The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-20
DRY AGENT WHO.
SHOT SENATOR
QU|zzED
Evidence Held to Show Off
Ger Was Not in Danger
When He Fired.

While Senator Frank L. Greene
Of Vermont, his skull splintered by
a bullet. lies near death at
Emergency Hospital. Washington
authorities today laid the ground
work for the prosecution Of Otis
q. Fisher, prohibition agent, whose
wild firing at bootleggers Friday
night is said to have felled the
Senator. ....-- l. -
Senator Greene has a fighting
chance to live, and that is all. Ply
sicians at Emergency Hospital are
unable to say whether, in event
Of his recovery, his mentality would
be impaired.
If he should die, it is a certainty
that the District Attorney would
ask grand Jury action against Fish
err, even though the coroner's Jury
might free the dry agent. II the
Senator lives, it is still likely that
some punishment will be melted out
to Fisher. now suspended from duty
and under bond.
The purpose Of the close inves-
tigation into the circumstances sur.
rounding the shooting Of Senator
Greene is to have everything In
readiness In case prosecution is
necessary, as 1t seems It WIN be.
Several conferences between
police officials and District Attor-
ney Peyton Gordon already have
been held, and more are in prospect.
The latest evidence turned over to
the District Attorney affords the
authorities strong circumstantial
case against the dry agent, and
purports to refute Fishers claim
that he was firing at a bootlegger's
automobile in defense of his life.
District Attorney Gordon today
examined Fisher, Lieut.. Fred Corn
we'll, of the Sixth precinct, and
other police officers in connection
with the shooting.
At yesterdays investigation the
District Attorney asked Maj. Daniel
Sullivan, chief of police. for infor-
nation. Inspector Grant and AS
sistant Superintendent Of Police
Pratt were also in consultation with
Major Gordon.
Firing Held Unwarranted.
According to the police code for
the District, the use of revolver
is only permissible in defense Of
life or property. Facts turned up
thus far fail to indicate that Fish
er's life was in jeopardy or that
Federal property was menaced by
the bootleggers.
Police fail to understand the wide
use Of firearms in the District by
prohibition agents. It has been
known for months that few boot
leggers go armed, realizing that, If
arrested, they will get a compare.
lively small fine, which they &C.
cept philosophically. Police have
observed that bootleggers would
rather not risk charges Of carrying
concealed weapons or assault with
deadly weapons.
A photograph was printed recent.
ly in the Sunday section of q local
newspaper showing Fisher after a
raid on q woodland still. He was
posing prominently in the fore
ground, seated, with a rifle across
his knees. His experience with fire
arms before joining the prohibition
forces was negligible, 1t IL said.
A bulletin issued last night at 10
o'clock stated that the Senator's
condition showed a slight improve.
ment. He was able to take a little
nourishment, and he appeared a
little brighter. His condition. how
ever, was still critical.
Scores of friends called at the
hospital last night and early today,
following a rumor that his condi-
ton was such that he had but a
few hours to live. Soon after the
second operation had been per.
formed to remove the blood clot
from his brain, it was intimated
that he might not live throughout
the day.