nearly took
the life of Miss Mamie Hayes of 10 I
street northeast as she lay sleeping.
Bullet Hits Near Bed.
The battle, police believe, must have
been waging hot and furious as the
Inflated and embattled occupants of
the murdered car swept by Miss
Hayes window. She was awakened
by the sound of shots, as one bullet
crashed through her window, near
the bed.
Capt. Martin Reilly of No. 6
and Headquarters Detective Thomas
Sweeney went to Miss Hayes room
late this morning. They found the
bullet had passed through two panes
of glass, as the two window frames
had been side by side, had richocheted
against an object inside the room. and
fallen into small china bowl on a
dresser
The young officer, who was one of
the latest additions to the force at
his station, had proved himself most
promising, according to his command
ing officer. Capt. Charles 7. Peck.
HE was active. used good judgment.
and was courteous and kind to every
body" said Capt. Peck in praising
his short record today. He had the
making of very fine officer."
LeisinYer was born in Waynesboro.
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