Evening star., 1926-10-14
S LOCAL POLICE
DIED DOING DUTY
Last Half Century Contains
Record of Deeds of val0r of
Washington's Defenders.

Twenty-six Washington policemen
have fallen in line Of duty during the
past half century.
Seventeen were shot to death. Nine
died as a result of other injuries.
The yellowing records of the depart
ment, re-opened now after the murder
Of Detective Sergt. Arthur ScriVener,
throb with colorful tales of how these
men came to die--sOme in thrilllng gun
battles against heavy odds, and some
by assassins' bullets fred in the dark
ness of lonely beats.
Has HerOism Tradition.
The Metropolitan Police Department
has a tradition of heroism to maintain
There is. for instance, the story OF
the Staying of Sergt. Fritz Passau OF
the seventh precinct by colored muir
derer, Armstead Taylor. Taylor had
killed man in Montgomery County
and fled to Washington. He took
refuge in house near the Georgetown
University grounds. From his shelter
he kept up a constant gunfire Wnen
1t was surrounded by policemen.
Police stormed the house and cap
tured the slayer shortly after Passau
fell. An angry mob tried to lynch
Taylor, but he was taken safely TO
police station. Afterward he was
buTIcIlueIeu 10 MdIyldiiu du1iioi itACo
and hanged.
Story Most COlOrful.
One of the most colorful stories is
that of Herbert Copeland, colored,
who was hanged only a short time
ago at the District Jail.
Early on the morning of May 21,
1918, Lieut.. David T. Dunnigan and
Policeman John A. Conrad, accom-
panied by a Maryland officer, went to
Copeland's house to summon him to
appear as a witness in Maryland.
Probably the colored man misunder-
stood the purpose Of the policemen.
From the shelter of the house he
| shot and killed both policemen and
then fled, pursued by d posse Of Off
| GERS, who kept up a steady revolver
| fire on the fugitive.
Copeland was finally captured, so
seriously wounded that he had only
a bare chance for life. He recovered,
however, and escaped from Jail. For
several years he remained at liberty,
but finally was recaptured and exc
cuted.
Shot by One of Command.
Capt. w. H.. Mathews Of the fifth
precinct fell from the shots of mem
Der Of his own command zhe after
| noon Of March s, 1909.
Policeman John H. Fowler was shot
to death while chasing an escaping
member of a chain gang on the morn
| ing Of September 8, 1884. The slayer,
| chased by scores of policemen and
civilians after the murder, finally was
| captured in house near Fourth and
d streets, and afterward was hanged.
One of the best known instances of
the murder of a policeman was the
killing in December, 1919, of Detective
James f. Armstrong in Union sta
ton by the boy bad man." John Nc
Henry, who just before had killed a
Fourteenth street merchant. Me
Henry, after a long fight for his life
because of his youth, was hanged.
Samuel G.. Hayden of the eighth
precinct was shot to death Sunday
morning, February 27, 1921, a brother
policeman later killing his slayer.
Kills His Slayer.
| Americus N. Crippen, who was
killed the night of November 5, 1899,
succeeding in killing his slayer be-
fore he died. Other policemen shot
to death and the date of the fatalities
are recorded as follows:
Francis Nj. Doyle, December 20.
1871; John j. Smith, July Z, 1907;
Harry Wilson, race riot victim. July
21, 1919; Oscar A. Mckimmie, January
II, 1920: George ID. Chinn, October 20,
1927 John Purcell, colored, October II,
1928; Raymond c. Leisinger, shot
| while on running board of alleged
bootleg car, August "a, 1924; Leo w.
K. Busch, September % last, and
Detective Arthur r. Scrivener, early
yesterday morning.
Included II, ot har. yiolant deaths nf
members Of the force were three killed
by automobiles. two by bicycles, one
In fall through a skylight. one slashed
| to death with knife, one by drowning
and one in fall from a horse.